User ratings in Music are temporarily disabled. More info

Friend Opportunity
by
Friend Opportunity Image
Metascore
78

Generally favorable reviews - based on 29 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
8.2

Universal acclaim- based on 32 Ratings

  • Summary: This is the first album for the San Francisco experimental rock outfit since the departure of guitarist Chris Cohen.

Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 23 out of 29
  2. Mixed: 6 out of 29
  3. Negative: 0 out of 29
  1. Stylus Magazine
    91
    Here are nine really communicative almost-pop songs, subdued but no less ambitious follow-ups to similar tendencies on 2005’s The Runners Four.
  2. Pitchfork
    89
    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.
  3. BBC collective
    80
    Now every track is an intensely creative pop gem, like those brilliant pockets scattered throughout previous releases, refined and condensed.
  4. Prefix Magazine
    80
    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.
  5. Spin
    70
    Deerhoof's... most ambitious record, but it's also their most familiar. [Feb 2007, p.85]
    All this publication's reviews
  6. The New York Times
    70
    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]
    All this publication's reviews
  7. MSN Consumer Guide (Robert Christgau)
    58
    These are "rock songs" in Ned Rorem's dreams -- they're as ornate as a high-class geisha house.

See all 29 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

Write a Review
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 14 out of 18
  2. Mixed: 4 out of 18
  3. Negative: 0 out of 18
  1. UriS
    Feb 21, 2007
    10
    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 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.… Collapse
  2. bigbob
    Jan 23, 2007
    10
    excellent!
  4. ScottF
    Feb 19, 2007
    9
    It is a more focused album than The Runners Four, and probably their best work yet.
  5. paul
    Feb 4, 2007
    8
    definitely their most accessible record to date - which is not a bad thing at all. for the people out there interested in getting into definitely their most accessible record to date - which is not a bad thing at all. for the people out there interested in getting into deerhoof - don't listen to mike s. or todd w. how can you even compare sondre lerche to deerhoof? don't get me wrong, i like sondre lerche, but his sound is homogenous. deerhoof are challenging AND entertaining - what all good music should be.… Expand
  6. EricC
    Mar 1, 2007
    8
    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 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).… Expand
  7. YigitA
    Feb 21, 2007
    8
    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 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.… Expand
  8. mikes.
    Jan 28, 2007
    5
    not a good album by any means. It has no focus and only people with ADD might enjoy the random shifts in production arrangements and not a good album by any means. It has no focus and only people with ADD might enjoy the random shifts in production arrangements and structure. They do nothing to separate themselves from any other indie release I've heard this year. When did "indie" music become a genre so that all the indie bands have similar production and vocal styles? Seriously, remember when all the punk pop release lead singers all had fake british accents. Now we indie singers that all sound soft spoken and nasal. It's a shame that indie has become so predictable. For a much better demonstration of indie music listen to the new Sondre Lerche "phantom punch"… Expand

See all 18 User Reviews

Current Music Releases

Full List »
99 Band on the Run [50th Anniversary Edition] - Paul McCartney & Wings
95 The Sky Will Still Be There Tomorrow - Charles Lloyd
92 This Could Be Texas - English Teacher
92 COWBOY CARTER - Beyoncé
91 The Carnegie Hall Concert - Alice Coltrane
90 1989 (Taylor's Version) - Taylor Swift
90 Iechyd Da - Bill Ryder-Jones
89 I Got Heaven - Mannequin Pussy
89 Black Bayou - Robert Finley
89 Tigers Blood - Waxahatchee
89 Only God Was Above Us - Vampire Weekend
88 Ozarker - Israel Nash
88 What Now - Brittany Howard
88 Hey Panda - The High Llamas
88 Orquídeas - Kali Uchis
88 The Past Is Still Alive - Hurray for the Riff Raff
87 Filthy Underneath - Nadine Shah
87 i/o - Peter Gabriel
87 Lahai - Sampha
87 Blue Lips - ScHoolboy Q
All Current Music »