Weird Era Cont.

Weird Era Cont.
Studio album by Deerhunter
Released October 28, 2008
Recorded 2007-2008
Genre Indie rock, noise pop, shoegazing
Length 41:59
Label Kranky, 4AD
Producer Deerhunter
Deerhunter chronology

Microcastle
(2008)		 Weird Era Cont.
(2008)		 Rainwater Cassette Exchange
(2009)
Professional ratings
Review scores
Source Rating
Pitchfork Media (9.2/10)[1]
Tiny Mix Tapes [2]
Sputnikmusic [3]
The Guardian [4]
Allmusic [5]

Weird Era Cont. is the fourth album by Deerhunter released concurrently with Microcastle.[6] After Microcastle had leaked months in advance of its planned release date, the band recorded a new album in an attempt to reward those who awaited its street release date although like Microcastle, it also leaked in advance.[7] Weird Era Cont. was officially made available as a bonus disc/12", depending on format, with both the 4AD and Kranky releases.

The album is unique in the Deerhunter canon in that it includes songs composed and performed entirely by singular members of the band, outside what would normally be Atlas Sound or Lotus Plaza. The majority of the album was recorded by the band themselves, with a portion of the album recorded in a studio.[7] In terms of the production of the record, guitarist Lockett Pundt stated: "We kind of wanted it to have an old and haunted vibe in regard to the production of the songs. Probably not something that we would do again."[7]

Leak controversy

On August 18, 2008, Bradford Cox made a post on the Deerhunter blog, linking readers to download "Holiday" b/w "S.S.C." as part of the Virtual 7" series (a series of digital singles released by Cox as Atlas Sound on the Deerhunter blog) without realizing his entire Mediafire account could have been accessed from that link. At the time, the folder contained unmastered demos of Weird Era Cont. and the Atlas Sound album Logos. Someone later gained access to these folders and proceeded to upload them onto P2P networks.[8]

This later sparked an outrage by Cox, who intended Weird Era Cont. to be a surprise to those purchasing the album on its street release date.[9] In the blog, Cox expressed his distaste towards the leaks and whomever made them available, commenting: "[Weird Era Cont.] was supposed to be a surprise and actually make the idea of an 'Album Release Date' fun." Cox later apologized for his response stating "I accept my mistake. I apologize for my reaction. My anger was directed at myself. Sorry for projecting."[10]

Track listing

  1. "Backspace Century" - 2:19
  2. "Operation" - 4:04
  3. "Ghost Outfit" - 0:33
  4. "Dot Gain" - 3:19
  5. "Vox Celeste" - 3:31
  6. "Cicadas" - 2:30
  7. "Vox Humana" - 2:32
  8. "VHS Dream" - 2:33
  9. "Focus Group" - 2:49
  10. "Slow Swords" - 3:25
  11. "Weird Era" - 2:40
  12. "Moon Witch Cartridge" - 1:32
  13. "Calvary Scars II/Aux. Out" - 10:12

Personnel

Additional musicians

References

  1. ↑ Pitchfork Media review
  2. ↑ Tiny Mix Tapes review
  3. ↑ P., Lewis. "Deerhunter - Weird Era Cont. (album review)". Sputnikmusic.
  4. ↑ Lynskey, Dorian (December 19, 2008). "Deerhunter: Microcastle/Weird Era Cont.". London: The Guardian.
  5. ↑ "Deerhunter - Weird Era Cont.". Rovi.
  6. ↑ http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/news/146114-deerhunter-change-microcastle-cover-again
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 "Deerhunter – Interview with Lockett Pundt (full transcript)". You In A Fine Light. 2009-05-23. Retrieved 2010-08-28.
  8. ↑ http://stereogum.com/15211/so_much_drama_on_deerhunters_blog/news/
  9. ↑ http://pitchfork.com/news/30015-deerhunters-imicrocastlei-available-now-on-itunes/
  10. ↑ http://pitchfork.com/news/30021-bradford-cox-responds-to-leak-drama/