Mountain Moves
by Deerhoof
User Score
8.1

Universal acclaim- based on 17 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 15 out of 17
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 17
  3. Negative: 1 out of 17
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  1. justachair
    Sep 22, 2017
    6
    There are things I love about this record, but also things I feel terribly conflictive about.
    In a way, this is Deerhoof's most accessible record, which isn't a bad thing at all: They are still delightfully weird and quirky, to a fault, but their songs have never sounded as sweet or as catchy as in "Mountain Moves", an incoherent set of songs (Like all Deerhoof records) that seems to hint    There are things I love about this record, but also things I feel terribly conflictive about.
    In a way, this is Deerhoof's most accessible record, which isn't a bad thing at all: They are still delightfully weird and quirky, to a fault, but their songs have never sounded as sweet or as catchy as in "Mountain Moves", an incoherent set of songs (Like all Deerhoof records) that seems to hint at a unifying theme about an apocalyptic scenario of today's world, but especially today's america (Which makes it an interesting companion piece to Lana del Rey's Lust for Life).
    "I Will Spite Survive" featuring Jenn Wasner is one of the greatest pop songs you'll hear this year, as well as the fantastic Awkwafina-featured "Your Dystopic Creation Doesn't Fear You". However, this record is far from pop: "Begin Countdown" hints at White Stripes-inspired garage rock and math rock, whereas the weird-af but alluring "Mountain Moves" has splashes of jazz and psych rock all over it.
    And this is part of the problem with Mountain Moves: So many songs here feel like watered down Deerhoof, even when they are experimenting. The bluesy "Freedom Highway" falls flat incredibly quickly, and so many songs here feel like forgettable snippets of unfinished demos, such as "Sea Moves" and "Con Sardino". There are great tracks in here, but some serious, skippable duds that make the experience come a little bit shorter that I would've wanted.
    BEST TRACKS: I Will Spite Survive, Come Down Here & Say That, Begin Countdown, Your Dystopic Creation Does Not Fear You, Ay That's Me
    WORST TRACKS: Slow Motion Detonation, Gracias a la Vida, Sea Moves    … Expand

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
79

Generally favorable reviews - based on 16 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 12 out of 16
  2. Mixed: 4 out of 16
  3. Negative: 0 out of 16
  1. The Wire
    Dec 19, 2017
    80
    An album both generous and balanced in its patient give and take, upbeat and open, full of enthusiasm and joy. [Nov 2017, p.67]
  2. Magnet
    Sep 18, 2017
    80
    The broadest, strangest and coolest sonic canvas that Deerhoof has ever framed. [No. 146, p.52]
  3. AllMusic
    Sep 15, 2017
    80
    Mountain Moves' whimsy often feels like a party that just happens to be political, but it's this sense of joy that makes protest--and Deerhoof's career--sustainable.
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