The Magic

The Magic, Deerhoof's thirteenth studio album, represents a return to the band's more spontaneous and aggressive roots while maintaining the pop sensibilities they refined in the 2010s. Recorded in an improvised studio in Albuquerque, New Mexico, the album was completed in a week-long burst of creativity. This 'quick-and-dirty' approach is reflected in the record's sonic character, which leans heavily into garage rock and noise-punk textures. Critics, including those at AllMusic and Exclaim!, noted the album's versatility, highlighting how it successfully integrates heavy metal tropes ('That Ain't No Life to Me') with ethereal synth-pop ('Criminals of the Dream'). The project is also notable for its eclectic cover of the Ink Spots' 'I Don't Want to Set the World on Fire,' which serves as a centerpiece for the album's surrealist atmosphere. Within Deerhoof's extensive catalog, The Magic stands out as one of their most uninhibited and 'rock-forward' releases, eschewing the polished production of its predecessor, La Isla Bonita, in favor of a raw, analog warmth.