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Microcastle

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Microcastle
Studio album by
Deerhunter
ReleasedAugust 19, 2008
RecordedApril 2008, at Rare Book Room Studios, New York
Genre
Length40:53
Label
ProducerNicolas Vernhes
Deerhunter chronology
Fluorescent Grey (EP)
(2007) 		Microcastle
(2008) 		Weird Era Cont.
(2008)
Singles from Microcastle
  1. "Nothing Ever Happened"
    Released: October 14, 2008
Alternative cover

Microcastle is the third studio album by Deerhunter. After the album had been leaked on the internet, it became available on iTunes on August 19, 2008,[4] while physical copies were released on October 27, 2008.[5] In the U.S. the album was released on Kranky and on 4AD in Europe. The album was recorded over the course of one week in April 2008 by Nicolas Vernhes at Rare Book Room Studios in Brooklyn, NY.[6] In the U.S., the album has managed to sell over 50,000 units.[7]

Unlike Cryptograms, the band decided to forgo heavy utilization of effects pedals. Throughout the recording of the record, only a number of drum tracks and the vocals on "Agoraphobia" were treated. Of the musical direction of the new material, Bradford Cox has said "I'm more interested in the micro-structure. I want things to be a lot shorter, I don't want there to be as much long-windedness to it." The band premiered the album live at Brooklyn's Market Hotel on April 11, 2008. A bonus disc, Weird Era Cont., was released concurrently with the album.

"Saved By Old Times" features an appearance by Cole Alexander of the Black Lips. His appearance was recorded over an iChat session.[6]

Vinyl versions

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The original pressing of the vinyl on Kranky was one white vinyl LP, had a single panel jacket with different artwork than the CD (see alternate artwork), and came with Weird Era Cont. on CD in its own paper sleeve. Since the album has gained popularity, there has been another pressing, with both parts of the album being pressed on black vinyl in a gatefold jacket with the orange artwork originally used for the CD.

Reception

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Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
AnyDecentMusic?8.3/10[8]
Metacritic81/100[9]
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[10]
The A.V. ClubA−[11]
Entertainment WeeklyB+[12]
The Guardian[13]
Los Angeles Times[14]
Mojo[15]
Pitchfork9.2/10[16]
Q[17]
Rolling Stone[18]
Spin[19]

Microcastle has been met with much acclaim since its release, currently holding an 81 rating on Metacritic, from a weighted average of 35 professional critics, indicating "Universal Acclaim".[9] Both Tiny Mix Tapes[20] and Sputnikmusic awarded the album with a perfect score.[21] Spin,[19] Billboard,[22] The New York Times[23] and The Guardian[13] all gave the album an 8/10. Rolling Stone rewarded the album a 3.5 score, and RS contributor, Daniel Kreps listed Microcastle/Weird Era Cont. as his favorite album of 2008.[24] Pitchfork also rated the album highly, naming the album 50th best record of the decade[25] and 5th best of the year,[26] along with awarding it with a 9.2 upon initial review.[16] Pitchfork also named “Nothing Ever Happened” the 6th best song of the year[27] and 81st best song of the decade.[28] Hype Machine rated the album as 11th best of the year.[29]

Track listing

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All tracks are written by Bradford Cox, except where noted

No.TitleLyricsMusicLength
1."Cover Me (Slowly)" (instrumental) 
1:21
2."Agoraphobia" 
  • Pundt
3:22
3."Never Stops"  3:04
4."Little Kids" 
  • Cox
  • Pundt
4:22
5."Microcastle"  3:40
6."Calvary Scars"  1:37
7."Green Jacket"  2:09
8."Activa"  1:49
9."Nothing Ever Happened" 
5:50
10."Saved by Old Times"  3:50
11."Neither of Us, Uncertainly"Pundt
  • Pundt
5:25
12."Twilight at Carbon Lake"  4:24
Total length:40:53
  • Tracks 6–8 are part of a suite

Personnel

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Deerhunter
Additional musicians
Technical staff

Chart positions

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Charts (2008) Peak
position
US Billboard 200[30] 123
US Billboard Heatseekers[31] 1
US Billboard Independent Albums[32] 14
US Billboard Tastemaker Albums[33] 10

References

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  1. ^ Thomas, Fred. "Deerhunter - Microcastle/Weird Era Continued". AllMusic. Retrieved 11 July 2017.
  2. ^ Hogan, Marc. "Deerhunter - Microcastle/Weird Era Cont". Pitchfork. Retrieved 25 July 2018.
  3. ^ Burnett, Joseph (May 1, 2013). "Reviews: Deerhunter - Monohunter". The Quietus. Retrieved January 16, 2023.
  4. ^ Deerhunter's Microcastle Available Now on iTunes. Pitchfork. Retrieved on 2010-09-29.
  5. ^ KRANK 127 - Deerhunter "Microcastle" Archived 2010-01-04 at the Wayback Machine. Brainwashed.com. Retrieved on 2010-09-29.
  6. ^ a b c "Deerhunter's Microcastle Album Art & "Game Of Diamonds" (Demo)". Stereogum. 10 July 2008. Retrieved 2010-08-21.
  7. ^ Interview with Cam Lindsay, Exclaim! October Issue. url= "Deerhunter". Archived from the original on 2010-10-05. Retrieved 2015-10-16. {accessed September 29, 2010}
  8. ^ "Microcastle by Deerhunter reviews". AnyDecentMusic?. Retrieved January 24, 2020.
  9. ^ a b "Reviews for Microcastle by Deerhunter". Metacritic. Retrieved November 8, 2011.
  10. ^ Phares, Heather. "Microcastle – Deerhunter". AllMusic. Retrieved December 23, 2019.
  11. ^ Kornhaber, Spencer (October 27, 2008). "Deerhunter: Microcastle". The A.V. Club. Retrieved September 29, 2010.
  12. ^ Vozick-Levinson, Simon (November 7, 2008). "Microcastle". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved April 9, 2016.
  13. ^ a b Lynskey, Dorian (December 19, 2008). "Deerhunter: Microcastle/Weird Era Cont". The Guardian. London. Retrieved April 9, 2016.
  14. ^ Wappler, Margaret (October 28, 2008). "Album review: Deerhunter's 'Microcastle'". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved April 9, 2016.
  15. ^ "Deerhunter: Microcastle". Mojo (181): 108. December 2008.
  16. ^ a b Hogan, Marc (October 27, 2008). "Deerhunter: Microcastle / Weird Era Cont". Pitchfork. Retrieved August 21, 2010.
  17. ^ "Deerhunter: Microcastle". Q (268): 121. November 2008.
  18. ^ Ganz, Caryn (October 30, 2008). "Microcastle : Deerhunter". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on March 3, 2009. Retrieved April 9, 2016.
  19. ^ a b Perpetua, Matthew (September 2008). "Don't Kill Yr Idols". Spin. 24 (9): 111. Retrieved April 9, 2016.
  20. ^ "Deerhunter - Microcastle/Weird Era Cont. Music Review". Tiny Mix Tapes. Retrieved 2010-08-21.
  21. ^ Deerhunter - Microcastle (staff review). Sputnikmusic. Retrieved on 2010-09-29.
  22. ^ [1] Archived November 15, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
  23. ^ Pareles, Jon (November 23, 2008). "Major Chords, Massed Harmonies". The New York Times.
  24. ^ "Critics' Picks: Daniel Kreps' Top 10 Albums and Singles of 2008". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on September 10, 2012. Retrieved 2012-03-01.
  25. ^ Staff Lists: The Top 200 Albums of the 2000s: 50-21 Archived 2013-08-22 at the Wayback Machine. Pitchfork (2009-10-01). Retrieved on 2010-09-29.
  26. ^ Staff Lists: The 50 Best Albums of 2008 Archived 2011-09-25 at the Wayback Machine. Pitchfork (2008-12-19). Retrieved on 2010-09-29.
  27. ^ Staff Lists: The 100 Best Tracks of 2008. Pitchfork (2008-12-15). Retrieved on 2010-09-29.
  28. ^ Staff Lists: The Top 500 Tracks of the 2000s: 100-51 Archived 2009-08-22 at the Wayback Machine. Pitchfork (2009-08-19). Retrieved on 2010-09-29.
  29. ^ Top 50 Albums of 2008 / The Hype Machine. Hypem.com. Retrieved on 2010-09-29.
  30. ^ "Deerhunter - Billboard 200 chart". Billboard. Retrieved November 28, 2013.
  31. ^ "Deerhunter - Heatseekers Albums chart". Billboard. Retrieved November 28, 2013.
  32. ^ "Deerhunter - Independent Albums chart". Billboard. Retrieved November 28, 2013.
  33. ^ "Deerhunter - Tastemaker Albums chart". Billboard. Retrieved November 28, 2013.
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