"Weird Era Cont." is the fourth album by Deerhunter, released concurrently with Microcastle. Following the leak of Microcastle months before its scheduled release, the band recorded this new album to reward fans who awaited its official drop, though it too leaked in advance. The album was made available as a bonus disc or 12", depending on the format, with both the 4AD and Kranky releases.
What sets Weird Era Cont. apart in Deerhunter's discography is that it features songs composed and performed entirely by individual band members, distinct from their usual work as Atlas Sound or Lotus Plaza. Most of the album was self-recorded, with some portions completed in a studio. Guitarist Lockett Pundt noted the band's desire to create an "old and haunted vibe" in the production, remarking that it might not be a style they would pursue again.
The album faced a leak controversy when, on August 18, 2008, Bradford Cox inadvertently linked to a folder containing unmastered demos of Weird Era Cont. and the Atlas Sound album Logos on the Deerhunter blog. This link allowed access to his entire MediaFire account, leading someone to upload the demos to P2P networks. Cox was outraged, as he intended for Weird Era Cont. to be a surprise for those purchasing it on its release date. He expressed his frustration in a blog post, emphasizing that he wanted the album release experience to be enjoyable. Later, he apologized for his reaction, acknowledging that his anger was misdirected and that he regretted projecting his feelings onto others.
