horrible band. I don't know why anyone would want to listen to this garbage

... to muddle through the mess that is this album. But I guess my biggest problem with this album is the seemingly intentional lack of originality. Every trick in the book was thrown into this production, shoving out anything that resembles creativity.

Purely a collection of paint-by-numbers tracks. I feel like a sucker for buying this album.

at first listen cryptograms is a strange muddle of shoegaze/postpunk/psyche/pop insanity. at times the listener will require much patience. but push on, savor the immediate, make the connections to some favorites like joy division for instance (track 2 is a gimmie). you will be rewarded for sure.

This album has it's high points, but micro is more my speed.

This album sounds like a combination of Sigur Ros's Von, Death Cab's sound, and some of the guitar work of The Smashing Pumpkins. This album is what Von should have been and its an exciting and intreging change from the usual indie albums. Buy this if you like stuff that's a little out there. I love albums, like this, that flow like one piece of music.

i expected more from this, but i like how the whole album flows from one song to another

so overated

Amazing what people will gush over these days, all it takes is some emo hair and overly skinny bandmates, vast amounts of art-school pretense and the ability to blindly rip off countless bands that have come before . Nothing these guys do is original, they merely cover better bands that most "hipsters" haven't bothered to listen too and even then not very well. I do admit they are great at masking their obvious musical shortcomings by appearing "deep" and "ponderous", but no amount of hipster postering can overcome simply bad music. Listening to too much Slowdive and recording lo-fi a great album does not make.

Cryptograms came out in January and I honestly didn't take this out of my cd player until June. Bradford Cox, the lead singer of Deerhunter, is a tiny man who capitalizes his voice on this album better than almost any other singer out there today. Deerhunter are not afraid to use distortion upon distortion when it comes to any sound they compose. I had the honor of seeing these guys play at the Pitchfork music festival in Chicago, IL and could have died happily afterwards. Not many rock albums made my top spot this year, and I wouldn't exactly classify this as "rock", but Cryptograms deffinetly delivers the dynamics that any good rock album should be able to achieve. I haven't been this anxious for the future of a band since M83. This is the best possible example of what you get when you meld psychedelia with shoegazing ambience/rock.

that's not to say what these guys have done hasn't been done before - just in the way they do it. very nice.

oh and be sure to be careful, this album is highly psychedelic..

A classic case of brilliance obscured beneath layer after layer of seemingly uninviting noise and lyrical ambiguities...it took time to get into, but once I did, I was hooked. One of the year's (and possibly decade's) most original new release and band. Ambient Punk is the new Post-Rock.

I got this because I saw the movie. Boy was I disappointed. I am not a fan of op-art, and the deer freaks me out. I don't think much thought went into this record cover. It makes me feel like the band is from St. Paul or something. Maybe Detroit. I guess it is psychedelic. Do I want to shoot this deer? How do I feel about this? You tell me.

deerhunter is original and constantly interesting. the album is best when listened to as a whole, but personal favorites: "strange lights", "Hazel St" and "Heatherwood"

These guys are amazing performers. I love their albums. I suggest getting the EP, Flourescenct Grey as well. If you get the chance to see them live, don't miss it! The band went out of their way to make sure every member signed my album cover!

It started out with a beer and a shot. it ended with an opening act stealing the show. In a pack we traveled in san francisco down the way to the 12 galaxies i believe to see "the Ponys". It ended up being the frickin deerhunter show, complete with birdman who swallows microphone. Unbelievable live act. I mean do you remember the first time you went to a show, possibly all ages and saw that really amazing act, the one you were mezmorized by, the one that you thought about before you went to sleep, the one that made you trip out on nothing more than your own imagination. Welcome home then. The album here is fantastic just to better listen to the vocals, however if you ever find yourself with the opportunity to see this band live....well then leave your couch, put down your bong, take the bus, bum a ride, put your finger up and feel alive...for ron burgandy has got a band for all, short, fat , insignifant and lost Oh and tall...hunt for the deer, buy the album and support your local dance scene....i hope these gents don't repent and come back soon with more melodies.....JohnBoy from jersey

IF YOU LOVED THE MOVIE, YOU WILL LOVE THIS ALBUM.

RUSSIAN ROULETTE ANY ONE?

few cds have made me this happy. pleasure to listen to, though an acquired taste.

I saw these guys open for the yeah yeah yeahs in Atlanta.

and they were awful.

in fact my friend threw a tampon at them.

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Listening to this CD my cause states of extreme euphoria, bliss, and disorientation. Please consult with your physician before use.

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Waves of sound bubble up from nowhere---layer on top one another--- until you have no idea what the hell going on.

A musical narrative of the first order.

They are Janes Addiction buried under 'indie prog' skin like a tick. Its bands like this one, Wilderness, Of Montreal, Arcade Fire and The New Pornographers, and of course Radiohead, that stop and say, "Hey, whatever you used to listen to, we apologize for taking you away from it."

good sound

Could have been.....

Cryptograms isn't about immediate satisfaction. Its about a storming you with droning, dithered confusion that will perplex you throughout its bi-polar tracklist. However, by listen 3 or 4, the music slows down for your ears and the intracacies pop through. The tension shifts become genius, the undeciphered vocals gain Mark Hollis-like awesomeness, and every last detail of the songs become important. Just wait. Its a riddle of a record but a big and gorgeous one at that.

This CD excites me as much as tv on the radio's "return to cookie mountain"...and that is hard to do...i highly recommend this cd to anyone...put it in your car blare the stereo on a dark road in the middle of nowhere

almost

the last review from mayretta sweat really captures something. this album will probably be understood best by younger audiences with open minds. it captures the existential prettiness happening in the abandoned corners of suburbia. Dennis Cooper, a fantastic queer punk author has written a cycle of novels (beginning with 'Closer') that explore similar terrain.

unfinished subdivision cul-de-sacs 12 on a Friday night rolling my first cigarette listening to the train roll by the square waffle house 4 am staring out the window kennesaw mountain supposed to be at school

great album from atlanta band... throbbing bass...drone... grooves and guitars

Really all I can say is that this album has completely blown my mind. Now I don't mean to suggest that this is the most revolutionary thing to happen to music in years by saying this, you could easily make references to such groups as My Bloody Valentine or Slowdive etc but the way in which these influences are executed are starkly refreshing.

Split into two segments the first being a lurching cloud of ambience and explosion the second (starting with Spring Hall Convert) turn into driven yet touching pop pieces that always seem to find a way to slip through your fingers.

There is much more backstory to this album and you can find that any number of places so I won't bother with that, but really I'd say this album is a must hear. One that should be experienced from beginning to end in one sitting.

The whole album is amazing but recommended songs include: Strange Lights, Cryptograms, Octet and Hazel St.

Songs like "Spring Hall Convert" and "Heatherwood" sound like electro goth rock masterpieces. I can't believe how distorted and compelling this album is. Psychedelia and ambience also play very major roles that will ultimately make this (possibly) the best album you'll hear this year. "Octet" provides a Boards of Canada- esque sound in the beginning and then the drums and guitar start and it becomes something epic. Deerhunter is an inspired band, you can hear their influences (i.e. Animal Collective/Panda Bear) through this stunning album but the fact of the matter is they make the music their own. This album is the electronic parallel to Sung Tongs, it is the goth rock equivalent to Panda Bear, it is simply put a piece of art.

Score:

10/10

Highlights:

Octet (The best track you'll hear this year!)

Heatherwood

this album is like a day spent tallying indian proverbs