The Racquette

Issue date: 11/7/08 Section: A&E

I will be the first to admit that I didn't rush to listen to the new Deerhunter record, Microcastle. Little did I know their third record would be the best they have brought to the table. The Atlanta band-fresh off a tour with extremely popular Nine Inch Nails-Deerhunter has made a mark for themselves not only in the larger music market, but proven their ability to tour on a large scale. Deerhunter, who may be a better counterpart for an ambient tour, are not copycats of Radiohead nor a replacement for them, but are similar in transitions and dynamics. Depending on one's opinion of their former work, one might think the band lacks in vocals, but the sacrifice for transgressing instrumental periods are a nice release from what indie rock has offered lately. The mood of the record is ever-changing, but brings together a generational understanding for what this band has to offer the world.

"Agoraphobia" is a song that gave me the impression they were going for the sound that Maritime achieved a few years ago with their release We the Vehicles. This being the first song to have solidified vocals and the second song on the album, the vocals are taken by the guitarist, Lockett Pundt. One of the best tracks on the record is "Little Kids" in which Bradford Cox and Pundt collaborate to create a song worth calling a "blast from the past." The 1960's mindset of psych-rock joining with modern day indie rock have given this record a timeless feel with something to write home about.

The record also includes a bonus disc entitled Weird Era Cont. It isn't a repeat or a play-off of what is in the gut of the actual record, but an addition that stimulates everything offered in the full length.

The great thing about this record is that there is a sense of direction all the while; the transgression of songs shifts from soft ambient melodies to harsh pop rock segments that seem more like a deliberation than a distraction. This is a record that has not only set itself apart from their previous releases, but has successfully blown away the expectations of 2008. This is easily a release two months shy of the New Year to stick out above the rest. Microcastle is a sense of inspiration for a time that we need all the free thought we can get. The album was released on October 28.

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