Deerhunter - Monomania

Stompbox

Deerhunter are a fantastic band but it was a case of 'out of sight, out of mind' for me until I saw their performance of the title track from their latest LP 'Monomania' on Fallon the other week. It's a thrilling rendition; it's raucous, chaotic, downright unsettling and probably my favourite song of the year thus far.

Monomania has been streaming for a few days now and it's another excellent addition to their formidable catalogue. They've described themselves as ambient punk in the past and you can definitely feel it here. The riffs on Neon Junkyard and Leather Jacket II are squalling and scuzzy, the latter touching on 13-era Blur with a hint of heavy Pavement.

I'm looking forward to giving this a few more spins over the next few days so I can dig a bit deeper but I'm sold on first impression.

EDIT: Here's the stream in case you're interested.

Gonzovision

Looking forward to hearing it. I really enjoyed Halcyon Digest and Microcastles. Lotus Plazas album last year was also excellent. The Atlas Sound stuff was great too, but seeing him at Forbidden Fruit kind of ruined it for me.

loyatemu

only recently listened to Atlas Sound's "Parallax" on Spotify and its really good. Of the Deerhunter stuff I didn't think "Halcyon Digest" was as good as "Microcastle/Weird Era" but looking forward to hearing this new one...

The Phantom Jipper

gonzovision wrote: »

Looking forward to hearing it. I really enjoyed Halcyon Digest and Microcastles. Lotus Plazas album last year was also excellent. The Atlas Sound stuff was great too, but seeing him at Forbidden Fruit kind of ruined it for me.

What was wrong with the FF performance? Are they / he not any use live?

Gonzovision

The Phantom Jipper wrote: »

What was wrong with the FF performance? Are they / he not any use live?

It was just him and an acoustic guitar. I found it boring and he didn't come across as the friendliest chap to say the least.

K4t

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PDoC5C_jv-I

Haven't got a chance to listen to the whole album but this is quality. Only new to these guys..very strokes-esque sound here..

notnumber

Being listening to this album stream on and off the last few days.I am not familiar with previous efforts apart from Helicopter.operation and a few other tracks posted here over the years.After a slow start I am loving this album.Track 2 leather jackets is amazing and I keep repeating the first two tracks so haven't made huge strides towards later on tracks..Track 3/4/5 sound quite similar haven't really grabbed me yet.
T.H.M is also very intriguing lyrically,autobiographical maybe?
Be interested to know what T.H.M stands for.


I tried to keep him straight
ever since the day he was born
he came out a little late
maybe that's where frustration's born

my head was like a ??
when they called me and said
"it's happened much too soon"
took two bullets to the brain
my kid brother, he was insane
was insane

Rothko

notnumber wrote: »

Being listening to this album stream on and off the last few days.I am not familiar with previous efforts apart from Helicopter.operation and a few other tracks posted here over the years.After a slow start I am loving this album.Track 2 leather jackets is amazing and I keep repeating the first two tracks so haven't made huge strides towards later on tracks..Track 3/4/5 sound quite similar haven't really grabbed me yet.
T.H.M is also very intriguing lyrically,autobiographical maybe?
Be interested to know what T.H.M stands for.
/QUOTE]

You should definitely give Microcastle a listen.

Anyway, I've listened to Monomania a few times and I'm liking it so far. I like it about as much as Halcyon Digest. It's pretty solid throughout. Microcastle would still be my favourite Deerhunter album though.

The Phantom Jipper

Tickets have gone on sale for Vicar Street gig. Bought some on the expectation that i'll like the new album....fingers crossed.

pinksoir

I quite like it. I love the last two albums and this isn't as strong as either of them, but it's growing on me. There's some great songs on there. It's quite a different, almost jarring sound they've gone with to begin the record, but it develops nicely over the duration. The reference points are pretty wide ranging, from 50's rock n' roll right up to contemporary electronica.

I missed them last time they played here so I'll definitely be trying to go when they play next.

WRT Atlas Sound, I'm also a big fan. I reckon his last album was the weakest so far despite being the most accessible. Bradford Cox seems like a total douchebag too; any interview I've read he's come across as a tool. Regardless, he makes great music. The most interesting thing about the AS stuff is the arrangements and sound design so the idea of seeing him playing a gig with only a guitar is not very appealing. Songwriting isn't really a strong point of the Atlas Sound stuff. There's a dynamic within Deerhunter that, from the footage I've seen, seems to translate really well to live performance. AS is much more a studio project, which is cool too but not anything I'd be dying to get tickets for.

The Phantom Jipper

pinksoir wrote: »

I quite like it. I love the last two albums and this isn't as strong as either of them, but it's growing on me. There's some great songs on there. It's quite a different, almost jarring sound they've gone with to begin the record, but it develops nicely over the duration. The reference points are pretty wide ranging, from 50's rock n' roll right up to contemporary electronica.

I missed them last time they played here so I'll definitely be trying to go when they play next.

They're playing in October in Vicar Street, tickets went on sale recently enough.

pinksoir

Right on. I shall be organising some tickets.

pinksoir

After listening to this album some more, I really wish they had left the first two songs off it. It would have been long enough without them and it's really important to start an album strongly. They're incredibly weak songs and the engineering on them is pretty woeful too. Just seems like a strange decision to have them there.

weser777

tickets in the bag for these - lookin forward to seeing them...

seen Atlas Sound n Lotus Plaza over in Vancouver - gotta agree about Atlas Sound, we were up front, so was grand, but I can understand if the people behind us were bored!

loyatemu

have been listening to Monomania a lot, much prefer it to Halcyon Digest - despite the lo-fi production the songs are very catchy.

pinksoir

Yeah I've been listening to it a lot lately too and it's a really great album. I'm coming around to the first two songs a bit too, but I still think that from track 3 on it's killer song after killer song. My favourites at the moment are Blue Agent and THM. Great sounds all round and I'm loving the loud verse, quiet chorus approach on some of the songs. Love Deerhunter!

Lightbulb Sun

His Irish dates have been canceled. Refunds are available.

Rothko

Lightbulb Sun wrote: »

His Irish dates have been canceled. Refunds are available.

Where did you hear that?

Lightbulb Sun

Suas11 wrote: »

Where did you hear that?

https://twitter.com/foggynotions/status/376040386692526080

Rothko

Lightbulb Sun wrote: »

https://twitter.com/foggynotions/status/376040386692526080

Dammit, I was really looking forward to that.

Xenji

This is the 3rd time that I have had tickets to see Deerhunter in various places and they have cancelled, although Bradford Cox has always had a good reason for it, was going to see Children of Bodom the night before as well.

pinksoir

Lamesville. Crap!!! Really wanted to go to that. Especially having missed Tame Impala, this was gonna be my makeup gig....

IamtheWalrus

notnumber wrote: »

Being listening to this album stream on and off the last few days.I am not familiar with previous efforts apart from Helicopter.operation and a few other tracks posted here over the years.After a slow start I am loving this album.Track 2 leather jackets is amazing and I keep repeating the first two tracks so haven't made huge strides towards later on tracks..Track 3/4/5 sound quite similar haven't really grabbed me yet.
T.H.M is also very intriguing lyrically,autobiographical maybe?
Be interested to know what T.H.M stands for.


I tried to keep him straight
ever since the day he was born
he came out a little late
maybe that's where frustration's born

my head was like a ??
when they called me and said
"it's happened much too soon"
took two bullets to the brain
my kid brother, he was insane
was insane

The hidden meaning apparently.