Wikipedia

Deerhunter

Not to be confused with American rock bandThe Dear Hunter.For other uses, seeDeer Hunter (disambiguation).

Deerhunteris an Americanindie rockband fromAtlanta, Georgia,formed in 2001. The band currently consists ofBradford Cox(vocals, guitar, keyboards),Moses Archuleta(drums, electronics, sound treatments),Lockett Pundt(guitar, vocals, keyboards),Josh McKay(bass) and Javier Morales (keyboards, synthesizers, alto saxophone).

Deerhunter
Deerhunter performing in 2015. Left to right: Bradford Cox, Moses Archuleta, Josh McKay, Lockett Pundt.
Deerhunter performing in 2015. Left to right:Bradford Cox,Moses Archuleta,Josh McKay,Lockett Pundt.
Background information
OriginAtlanta,Georgia,United States
Genres
Years active2001–2019 (on hiatus)
Labels
Members
Past members
  • Dan Walton
  • Paul Harper
  • Justin Bosworth
  • Colin Mee
  • Adam Bruneau
  • Whitney Petty
  • Josh Fauver
  • Frankie Broyles
  • Rhasaan Manning
Websitedeerhuntermusic

Founded by Cox, Archuleta and Harper, Deerhunter's first stable line-up included guitarist Colin Mee and bass guitarist Justin Bosworth. After recording asplit EP with Alphabets,Bosworth died on March 29, 2004, of head injuries suffered during a skateboarding accident. He was 24 years old. The band recorded their first studio album,Turn It Up Faggot(2005), withJosh Fauveroccupying the vacant role of bass guitarist. Following the album's release, Cox asked childhood friend,Lockett Pundt,to join Deerhunter as a song-writing partner, second guitarist, and occasional lead vocalist.

Recorded in two days, the band's follow-up,Cryptograms(2007), combinedambientwork and more angular garage rock songs. The release was quickly followed by the EP,Fluorescent Grey.While touring the releases, Mee departed from Deerhunter, due to disagreements over the band's schedule, but rejoined soon after. Deerhunter released two studio albums,MicrocastleandWeird Era Cont.,in 2008. Both albums were recorded without the participation of Mee, who again departed for a second and final time. The band enlisted former cheerleader and high school friend of Cox, Whitney Petty, as his touring replacement.

Recorded as a four-piece with producer Ben H. Allen and engineerDavid Barbethe band's fourth studio album,Halcyon Digest(2010), was released to widespread critical acclaim, ranked asPitchfork's29th andStereogum's78th best album of the decade.[1][2]In 2012, the departure of long-time bassist Fauver placed the band's future in doubt. Cox, Pundt and Archuleta regrouped with new members, bassist Josh McKay and guitarist Frankie Broyles, to record the primitivistgarage rockandmusique concrète-influencedMonomania(2013). The album expanded on a darker and more disturbing sound, complete with treated tape recordings of rats and insects, exploring themes of disassociation and mental illness.

The following year, Cox was struck by a vehicle while walking his dog near his home in Atlanta'sGrant Park.[3]During his recovery and rehabilitation he focused on writing songs resulting in the albumFading Frontier(2015).[4]Several years later, the band released their most recent album,Why Hasn't Everything Already Disappeared?(2019).[5]

Deerhunter have described themselves as "ambientpunk,"though they incorporate a wide range of genres, includingnoise,garage rock,[6]art rock,as well as significantpopelements.

History

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2001–2005: Formation andTurn It Up Faggot

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The band was co-founded in 2001 by vocalistBradford Coxand drummer and keyboardistMoses Archuleta.[7]The name Deerhunter (which Cox has repeatedly remarked upon despising) was chosen by the band's first drummer, Dan Walton. Cox did not care then what the band was called as he thought it to be just another temporary art project. The band was joined by Colin Mee, whom Cox met while Mee was living at the Atlanta labelDie Slaughterhaus Recordswith members ofBlack Lips.The two bonded over a shared interest inDadaand 20th Century ComposersOlivier MessiaenandGyörgy Ligeti,as well as British bandsThe Fall,The Raincoats,andCabaret Voltaire.In 2004 the group's second bassist, Justin Bosworth, died of head injuries suffered in askateboardingaccident at age 24. He appeared on only one Deerhunter release, theDeerhunter/Alphabets Split,issued before their debut album.Joshua Fauver,of Atlanta punk band Electrosleep International, then took up the position as bassist. Deerhunter's first album,Turn It Up Faggot,was "the result of a lot of negativity".[8]After the band finished the album, in an indication of how difficult it was to record in the wake of his bandmate's death, Cox said "I don't ever want to make this album again".[8]The album's liner notes are dedicated to Bosworth. After the release ofTurn It Up Faggot,Cox asked his best friend from high school, Lockett Pundt, to join the band.

2005–2007:CryptogramsandFluorescent GreyEP

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The band, now featuring Pundt'sreverb-saturated guitar sound, went on tour, playing shows with the likes ofLightning BoltandGang Gang Dance.This tour culminated in a recording session engineered by acclaimed folk musicianSamara Lubelskiat Rare Book Room,New York City.[9]This session failed to produce anything that could be used, due to Cox's mental and physical state at the time, as well as technical disagreements that emerged with Lubelski.[9]Cox has kept a copy of the sessions on "a scratched CD-R under my bed" and has stated that "nobody will ever hear them".[9]In spite of Cox's claim excerpts from those sessions were later posted as a free download on the band's blog. The band returned to the same studio where they recorded their first album outsideAthens,Georgiaand decided to give recording their second album another attempt. This was partly due to advice received from the bandLiars,who encouraged them to re-record it.[9]

It took only two days in November 2005 for the band to record their second album, entitledCryptograms.In 2006, before its release,Pitchfork Mediaadded "Spring Hall Convert", a song from the record, to its "Infinite Mix Tape series".[10]The album was released byKrankyin January 2007. The album revealed a more subdued and introverted[11]sound for the band. As with their first album,Cryptogramsalso had a dedication inside the album's liner notes, this time to a friend of Cox's, Bradley Ira Harris, aheroinaddict who died in 2005.[9]

On May 8, 2007, the group released theFluorescent GreyEP, which was recorded in July 2006. The EP featured more use of rudimentary keyboards, bells, and pianos.

On August 29, 2007, the group became a quartet with the loss of guitarist Colin Mee. Mee departed because he "...couldn't make it to a couple of shows we had booked next weekend and that was unacceptable to certain bandmates".[12]Mee rejoined the band four months later, but departed the band for the final time before 2008.[13]

2007–2009:Microcastle/Weird Era Cont.andRainwater Cassette ExchangeEP

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Deerhunter contributed the song "After Class" toLiving Bridge,a compilation put together by Rare Book Room Records. The song was recorded in the same place where they attempted to record their second album. They returned to Rare Book Room studios in April 2008 to record"Oh, It's Such A Shame,"aJay Reatardcover that would be released as a split single with Reatard himself covering theFluorescent Greytitle track.[14]In the same month they recorded their next album,Microcastle.Prior to the announced release date for the LP, the band continued to tour, with one date opening forThe Smashing Pumpkinsand a select of fall shows opening forNine Inch Nails.[15]

The quartet's third offering,Microcastle,was set to be released on October 27, 2008, although it became available through peer-to peer networks in late May. In an attempt to reward fans who awaited for the street date, the group reconvened to record a new album of material,Weird Era Cont.,which later leaked before its street date also. However,Microcastledid manage to debut at No. 123 on the Billboard 200,[16]a first for Deerhunter. Mee left the band again, for the final time, and the band enlisted former cheerleader and high school friend of Cox, Whitney Petty, as his touring replacement.

While touring theMicrocastlealbum in theUK,Cox booked an evening in a studio and recorded what would become theOn Platts Eyottcassette. This was released in two batches of 100 copies each; an edition of pink cassettes was given out to competition winners by his record label and orange cassettes were sold at a specialHalloweenconcert in Atlanta on October 31, 2008. In a comment left on the Deerhunter blog on February 28, Cox announced that Whitney Petty was no longer a member of the band, stating:[17]

We will be a four-piece again for now. Whitney is what you would call a 'free spirit.' She's also a great friend. Deerhunter is the four of us. We might have people come and go and that's just how we keep things interesting for ourselves.

While on tour, the band managed to releaseRainwater Cassette Exchange,an EP of songs written during theMicrocastlesessions, and "Vox Celeste 5,"a Sub Pop single of songs fromWeird Era Cont.andMicrocastle.To promote the releases, they embarked on a short summer trek withNo AgeandDan Deaconas the "No Deachunter Tour."[18]Later during a performance atAll Tomorrow's Parties2009 Music Festival in September (curated byThe Flaming Lips),[19]Bradford Cox announced that the band will be going on hiatus to "devote time to some other things," calling the show their last "for a long time."[20]During the hiatus, Bradford Cox continued with Atlas Sound and released his second albumLogos,Josh Fauver resumed work with his record label Army of Bad Luck, Moses Archuleta enrolled in culinary school, and Lockett Pundt performed some shows in celebration ofThe Floodlight Collective,his debut album as Lotus Plaza released in March of that year.

2010–2012:Halcyon Digest

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Deerhunter performing at the2010 Coachella Festival

In early January, it was revealed that the group would serve as openers on the upcomingSpoontour to promote their albumTransference.Along with the Spoon tour, the group also announced some shows of their own, including stops at the 2010Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival,and All Tomorrow's Parties (curated bySimpsonscreator,Matt Groening.)[21]During these shows, the band began to debut some new material, including the songs "Helicopter", "Primitive 3D", "Fountain Stairs" and "Revival",[22]all of which would end up being recorded for their next studio session to follow.

In June, Deerhunter took a short break from touring to recordHalcyon Digest.Initial news of the album became public when music industry firm, Milk Money, posted a message on theirTwitteraccount that the band had been mi xing the new record with Ben Allen (who also worked onAnimal Collective'sMerriweather Post PavilionandFall Be Kind EP.)[23]A week later the band launched a new website, where they announced the title and release date of the LP, along with aguerillastyle marketing campaign.[24]The first single, "Revival,"was made available to fans who had assisted the band with promotion for the new album through a link via official email. In the same month, director John Albrecht posted a trailer for an upcoming live video on hisVimeopage set to be released later in the year.[25]Halcyon Digestwas released on September 28, 2010, to critical acclaim: it received a five-star review fromAllMusic,and was ranked the third-best album of the year byPitchfork.[26][27]

In 2012, it was announced that Deerhunter was to provide an original score toThe Curve of Forgotten Things,a short film by the fashion lineRodartestarringElle Fanning.[28]That same year, bassist Josh Fauver left the band via email in 2012, just prior to the recording ofMonomania.[29][30]

2013–2014:Monomania

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On March 22, 2013, Deerhunter announced their sixth studio album would be released on May 7, 2013. The album, entitledMonomania,was recorded in New York with frequent collaborator and producer Nicolas Vernhes at his Rare Book Room Studio, where Microcastle and Parallax were taped. ForMonomania,Josh McKay took over bass duties, and Atlanta native Frankie Broyles was brought in to play guitar.[31]Deerhunter's press release described the record as "nocturnal garage"[6]while having anavant gardecontext.[32]On April 2, 2013, the band performed the song "Monomania" onLate Night with Jimmy Fallon.[33]

Deerhunter headlined and curated theAll Tomorrow's Partiesmusic festival held at Pontins holiday camp inCamber Sands,England from the June 21–23, 2013.[34]At the event they performed theCryptograms,Microcastle&Halcyon Digestalbums in full, withAtlas Soundalso performing. Deerhunter was announced as a headliner atAustin Psych Fest,[35]the 6th annual festival held April 26–28, 2013, Heineken Primavera Sound (Barcelona),Optimus Primavera Sound(Porto), and perform live at Dancity Festival (Foligno, Italy) along withFYF Festin Los Angeles during 2015.[36]Deerhunter have also been asked to play at the Meredith Music Festival this December in Victoria, Australia.

On December 4, 2014, frontman Bradford Cox was seriously injured and hospitalized after being hit by a car in Atlanta, GA.[37]

2015–2017:Fading Frontier

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On August 16, 2015, Deerhunter released a video for a new song titled "Snakeskin," and announced that their new album,Fading Frontier,was released on October 16, 2015, on the 4AD label.[38]The song featured alto saxophonist Zumi Rosow and the video was directed by Valentina Tapia. On October 13, Deerhunter shared the video for 'Living My Life', dedicated to Miles Davis.[39]The LP was very well received by critics.[40]

2018–2019:Double Dream of SpringandWhy Hasn’t Everything Already Disappeared?

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In 2018, the band released a cassette-only studio album during their Spring 2018 tour calledDouble Dream of Spring.[41]A mostly instrumental album, it was made to fill the void until their next album would be released the following year.

Former bass guitarist Joshua Fauver died in November 2018 at age 39.[29]He was a member of the band from 2004 to 2012.

Deerhunter's eighth albumWhy Hasn't Everything Already Disappeared?was released on January 18, 2019.[42]The album's first single, "Death in Midsummer", was released in October 2018 co-produced byCate Le Bon.[42]

On Halloween 2019, Deerhunter released the 13-minute long single "Timebends". A separate entity to their eighth studio album,Why Hasn't Everything Already Disappeared?,"Timebends" is a partly-improvised stream-of-consciousness outpouring, recorded live direct to tape and in one take with minimal overdubs and mastered using a completely analog signal chain.[43]

The next day, Cox released theMyths 004EP in collaboration withCate Le Bon,recorded inMarfa, Texasas part of an ongoing series withDev Hynes,Ariel PinkandConnan Mockasin.[44]

The band subsequently spent November 2019 on tour around Europe.[45]

Musical style and influences

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The band has cited many artists and genres that have influenced Deerhunter's sound.The New York Timesconcert review mentioned "the Breeders,Stereolab,discorhythm,krautrock,Sonic Youth’s noise breakdowns,girl-group pop,the picked eighth-note bass lines of 1980s indie rock ", as influences.[46]The song "Coronado" fromHalcyon Digestfeatures saxophone sounds inspired bythe Rolling Stones' albumExile on Main St.Cox recalled, "I wanted that sax on there because I was listening to the Stones'Exile on Main Streissue a lot...I began to see a pattern forming. Saxophones are becoming this thing. That's why we did it early. Next year everyone's gonna have a saxophone on their record because saxophones are just cool. "[47]

Deerhunter has been described asindie rock,[48][49][50][51]experimental rock,[52][53]psychedelic pop,[54]noise rock,[55]garage rock[56]andart rock.[57]

Members

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Timeline

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Discography

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Main article:Deerhunter discography

Touring

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During live shows, Cox has wornsundressesand has performed with fake blood smeared over his face and hands, their live show being "much more savage" than their albums.[59]In his explanation of the sundresses Cox has said, "I don't like the idea of going around stage in just jeans and a t-shirt. It seems anticlimactic."[60]

Deerhunter have supported many bands on tour, includingNine Inch Nails,TV on the Radio,Project Pat,Liars,Yeah Yeah Yeahs,Spoon,The Smashing Pumpkins,The Fiery Furnaces,Lower Dens,Ex Models,Battles,andKings of Leon.[citation needed]

See also

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See also

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References

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  2. ^"The 100 Best Albums Of The 2010s".Stereogum.November 4, 2019.RetrievedNovember 14,2019.
  3. ^"Bradford Cox Hospitalized After Being Hit By Car".pitchfork.Pitchfork.Retrieved19 March2024.
  4. ^"Beyond Nostalgia: A Conversation with Deerhunter's Bradford Cox".pitchfork.Pitchfork.Retrieved19 March2024.
  5. ^"Why Hasn't Everything Already Disappeared?".Pitchfork.Retrieved6 August2024.
  6. ^ab"Brooklyn based Music Blog: Album Review: Deerhunter - Monomania (Nocturne Garage Rock)"(in French). Still in Rock. 13 April 2013.RetrievedSeptember 29,2015.
  7. ^Stosuy, Brandon (May 23, 2007)."Quit Your Day Job: Deerhunter".Stereogum.Archived fromthe originalon June 26, 2007.RetrievedJune 20,2007.
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  27. ^"The Top 50 Albums of 2010".Pitchfork.December 15, 2010.RetrievedAugust 24,2024.
  28. ^Donnelly, Erin (February 4, 2011)."Elle Fanning Plays It Cool in Rodarte Film - Sneak Peek".FashionEtc.RetrievedApril 2,2012.
  29. ^abMinsker, Evan (November 4, 2018)."Former Deerhunter Bassist Josh Fauver Dead at 39".Pitchfork.RetrievedNovember 4,2018.
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  52. ^Brandle, Lars (August 17, 2015)."Deerhunter Share New Album Details, Release Video for 'Snakeskin'".Billboard.RetrievedOctober 12,2019.
  53. ^Long, Zach (November 14, 2018)."Pitchfork is hosting a winter music festival inside the Art Institute of Chicago".Time Out Chicago.RetrievedOctober 12,2019.
  54. ^Dick, Jonathan (June 17, 2014)."an interview w/ Neil Halstead of Slowdive (on the reunion, a new album, writing songs & more)".BrooklynVegan.RetrievedOctober 12,2019.
  55. ^"Black Lips".SPIN.Vol. 24. February 2008. p. 50.
  56. ^Lindsay, Cam (January 17, 2017)."We went for Deerhunter, and Kings of Leon's set proved why".NOW Magazine.RetrievedOctober 12,2019.[permanent dead link‍]
  57. ^Thomas, Fred."Microcastle/Weird Era Continued - Deerhunter | Songs, Reviews, Credits".AllMusic.RetrievedOctober 12,2019.
  58. ^Stosuy, Brandon (November 13, 2008)."New Deerhunter Videos –" Cover Me (Slowly) "&" Microcastle "".Stereogum.RetrievedOctober 16,2015.
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