- Critic score
- Publication
- By date
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The New York TimesIt is something most indie-rock bands take a long time to achieve, if ever: a heavy footfall, a no-half-stepping opus, a defining statement. [9 Oct 2005]
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This is nothing short of a monumental piece of work.
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Interesting, unique, weird and inviting.
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All told, it's another triumph for a band whose creative peak seems to defy gravity with each passing year.
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By turns jubilant, confused, afraid, angry, sad, relieved, all pretty poignant, yes.
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SpinThis time they come dangerously close to conventional rock. [Nov 2005, p.101]
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Even though the manic intensity that characterized work like Reveille is missed a little here, The Runners Four is still a far cry from typical indie rock; in fact, it sounds more like one of Deerhoof's older albums played at half-speed than anything else.
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The Runners Four manages to capture the unbridled intensity and utter joy these four carry across in a live setting.
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Under The RadarThe Runners Four may not break new ground, but Deerhoof's sense of unpredictability remains. [#11, p.106]
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MojoThe band use trad tools... and trad tricks... But there's nothing trad about their cock-your-head tunings and lose-your-balance rhythms. [Dec 2005, p.100]
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The Runners Four may not come off as innovative as Reveille (2003) and Milk Man (2004) did, but the real innovation here is in making chaos sound so serene.
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The Runners Four is simply another interesting collection of tunes from a group that refuses to curtail its trespasses across musical boundaries.
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Entertainment WeeklyIn the end, however, the band's stamina outlasts our own. [11 Nov 2005, p.72]
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The band's growing gifts as songwriters put this album above so many other current releases.
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New Musical Express (NME)Ace. [15 Oct 2005, p.35]
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Paste MagazineDeerhoof has forged yet another delightfully odd pop gem, multifaceted and sparkling with creativity. [Oct/Nov 2005, p.147]
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Deerhoof are clearly interested in extending the possibilities of the classic four-piece format.
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UncutThe Runners Four displays intuitive melody and a childlike disregard for convention that's captivating enough to overcome any saccharine tendencies. [Dec 2005, p.116]
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Somehow all of this organized chaos is put together with clever hooks, resulting in some quite unique and energetic pop/rock tunes.
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Despite its exhilarating moments, The Runners Four feels like it’s missing something.
Awards & Rankings
User score distribution:
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Positive: 52 out of 69
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Mixed: 2 out of 69
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Negative: 15 out of 69
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Jan 26, 2011
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ErikHAug 13, 2007
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RGJun 13, 2007