The Deer - “Acid Wash”

SXSW 2022 - OEB Score: 7; Popularity Index: 4

Pairs Well With…Weyes Blood, Barmorhea, Japanese Breakfast

Things have been pretty quiet in terms of what’s next for Austin Americana band The Deer, the last release being “Acid Wash” and “Superstition Mountains”, two B-Sides from their excellent 2019 full-length Do No Harm. Both songs mix The Deer’s dreamy Laurel Canyon folk with subtle psychedelic pop ornaments, easy listening with quietly building electric tension amid a full-band swing. While light and accessible, there’s depth in The Deer’s music that takes it beyond revivalist folk, a sound still evolving three-plus albums in. (Kevin McStravick)

2020 Review: Warm and cooly cinematic, The Deer’s 2019 record Do No Harm is a solid evolution of their alt-country formed, dream-rock sound. While softly presented, there’s intricacy in the details of Do No Harm that invitingly wash and wane, a breezy rock record performed with heart. While there’s a lot going on in The Deer’s music at any given point, from strings to guitars to synth soundscapes, the Austin quintet is keen to make their music always sound as one, cohesively tracking their instrumentation either in Americana (“Swoon”) or deep rock/pop (“Nothing Hurt”) modes.