Evan:

The first day I ever met Bob, he inadvertently gave me the nickname that would serve as my future name for making music.  But at that point, I wasn’t yet recording a thing, and I had no idea that Bob was either.

 

Then, I began listening to some of Bob’s early tapes in the piece-of-crap radio that sat in the stock room of Ben Franklin, where we worked.  It’s hard to remember at this point how much we actually talked about making music together or whether it just sort of happened from us hanging out, but I will never forget the first song we ever recorded together, back in the basement of his parents’ house in Fort Salonga.

 

It actually struck me recently that it was the ten-year anniversary of making that song, called “SWFM” aka “The Hermaphrodite Blues.”  It was about as stupid as a song can be, the subject matter being a personal ad placed by a hermaphrodite.  But it was great fun.  And a decade later, it still makes people laugh.  (Then again, how can you not laugh at lyrics like, “I can go both ways, any direction / I can get an ercetion or a yeast infection”?)

 

Unfortunately, with me making my music now almost 600 miles away, it’s tough to collaborate with Bob as much as I would like.  In fact, aside from a few guitar jams looped into his songs, it doesn’t happen much at all.  The upside is that I never know what to expect when Bob has finished a new Deer album, except to expect that it will be a pleasure to listen to.

 

The Wedges Smedges album showed Deer starting to experiment with somewhat more pop song-link structures.  This was another concept album, once again with a dark theme.  This time around, the main character is a man who has to deal with a grim afterlife that his action created.  Wanting more, he attempts to steal from goodness itself to erase his mistakes.  It doesn’t really work fout for him, but by the end of the album, things seem to be in balance again. 

 

Bob worked at Ben Franklin as a stock boy.  One of Bob’s co-workers, Tim Clifford, happened to be a mental patient.  Bob discovered that Tim kept some kind of journal, basically his musings on the nature of man, god, politics, and his own feelings, which were skewed by war and a (possibly long term drug use induced) chemical imbalance.  Somehow, Bob received permission from Mr. Clifford to use any of his writings from his book for his next album, which became Tim Clifford’s Musing.  Easily his most chaotic and confused album, Musings consisted of 22 song segments strung together by a lot of keyboard driver noise, war related samples, crazy panning, and overall weirdness.  He used to try to get people in a dark room in attempts to have people experience the entire album.  It almost never worked, and sometimes people ran out of the room quickly.  Bob and Brian even would dare people to get through it, but it’s a tough one.  On the album Bob called on several of his friends to be singers, spoken worders, and noise makers, which added to the fun of the project.  Bart, in particular, remembers the fun mayhem during the recording of this album.  The last segment, or musing, is actually Tim Clifford reading one of his favorite passages, called Pursuit of Happiness.

 

In the fall of 1995, Bob and Brian both got their first guitars.  This immediately changed Bob’s music.  Along with new interests in spirituality and the Beatles, the guitar furthered Bob’s pursuit of writing pop-rock songs.  He began writing and recording 3 Ingredients to the One Thing.  There is a strong feeling of self-discovery, celebration, love, and happiness that wasn’t featured so intensely on earlier Deer albums.  Usually there would be silliness mixed with dark themes, without overshadowing the more stripped down happy and sad feelings.  On this album, Bob was on a mission to live the truth, and he did very well because he had joy and wonder on his side.  According to Brian, “This album reminds me of all the amaxing times I had with Bart and Bob in 1996, especially that summer.  Everything was new, uncertain, and passionate.  We shared these good times with Kevin, Evan, and a whole mess of people at Hofstra University that would become some of our greatest friends, including Bob’s future wife, Erika.”  Bart personally remembers the fun of listening to “Lick Your Dr.Pepper Lips” and drinking the alcoholic shake.

 

Ronen:

I was an Innocent Teenager  -  How Deer saved my life with a song

 

Before the second Bush took office, before Pearl Jam faded into cultural oblivion, before Courtney Love became a punch line, before Drew Barrymore was suddenly in her thirties there was Deer, a troubadour for a generation of lost souls.  Like the young medieval minstrels who trekked from city to city spreading the events of their life time in the form of song in front of adoring fans, Bob Jordan and his alter ego Deer, spread their message to the masses.

 

When I first met Deer, he was flanked with hi ubiquitous cohorts, Bar and Brian.  This was a time when all men were single, and their name were not synonymous with the name of their better halves.  A time when Bart, Brian, and bob were usually surrounded by beer and eager females, both treasures I lacked and I wished to know.  At first they seemed like the uber-cool college seniors who they all were, but slowly as a friendship flourished over the eventful summer I learned of the legend of Deer.  It was summer after senior year and through the fog of beer fueled nights, I was ushered into a world of decadence whose soundtrack was composed by a young man with flaming red hair.  At first I was scared, I worried for my healthy liver and retracted mind, but soon those fears were thrown to the wind through the back window of an oddly colored blue Tercel (stick I might add, with very good mileage to boot).

 

There, in the woods that surrounded our small hamlet, I was exposed to the Legend through music and sounds, drink and friendly banter.  The women were plentiful, their number reached the high single digits and the beer was cold albeit not cheap, for Deer’s pallet was well refined.  Over a bonfire, a ceremony of sorts took place, its details I cannot recount for it’s secret I was sworn to protect.  As the blood was drawn from my smallest finger and my right hand placed on the album cover of Legend, women danced topless (I think), while they sang the words to his songs.  Then I was handed a goblet and instructed to drink.  Though the latter events that transpired are secret, I will say this, I was surely changed forever.  As the clock struck 2am, we all got up checked for ticks and headed to our collective card.  As I put my car in reverse Deer handed me the tape, which was instantly put into my cars tape deck and pushed play.  I nodded to the man with flaming red hair as the music crescedoed and with that we both sped into the night.  

 

When I awoke the next morning, the smallest of my fingers hurt and I tried to remember what had happened.  When I staggered to the kitchen wearing protective sun wear over my eyes, I seemed to raise deep latent fears in the adults at the breakfast table.  I forcefully went for my Corn Puffs and added extra milk, then to my surprise, I felt a faint gagging reflex as the pure mile touched the inner par of my mouth.  That nauseous feeling caused me to spit the mile right in the face of my sister.  I wasn’t sure what had happened, but the events of the night before had changed me.  My mother, scared for her only son, started to scream that I must be on drugs; she even attempted to sniff me to prove herself correct.  I quickly got up, told everyone that they did not understand a thing and ran to my room.  Once inside I slammed the door and put the tape I had received the night before in my Hi Fi system, then I put on my headphones.  The revolution had begun and I was not going to stand by and let it pass. 

 

Bob’s home and eventual recording studio (be it first at Fort Salonga, then at Great River and finally Centereach) was something of a smaller version of Muscle Shoals studio in Alabama or Electric Lady studio in NYC; a place where musicians, erstwhile suburban philosophers, beer pong enthusiasts, beer aficionados, and the sometime groupies could congregate.  In the music infused garage, attic, or basement; thoughts, music and meditations on popular culture were exchanged.  It was here my virgin ears first were exposed to the Shins (years before Natalie Portman seduced Newbie with her headphones), Wilco, and Paris Hilton sex tapes.  Under the umbrella of Shiza Records, Deer has exposed the world to his music, pushed and inspired others to be as creative as he is. 

 

In a time when Madchen Amick was the picture of beauty, Radiohead had not become egomaniacal, and Britney spears was still a virgin, Deer’s following was born.  Like Spiderman of Pro Tools, Bob Jordan also has an alter ego who saves lives and strives to better people’s lives.  He doesn’t don a suit or wear a mask, but his mystique is just as powerful, his message more magical.

 

As the poet once said “We were young and our hearts were open books”, we were all young, and now as that limbo of that time between being young and being old descends upon us we can all look back at the work that one man and many side projects has created in pure admiration. 

 

Brian’s favorite Deer album is called Anthole.  Bob continued on with his wide-eyed view of the world.  He now had a digital 4-track machine, marking his first digital and more polished effort.  Having a major breakup as well as meeting someone special (Erika) to fuel him, Bob cam up with what is probably his most emotional album.  He explores death, the endings and beginning of love, anchored by spiritual strength, and fun.  In the 12 months following the album’s release, Brian found himself listening to it about every other day, and humming all of the songs while at work.

 

Pink Elephants is classic Deer, though he made very little of the music on the album.  Here he combines music from Ween, the Beatles, the Dumbo soundtrack, Big Audio Dynamite and a host of others into one 30+ minute track.  He even adds his own sound effects and textures to round out the piece.

 

Blue Spurce is a glitch ridden gem made primarily with keyboards and great vocals.  The beats are funky and the pop sounds are more refined.  A summer sounding album, in that Bob gives off a more relaxed and content feeling that is filled with color.  There is a mysterious theme connecting some songs such as the spooky song about the woods (the Pines) and the mythical tale about the creature called Tatzelwurm.

 

The Popcor Trails album was probably the poppiest and folkiest Deer album to date at the time of it’s completion.  It has a unique flow, starting off sounding like a grade-school teacher led sing-a-long album, complete with tiny and welcome lessons.  As it progresses, it gets more serious, more mature.  I don’t know exactly what inspired Bob for this album, but for me, it has an interesting blend of moodiness and gladness.  It simultaneously feels somewhat defenseless and strong.

 

Ryan

I just parked my car at Dunkin Donuts.  I debate going inside to get something to munch on, or just waiting for my ride… Sure enough my ride shows up as I turn my car off.  I hop into the Hammond wheels.  We are heading to Brooklyn for a get-to-gether at Andrea and Kim’s, a small pit stop on the way to dancing feet and Derrick May in Springfield, MA.  We drive towards the sun as it submerged into the basement of the Twin Towers.  Brian puts some music on citing “This is Deer, our friend Bob.”  I acknowledged from the back seat and my ears perk up as I am about to listen to the creative musings of another member of our vastly growing extended family of music and mischief.

 

The first words I recall are “ I’m just lying around with my head in the ground,” a somewhat auspicious beginning to a person that would have a tremendous influence on my musical and social offerings to this day.  The music is acoustic guitar, bongos, nasally vocals, and a melody that I can’t get out of my head.  Brian says, “This is Bob.  You may have already met him.  He’s been making albums for the past ten years… this is the newest.”  Immediately I’m intrigued by the fact that there exists another human from the same “generation” that has been able to get his act together to make albums (not just music… full length albums!) for ten years. 

 

Like many first time Deer listeners, I try to pinpoint the musical style and influences.  And like many Deer newbies, I immediately think of Beck and the Beatles with maybe a little of the Beach Boys thrown in.  While to this day I feel there is some truth to these comparisons, I have learned that this only scratches the surface.  My next thought is Apples in Stereo, a neo-psychedelic pop rock outfit that draws heavily from the Beatles and Beach Boys with an ultra-playful demeanor and sound.  And then Ween, which is another common influence cited by Deer fans.  Again, though, this is just one small faction of a catalog that stretches across hip-hop, folk, electronic music, sample collages, blues, funk, pop songs, children’s music, avant garde… you name it.

 

The album was Mixed Signals.  It represents Deer’s 11th full length album, and is as good as a place as any to enter into the world of Deer.  The songs are quirky, personal, serious, funny, happy, and very engaging.

 

By this time Bob and Erika moved into their first place, a house in Centereach, NY, more than halfway out on Long Island.  Sometimes known as The Ranch, Bob and Erika’s house was an escape from the daily grind of school and work.  With the wonder of a child and the residence of an adult, Bob could always provide a good time for anyone who visited The Ranch.  Some of the activities included: ping pong, beer pong, grandpa pong, cards, pool, darts, watching movies, making a movie (albeit a 5 minute farce called “the Fake World”), Jenga, Cranium and other board games, croquet, swimming, football, passing out, putting the race track together, eating, video games, you name it.  The list goes on and on, and people would actually play the elimination game to determine what we should do next.  The possibilities were endless.  And no matter what took place (with the exception of watching a movie) we always had music on.  And even better than that, Deer was always in the mix.  According to Ryan Barfield, a good friend of Bob and Erika who visited quote often, “I can’t tell you how many time I would say ‘Who are we listening to? And Brian would say, ‘This is Bob’. And I’d say ‘What?  You mean he did this too?’  And Brian would say something like, ‘Yea, this is him talking backwards and then playing it backwards so it sounds like he’s talking normal’.  I couldn’t believe my ears and I couldn’t wait to hear more.  ‘Where did all of this music come from?’ I thought.”

 

Nights at Bob and Erika’s house are some of the best memories of anyone who has ever been there.  Visitors were a plenty and there were always stories to tell.  One night while telling horror stories the cordless phone rang and Bob picked it up to see the display read “666” (to this day one of the freakiest things that has happened to anyone there.  Another time when the power went out Bob, Erika, Ryan, Brian and his brother Kevin sat in the basement when the power went out and playing Cranium by candlelight with Cornelius’ Fantasma in the background—one of the best albums for a first time listen.  Another time, Bob and company set up stereos and speakers around the house to hear the epic Zaireeka album by the Flaming Lips.  In addition to music, Bob and Erika threw excellent parties.  In addition to the annual Halloween party they through theme parties such as the time when he released Feeling Red (every person and thing was red) and the legendary Piñata Party which followed the release of the album of the same name by Brian Hammond and Deer, the duo who formed Bandito.  At this memorable event, everyone wore funky clothes, there were games all around the house to keep you occupied, guests were encouraged to record music in a private room (anything they wanted—and it all made it on the album!), and the most unbreakable piñata ever.

 

But let’s go back to the music… From the time of Mixed Signals, Deer had evolved from acoustic, melodic pop songs to a complex instrumental album where he actually plays drums that Steve (Whatsoever, Eggplant Queens) and a long time friend from Bellmore, left in his basement.  Every song title on Ice Breaker has something to do with just that, breaking ice.  The drums were an opportunity for Bob to expand his musical horizons.  While they only appear on a couple songs, it clearly shows Bob’s musical chops to learn drums in a couple weeks and drop them on the album.  Ryan recalls “I listened to this all the time, and I remember calling Bob on the way home from the Catskills just to tell him how psyched I was to hear it.  As usual, his modest demeanor gleamed with many “thanks”.  He spent most of the time talking about “Jacuzzi”, the song he and I did with Brian in an impromptu sort of way.  That is Bob’s modus operandi—always finding a way to share the goodness with those around him and never keeping it for himself.”

 

If Then Else was the next Deer endeavor.  For this short, beautifully flowing album, Bob returns to the old computer music of Deer, albeit with more mature song writing and appreciation.  Al of the music was made from his computer and/or keyboard.  The title of the album is reminiscent of computer programming logic and represents Bob’s uncanny ability to incorporate puns into title, lyrics and even song structures.  His penchant for games and good times is clearly evident throughout the Deer catalog.

 

At this point, Deer had written, recorded, and produced 13 full length albums—a life achievement for many but only the tip of the iceberg for Deer.  For his next project, he worked on the amazing epic Piñata Party with Brian in the group they dubbed Bandito.  This larger than life project shows Bob’s prowess as a producer and dexterity as a musician.  On the surface, it has little resemblance to the typical Deer album.  Underneath, this concept album is littered with Deer references and is a highly recommended listen.

 

After completing the 70-minute epic that is Piñata Party, it was time for Deer to return to his own music.  And for his next album, Bob presented a window to his soul and his most personal work.  Feeling Red is Deer singing about Bob.  “This is all of me, hope you like what you see.  This is all that you get, and I hope you like it,” chimes the opening line to “Up for Grabs”, the fitting end to a concise presentation of the inner Deer working.  For this album, Bob, taking a page from the Piñata Party release celebration, held a Feeling Red party.  Everyone wore red, the house was decorated red all over, red M&M’s, licorice, and red skittles were in candy bowls around the house, and the tunes pumped through the speakers in every room.

 

After Feeling Red, Bob embarked on another side—The Guppies, which features Bob and Ryan.  Their album, Cycle Hydrologic, is a truly equal collaboration.  It is also Bob’s first album that features a lot of real drums, played by Ryan.  It feels like a man talking to himself about his own life, wondering what he can do to feel more fulfilled.  Thoughts about work, relationships, and creating change are prevalent on this awesome and moody album.  There is hope that another Guppies album will happen in the future.

 

For his newest Deer album.  A-Game, Bob enlisted Ryan to play the drums.  Probably the sunniest and confident Deer album this far.  There’s a strong feeling of breeziness mixed with maturity.  Like knowing Bob in real life, it makes the listener feel good to be an adult.  As usual, Bob feels extremely comfortable in his own skin on this album, except this time around the feeling is that much more pure and joyful.  You can picture Bob having awesome drives to work with the sun coming up.  He might be tired and he might have a lot of shit to do some-times, but the coffe tastes good, and he has an excellent home and wife to cuddle with.

 

And that brings us to the present.  Bob is as prolific as they come.  But unlike many other songwriters who may tend to gravitate towards a single concept or style that worked in the past, Bob continues to take Deer to new heights.  He is always moving forward with no limits in sight.  It is because of this constant evolution, it is important to document the first fifteen albums (or early years) of Deer in this box set.

 

The respect Bob rightfully deserves as a musician is nothing compared to that of the man himself.  Bob has had a profound impact on so many people with Deer.  As you listen to sounds and conjure up images of Deer, here are a few closing remarks from some of the friends he has impacted.

 

Bart

Bri & Ryan—thank you for doing this project for Bob because it made me go back and listen to some of the older Deer albums which has been a lot of fun and made me realize how many amazing songs Deer has compiled in his musical portfolio.  It reminded me of the one time I tried to list my favorite Beatles songs and I gave up when the # of favs got to be over 70 songs.  I mean there’s forty-something songs here and I had to narrow this down.

 

Evan

Everyone grows and changes over time, and musicians are no different.  But just as I enjoyed so much of the chaotic weirdness of the early stuff, I find myself equally (if not more) enjoying each of the new Deer project that I hear.

 

Like I said, I’ll never forget the first days of encountering the music of Deer, but I’ll never stop eagerly awaiting the future of it either.

 

Ryan

Personally, the influence Bob has had on my life extends much farther than music.  His view of others and the possibilities they present is admirable.  He always puts others first whether it be in a musical setting, trying to figure out what to order for dinner, at work or at home with his wife Erika.  Deer is a vehicle to get into the mind of a musical visionary, but it pales in comparison to knowing and being a friend of the man himself.

 

Brian

It has been a complete honor to have known Bob for most of my life.  I remember playing a competitive video game with Bob and a few other people.  I watched him reveal some of the secrets of the game to one of the competitiors, placing friend’s fun before his own victory.  I then watched Bob receive all of the game’s bonus points and strokes of luck.  I feel that Bob’s life is like this.  He prefers to give what he has, and by giving up the easy win, everyone shares a bigger victory.  Making music with Bob is also like this.  He listens very carefully to your feeling and ideas.  He makes sure you have a beer, a ride to the train station, and that you are truly pleased with the songs he makes with you.  He has the same attitude with his own music.  He stays true to his own feelings, and he doesn’t try to be someone else.  He doesn’t look for praise or credit, just the glowing face of his friends when they first hear a song of his.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A few years back my closest friends (and fans) gave me an amazing gift.  This gift was essentially a Deer “Box Set”, commemorating my work in music with a CD set of their favorite songs, but more importantly a humbling collection of tales that expressed how my musical obsession had made some impression on each of their lives.  Below is copy of the transcript they created, and tells the tale of Deer better than I ever could.  Endless thanks to those involved!  Enjoy :)

 

- Deer

Contact deer via email at deer@shizarecords.com

 

Purchase Shiza Records Merchandise at the following websites:

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Main Story

At his birthday party in 6th grade, Bob received a CD player along with Billy Ocean and Fat Boys discs.  In 8th grade he started trading rap tapes with classmate Brian Hammond; a music they were both becoming obsessed with.  Brian had shown him some stuff with making different versions of songs using the pause button on their boom boxes.  He took that to another level and started making beats and mix tapes that were the foundation of their rap group, II Smooth and the Rhythm Function.  He took it upon himself to learn how to scratch really well and match beats without a pitch shifter.  Awesome.  Bob became the backbone of the group, making almost all off the beats and being a lead vocalist.

 

After recording over 50 songs, Bob began playing around with a midi program on his 80’s computer.  After a while, he amassed a good number of compositions using his classical piano training.  He decided to experiment by adding some singing over one of these songs, along with adding some movie samples and some scratching.  The result was “Stab You Mind”, featuring a moving speech by Mel Gibson and a backwards message by Bob himself.  First, he showed the song to Sean and Ryan, the other members of the rap group.  It was also more or less the last time they came to Bob’s house.  It was clearly beyond the rap music they wanted to make, but Bob wasn’t sad about it.  One night at a drinking party in Bob’s basement, Bob played the song for some of his drunken, gangster friends.  Possibly expecting some friendly ridicule, Bob was surprised they wanted him to play it multiple times.  “Stab Your Mind” became the first song on the first Deer album, an album of which he recorded the songs in the order they appear on the finished tape (a method he sticks with most of the time even today).  The Deer album is filled with 20 different experiments, few boundaries (Bob wasn’t very up on his pop or rock music history and it shows in the most awesome way), and a lot of laughs (he was 19).

 

For his next album, The Legend, he decided to make a concept album/rock opera about a character named Deer who was half man, half deer.  This was about his struggle as an outcast.  It features narrations by Bob, a gillion samples, vocals by his friends, and some really great tunes.  All 20 songs run into each other seamlessly.  He also put together a “Deer Bible” that told the story of the legend in words and pictures.  Bart Iannetta, on of Bob’s long time and closest friends, cites one of his favorite Deer memories being “Kevin, Brian, Bob, Jimmy D. and I listening to The Legend in the car one night under special circumstances.”  This album continues to blow the mind of the early listeners to this day.

 

Marshmellow Dip is essentially the songs Bob had written that wouldn’t fit the theme of The Legend.  It sounds more like a collection of songs when compared to the other more cohesive Deer albums.  Not his best album, but it contains some great songs including “Musings Again”, a darker epic that would influence his next few albums.  Themes on this album include farting, death, and relationship dilemmas.