Friend Opportunity

Album Name: Friend Opportunity
Band: Deerhoof
Release Date: January 23, 2007
Genre: Indie/Experimental

This week, I continue to feel like we’re living a dark chaotic timeline where Rick Moranis got sucker punched in the head, Subway buns don’t count as bread anymore, and we all just watched POTUS get on a helicopter with a touch of the Virus.

So why not transport somewhere far, far, far away with Deerhoof and listen to their 8th album ‘Friend Opportunity.’ Let the innocent voice of Satomi Matsuzaki guide you as you fly through a wormhole with what sounds like a marching band and guitar playing robots.

This music is fun. The front half keeps it upbeat and silly with some Halloweeny organ and noisy bugles and plenty of “beep beeps!” In the first track, “The Perfect Me,” Deerhoof scrolls through different ideas as quickly as I doom-scroll through bad news on Reddit. It’s just chaos, but this is the good kind.

My favorite line is: “If I were a man and you a dog, I’d throw a stick for you.” That is the kind of insane I want in my life.

This album has really lasted for me though because the back half is melodically strong and it’s heartfelt. It slows down and we can really hear John Dieterich’s experimental guitar tones. Not to mention Greg Saunier’s drumming, which is incredible. Saunier’s style is likely why Jazz Winnipeg had these guys back in 2015 at the Union Sound Hall.

So if you’re like me and need some good escapism, drown out all the noise with more adorable noise, and listen to “Friend Opportunity.”