Destroyer - Destroyer's Rubies

Dan Bejar is typically more well-known for his role as the other songwriting arm of The New Pornographers, though the Canadian artist has been crafting his own style of oddball indie pop under the moniker Destroyer since 1995. Destroyer’s Rubies is the fifth full-length from Bejar; though he’s incessantly creating something new, whether it be with Carl Newman and the Gang or reworking pieces from his previous LP (2004’s Your Blues) with Great White North pals Frog Eyes. Coupling his mostly nonsensical lyrics with grand, psychedelic guitars and unpredictable segues in the same song, Bejar creates a world within his music that excels in simultaneous being playful, ominous, engaging, and just plain weird. His voice—a trait as distinct as his wordplay and songwriting—can rarely if ever be pinpointed as gleeful or mournful; it’s anything but emotionless, but Bejar keeps you guessing unless you’re ready to attempt to absorb all the words he’s throwing at you. Whether he’s pointing fingers at indie elitists (“3000 Flowers”) or name-dropping Camus titles (“Your Blood”), it’s rare to discern what the guy’s talking about. But, that doesn’t even seem to be his aim. The abstract is in full-bloom on Destroyer’s Rubies, and it’s got multitudes of early Bowie-esque moments in tow. Bits of classic and glam rock abound, and where Your Blues was a much sparser, quiet album, Destroyer's Rubies utilizes more instruments--trumpets, organs, sax, wurlitzer, etc. The result is Bejar's best work to date. Dan Bejar is a true character, whether you’re referencing his art or the persona he presents in interviews. His career is destined to fade into obscurity eventually, as he doesn’t seem to be a fame-seeker in the slightest. But Destroyer records will be discovered over and over again through the years as people dig into the past to find underrated gems—it’s happening now, and always will. And if Bejar doesn’t get his full appreciation now, well, hindsight is always 20/20. [www.mergerecords.com]