La Isla Bonita which is English for “The Beautiful Island” (as well as the title of a Madonna song) is similar to an actual vacation to a beautiful island, different, and all too short.
The songs Deerhoof crafts on this album never stick around long enough to get boring and are delivered as if the band is on vacation and they have to go home soon. While these songs share a sense of urgency, with exception of “Mirror Monster” with its textured slowly strummed chords they are diverse. “Paradise Girls” opens up the album with what is possibly the poppiest and catchiest song that Deerhoof has ever released.
La Isla Bonita isn’t all palm trees though moments of dissonance and abrasiveness show up on these tracks and are a counter balance to the sweeter moments. Nowhere is this clearer than the track “Last Fad” which has some very ominous harmonies and a noise solo. The album quickly returns to being quirky and sweet with “Tiny Bubbles” and Deerhoof’s take on the Ramones “Exit Only.”
“Big House Waltz” is meant for dancing, with its hip moving groove and EDM sounding bass.
“Black Pitch” is the stand out on this album with its pretty delayed chords and catchy hooks that slide into a slow but beautiful outro and finally into the album’s actual outro “Oh Bummer.”
If there is one downside to this album it’s that some of the songs could’ve been a little longer. Deerhoof’s La Isla Bonita is a beautifully loud and quirky album that is definitely worth listening to.
-Charles Pfaff
4/5
