onestly, “Dummy Discards a Heart” is one of the better album openers in recent memory. Feedback comes in from both sides, an almost distorted guitar plays the main melody, and a complementary one comes in a little louder and higher. By the time lead singer Satomi Matsuzaki enters the fray the song is already cemented in your brain. The guitar doubling the vocal line is a fun little touch to the song; it gives the band a sense of togetherness. This cohesion is doubly important in Deerhoof’s case, because the song is all over the place- the changes don’t really make a lot of sense, and the end of the song is definitely peculiar.


This is the world of Deerhoof: a world of bizarre pop explosions and experiments. Unusual shifts within the same album are the norm, like the heavy metal cartoon theme song of “My Diamond Star Car” to the acoustic guitar that sends us out in “Blue Cash”. As much as Deerhoof imitate, they match with innovation- each of these songs manages to put a distinctive spin on the previous groups tone.


“Sealed With a Kiss”, in particular evokes OMD’s classic Dazzle Ships album in its manipulation of a series of sounds, from brass instruments to watery Optigan keyboard. The real OMD-like moment, though, comes about one minute forty five seconds into the song, with the sped up samples played against the samples at regular time.


“Panda Panda Panda” begins like the Red Hot Chili Peppers, and ends up like Pizzicato 5, with both the vocals and cutesy aspects of the cut-and-paste lounge group being emulated. It is quite a humorous song, with Satomi Matsuzaki’s irreverent vocals providing a brilliant counterpart to the crunching guitars. Upon repeated listening though, the song shows its true colors. The surprise is lost, the guitars are a little boring, and the song is overlong (even at just over two and a half minutes).


Ultimately, Deerhoof are a novelty. They are a talented rock band, a post-rock group cut loose from the Chicago school, their chops honed to indie perfection. As much as they tackle different styles on the album, they also do so with a limited array of tones. “Sealed With a Kiss” is alone in being the one song that deviates from the guitar-drums-cute voice formula. They make fleeting music for the moment; it is enervating and chaotic, but ultimately forgettable.