A Random Dumping of Thoughts Whilst Drowning Out Unwanted Sounds… By Ethan Covey

It's been a while since my words have hit the web. But this fine morning I'm mighty motivated due to a car alarm that's been bleating directly outside of my window since before I went to bed last night. Or at least I believe so—at this point it's been going on for so long I'm not sure what my life would sound like without its cringe-inducing screech.

So.. the remedy? Loud music. Currently I'm pouring through the new Deerhunter which I'm actually really digging. The band has gotten more than its fair share of Internet lovage over the past few years. Me? I've been a bit slow on the uptake. Their breakthrough, Cryptograms, sounded to these ears like a pretty useless slop of psych-rock wankery—and I'm generally pretty enamored of such druggy meandering. However, with Cryptograms I found myself liking the cover art a hell of a lot more than the sounds within.

Now, I'm feeling like a trip to the archive for a re-listen may be worth it. Microcastle has got me wondering whether I missed something the first time 'round or whether the band has just gotten that much tighter. Where once stood aimless third-tier dope-rock now I hear an engaging set of ’60's fueled, road-tested tunes.

My guess is this album will also signal the beginning of a unified Deerhunter backlash—my colleagues over at Dusted have already (rightly) proclaimed that the scope of the record is a little lacking in ambition.

But before the battle wages do yrself a favor and check this sh*t out—it's worth your time.

In related music news, I caught Belgium-based ambient duo Stars of the Lid last night at new-ish NYC arts spot Le Poisson Rouge (they showcase avant-garde music and serve Tater Tots!). Stars were great, playing with a string ensemble that highlighted the classical leanings of their recent work. My only complaint is that only once, during the final piece's crescendo, did the sound reach a volume level loud enough to truly feel the band's pure power.

Pianist Jocelyn Bonadio and fellow narco-droners Hammock opened. Check 'em out.

And finally, here's a photo for y'all: