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Stylus Magazine

Here are nine really communicative almost-pop songs, subdued but no less ambitious follow-ups to similar tendencies on 2005’s The Runners Four.

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The Onion (A.V. Club)

Friend Opportunity is adventurous and strange, but not insular. It lets everyone share the triumphant feeling of a puzzle reaching completion.

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Drowned In Sound

Though by no means as manic as previous Deerhoof long-players, this is a intriguing record which stands up next to the bewildering excellence of Runners Four.

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Pitchfork

Deerhoof, an indie band who have released plenty of discombobulated pop and no wave albums, have lately turned toward accessible, foot-stomping rock. It worked on The Runners Four, but it works better and quicker on their new album, Friend Opportunity.

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Prefix Magazine

Longtime fans might lament the loss of a second guitar and the balls-out thrashing that sometimes came with it, but on certain levels it may be a blessing in disguise. A leaner Deerhoof allows other facets of the band to shine, most notably Greg Saunier's drum work.

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Tiny Mix Tapes

Deerhoof may be more serious this time around, but the music’s still very imaginative and fun.

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Alternative Press

Deerhoof's 13 years of experience have honed their sound to near perfection and is pleasing even to the most critical of ears. [Mar 2007, p.136]

Hartford Courant

"Friend Opportunity" is arguably Deerhoof's finest album so far, and it ensures the band remains among contemporary pop's most fascinating and forward-thinking artists.

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Rolling Stone

Most of Friend Opportunity... sounds like a pure expression of musical joy.

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Urb

Deerhoof reveal new shades of interest that beckon future transformations. [Jan/Feb 2006, p.78]

All Music Guide

As good as The Runners Four was, Friend Opportunity just might be even better.

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Q Magazine

Startlingly original. [Apr 2007, p.117]

BBC collective

Now every track is an intensely creative pop gem, like those brilliant pockets scattered throughout previous releases, refined and condensed.

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Mojo

The overall effect is a bit off-key, ill-defined and generally incomprehensible yet warm and attractive. [Mar 2007, p.100]

The Guardian

It should be maddening, but the trio understand that if you're going to write songs that sound like four songs spliced together, all the constituent parts must be equally enticing.

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cokemachineglow

This doesn’t seem so much a pop internalization of Deerhoof’s unique talent as it is a kind of album-costume where they adorn the talents of other bands.

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Under The Radar

It seems that the band have finally found an idyllic balance. [#16, p.91]

Billboard

All in all, the effort has more space, less atmosphere and gets right to the point.

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PopMatters

This is probably Deerhoof’s cutest, most digestible, and instantly appealing album.

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The New York Times

Gone are most of the scratching, scrunching noises that previously signified a low budget, and now there are crisp multitracked vocals. But the band hasn’t gotten any less imaginative. [14 Jan 2007]

Spin

Deerhoof's... most ambitious record, but it's also their most familiar. [Feb 2007, p.85]

New Musical Express

Unfathomable brilliance from start to finish.

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Dot Music

Is it possible to have too many ideas? Quite possibly. Deerhoof is the sound of imagination overdrive.

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Blender

At worst, Matsuzaki's delviery can make this manic style-juggling sound irritating where it might otherwise be captivating. [Mar 2007, p.134]

Uncut

Clearly, appealing quirks can easily become irksome affectations. [Apr 2007, p.94]

musicOMH.com

Their calmest album to date.

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Dusted Magazine

The majority of Friend Opportunity fails to surprise. While it’s an easily listenable disc not without its share of good and engaging tunes, for a band who have made some of the best and most confounding pop music of the last decade, it’s a bit of a letdown.

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Village Voice

[It] doesn't pack the out-of-nowhere melodic turns that enlivened Runners.

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MSN Consumer Guide (Robert Christgau)

These are "rock songs" in Ned Rorem's dreams -- they're as ornate as a high-class geisha house.

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What Our Users Said

The average user rating for this album is 8.1 (out of 10) based on 28 User Votes

Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

Justin S gave it a6:
Argh! What is this album? The overall album isn't bad, but it's frustratingly inconsistent and track 10 should have been left on the cutting room floor. I guess I'm just too logical to understand "art-rock".

Damian M gave it an8:
This is Deerhoof's tightest album yet, and is a great place to start for new fans. It does have a few glitches (Look Away is a bad closer) but the highs will grab you instantly and you'll be saying "Choochoochoobeepbeep" in a high pitched voice before you know it. Deerhoof don't hang around, and you shouldn't either. Get this!

Eric C gave it an8:
Hmm. I'm conflicted. On the one hand, Deerhoof delivers smooth toons with dreamlike vocals that are a blast to listen to. On the other hand, they sometimes seem to be trying too hard to be an abstract indie band. They seem like they are capable of just unleashing some amazing rock if they stopped trying so hard. But even with that, I enjoyed all of the album. They have their own sound (I know, it sounds like I'm contradicting myself, but trust me, I'm not) which is something that is just too hard to come by. Definately worth buying, though you should listen to some samples to see if their sound is something you can swallow (some people can't, unfortuanately for them).

Spee gave it an8:
Those who complain about Satomi's voice have to consider: what would this band sound like if it was someone else? How well could Emily Haines or Joanna Newsom fit into the music? Matsuzaki's voice is an essential part of Deerhoof's cute and explosive energy. They wouldn't the same without her. Conrad Keely and Bob Dylan aren't great singers either, but they fit their parts.

Uri S gave it a10:
This album is definately among Deerhoof's best. It fails to dissapoint. It is rapidly changing to include new ideas for thirty six and a half minutes, and never becomes repetitive or boring. Nobody should be afraid of this album because Deerhoof has been labeled "experimental." It is very accesable and interesting. This album is amazing, and I would definately reccomend it to anyone, whether or not they have previously listened to Deerhoof or any other "experimental" artists.

Yigit A gave it an8:
I think it is unfair to say that Deerhoof sounds like all the other indie bands and treat Deerhoof as just another member of the bunch because Deerhoof has been making this eerily beautiful music since 13 years.

Scott F gave it a9:
It is a more focused album than The Runners Four, and probably their best work yet.

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