Atlas Shrugs

After a Year of Carrying the World On His Shoulders, Deerhunter's Bradford Cox Rocks On His Own Terms

originally published February 13, 2008

Few years are as good or strange to a band as 2007 was to Deerhunter. Atlanta's own indie stars began the year as a humble noise-rock band that was virtually anonymous outside Georgia and known at home mostly for being awkward and at times uncomfortably chaotic.

Enter PitchforkMedia.com, stage left.

The hugely influential website championed Deerhunter, and the world soon fell in love with Cryptograms' blend of post-punk dynamics, drone and ambient atmosphere, and most of all remarkably strong pop songs. The fact that the songwriting is so strong is something that continues to draw fans to Deerhunter even a year later, confirming that both the album and its companion EP, Fluorescent Grey, are the real thing.

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So it is particularly intriguing to meet up with vocalist and principal songwriter Bradford Cox and chat about what a difference a year makes. Kicking off a massive tour in Athens, Cox is looking to give critics an entirely new reason to praise the band. Let the Blind Lead Those Who Can See But Cannot Feel (out on Kranky Records) is the debut full-length from Atlas Sound, and all sounds on the sprawling 14 tracks are generated by Cox. He is quick to downplay any significance to the solo turn, however - it's more Kevin Barnes than Justin Timberlake.

"I didn't intend to extricate myself from Deerhunter by going off on my own," he says. "The album just came out of a need to create. I feel like it has a lot to do with distracting myself from everyday insecurities and anxieties. I have to record, and I can't just wait for Deerhunter to get together."

The album will inevitably land under many magnifying glasses, and chances are it'll hold up as long as folks keep in mind that it's not a Deerhunter record. The album's mood is most strikingly different from Cryptograms. Full of buoyant melody and bright percussion and never staying in one place too long, the set would feel coked-up were it not for Cox's trademark melancholy nostalgia. Here the balance of manic joy and wistful sadness finds a nice balance.

For the world-conquering tour, Cox has assembled quite a who's-who list of experimental musicians as his backing band: Adam Forkner, of Yume Bitsu fame (and opening the show as White Rainbow); Honey Owens, also opening as Valet; and Brian Foote of Nudge, just to name three. All are notable representatives of the newer Kranky label sound, and it'll be interesting to hear in what directions the songs travel. "I am super-excited about everyone in this group," says Bradford. "I was lucky enough to have it just work out that way."

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No one can have a year like Cox's '07 and not have a million stories and topics to discuss. But when asked about the trials, tribulations and stunning successes of the past 12 months, Cox chooses an understated approach: "Well, I would say I've learned a lot and changed a lot as a result. I realized that the only thing that matters is trying to make good songs, and not expecting anything from it. I'm very grateful for all the luck and great opportunities we have had."

It's a succinct statement from a young musician who with great frequency saw his words, lyrics and actions picked apart to the point of pointlessness. The last the greater world heard of Deerhunter, the band had gone on hiatus. Cox, however, has some great news on that front.

"Deerhunter is actually not really on hiatus anymore," he says. "We're rehearsing the songs for the next album, which we will record when I'm done with this tour."

Deerhunter's return isn't the only thing on Cox's plate. "I'm going to Morocco with Ed Droste [of Grizzly Bear] and Owen Pallett [Final Fantasy] to make a record of some sort." Oh, and that next Deerhunter album is, fingers-crossed, coming out before Halloween.

But in the meantime, there's plenty to enjoy with Let the Blind Lead Those Who Can See But Cannot Feel [see review here]. There's an infectious and kaleidoscopic feel to the record, and although the effect can be disorienting at times, the bottom line is that the songs succeed because they're simply well-written. It might not take the world by storm, because by now we all expect great things to come from Cox after being inundated with thousands of thumbs-ups. It's actually easy to forget, after all that hype and conjecture, that Bradford Cox is a true talent, and there's more to come.

Michael Wehunt

WHO: Atlas Sound, White Rainbow, Valet
WHERE: 40 Watt Club
WHEN: Saturday, February 16
HOW MUCH: $7 (21+), $9 (18+)