Deerhoof vs. Evil isn't the first time Deerhoof has tackled evil's ugly face. On Apple O', the band took a scattered look at Adam and Eve and the mess they made in the garden. On The Runners Four, Deerhoof alluded to the flood and the ark that saved Noah. On their new one, the underlying theme isn't necessarily Biblical, but certainly goodness centered (look at the friggin' heart on the cover!). Evil is also synonymous with other Deerhoof records (i.e. playful, heady amount of sonic dabbling, to the point, great beats, well-placed noise, humorous, fragmented melodies). On "Secret Mobilization" you get slow burning riffs coupled with a desire to bounce and their take on a "Let's Dance the Jet" is basically James Bond rescuing the world from an H-bomb and making it home for supper.
If you've enjoyed Deerhoof in the past, Evil will only solidify your excitement for them. Deerhoof is unaffected by trends, time and marketability. Very few musicians start out as special as this quartet, make the music they want, and actually get better. Is it Satomi's vocals paired with unconventional drumming and big crunchy guitar moments? Yeah, but go see 'em live and you'll realize John, Greg, Satomi and Ed just love making music. And, apparently, fighting evil. - Ethan Barrons
