Apple O'

Released in 2003, Apple O' marks a pivotal moment in Deerhoof's discography, being the first album to feature the 'classic' lineup including guitarist Chris Cohen. This addition solidified the band's dual-guitar attack, allowing for more complex, interlocking melodic patterns that contrast with the aggressive noise elements. The album was famously recorded in just nine hours, a fact that contributes to its raw, immediate, and highly dynamic sonic character. Critics often cite this record as the point where the band successfully bridged the gap between their earlier, more abrasive noise-punk experiments and the avant-pop sensibilities that would define their later work. AllMusic praised the album for its ability to be simultaneously 'challenging and charming,' noting that the band had found a way to make chaos feel accessible. It stands as a landmark of the San Francisco experimental scene and a blueprint for the 'indie-noise' subgenre.