First Impressions: Deerhunter, “Halcyon Digest”

Deerhunter
Halcyon Digest
4AD
Release Date: September 28


Tracklist:

01. Earthquake
02. Don’t Try
03. Revival
04. Sailing
05. Memory Boy
06. Desire Lines
07. Basement Scenes
08. Helicopter
09. Foundation Stairs
10. Coronado
11. He Would Have Laughed

First Impressions:

-This is the Atlanta, Georgia, outfit’s first LP since 2008’s Microcastle/Weird Era Cont. The band recorded the album at nearby Chase Park Transduction Studios in Athens and Notown Sound in Marietta. The final track of the album, “He Would Have Laughed,” was recorded separately by singer Bradford Cox and is a tribute to his friend, the late Jay Reatard.

-The album begins with the melancholy “Earthquake.” Cox’s vocals are dark and haunting, especially since the vocals are lo-fi and are layered on top of an acoustic guitar, synth and drums. It’s a cool sounding art rock track.

-“Revival” is the album’s first single. It is an upbeat tune that also feature Cox’s lo-fi sounding vocals. You can hear the band channeling early-era R.E.M. throughout the song.

-“Memory Boy” is a near perfect blend of indie-pop and alt-rock. This song is a real rocker. The band channels groups from the I.R.S. Records heyday during the '80s college rock boom in Athens and the band doesn’t waste a second--the song clocking in at a brisk 2:09.


Key Tracks:

“Don’t Cry,” “Desire Lanes,” “Helicopter.”

Predictions:

Once again and not surprisingly, Deerhunter delivers a very strong album. Combining its brand of bright indie-pop and dark alt-rock, Halycon Digest shows maturity in the band’s songwriting and there are so many great things about this album that you it's nearly impossible able to list them all. That being said, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see this album on many critics’ best album list as one of the best of 2010.