Sound: They prefer to be thought of as “ambient punk,” from what we've read, but maybe they were kidding with the punk part.
Claim to fame: In three short years, they've racked up an impressive list of famous fans — Trent Reznor, Karen O, the Liars and the guys in R.E.M. (still tuned in after all these years).
Latest effort: Microcastle (2008), where bittersweet indie-pop balladry gets filtered through a richly textured Wall of Sound inspired as much by the best of the shoe-gazer era and 4AD records as Spector's original wall.
If one song could make you love this artist, it would be: Cover Me Slowly. This majestic space-rock instrumental sets the stage for Microcastle, drifting in like Dark Side of the New Moon or maybe a heartbreaking outtake from Grandaddy's robot-rocking masterpiece, The Sophtware Slump. It sounds like angels crying, only prettier. The only downside? It's over in less than 90 seconds.
For fans of: My Bloody Valentine, Grandaddy, Flaming Lips.
Trivia: Karen O of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs described seeing a Deerhunter concert as bordering on a “religious experience.”
