Destroyer

  • Vancouver, Canada
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  • Alternative
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  • 1995
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About Destroyer


Dan Bejar started Destroyer as a solo project in Vancouver in 1995. His first album, We'll Build Them a Golden Bridge, was an electric folk record, setting the stage for the early Bowie comparisons that were certain to follow his particular vocal style. In 1998, Bejar added a rhythm section and took it into the studio for the first time. The resulting recording, City of Daughters, is a sparsely produced collection of catchy pop songs in which Bejar's increasingly obtuse lyrics really start to stand out. Thief, again recorded in Vancouver, was released in 2000, but by now the lineup had expanded into a quintet. The sparse production and the Bowie comparisons remained, but Bejar's cryptic lyrics and unique voice gave this rant against the music industry an original quality missing from many of that year's releases. The following year would see Destroyer's fourth album, Streethawk: A Seduction. Streethawk begins right where Thief leaves off. The production and the sound remain solid, but the lyrics have become even more obtuse. Stuck somewhere between literacy and nonsense, they must be considered poetry because any attempt to decipher meaning, however hidden, might drive the listener crazy. This Night was the next release, an oblique and melodic album that portrayed Bejar as a ranting, depressed singer.

Destroyer has not been the only vehicle for Bejar's talents -- he is also one of the songwriters (along with Carl Newman of Zumpano) responsible for the much-acclaimed New Pornographers' Mass Romantic (Mint Records). This Night, which appeared in fall 2002, marked his first for Merge. His quirkiest material to date was captured on 2004's Your Blues. In 2005 Bejar collaborated with touring partners Frog Eyes on Notorious Lightning and Other Works, a six-track EP containing re-recorded versions of material from Your Blues with Frog Eyes as the backing band. In 2005 Bejar contributed three songs to the New Pornographers' critically acclaimed Twin Cinema and spent the better part of that year on tour with the Canadian supergroup. February 2006 saw the release of Destroyer's Rubies, a return to the guitar-based sound of This Night with a touch of Streethawk-era drama. After devoting some more time to the New Pornographers and Swan Lake, he returned to the sanctuary of his solo project, and released his eighth record, Trouble in Dreams, in March of 2008. The following year saw the release of Swan Lake's second outing, Enemy Mine, as well as the ambient Bay of Pigs EP (Destroyer). He contributed three tracks to the New Pornographers' fifth studio album, 2010’s Together, before releasing 2011’s Kaputt, his ninth LP under the Destroyer moniker. ~ Terrance Miles, Rovi

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Music

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  • Kaputt
    destroyer
    Video
    Kaputt

Interviews & Exclusives

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  • WEIRD VIBES Episode 5: BEST OF 2011 VIDEO COUNTDOWN
    destroyer
    video
    WEIRD VIBES Episode 5: BEST OF 2011 VIDEO COUNTDOWN

Photos

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  • Destroyer
    Destroyer
    Destroyer
    Merge Records
  • Destroyer
    Destroyer
    Destroyer
    Merge Records
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    Destroyer
    Destroyer
    Merge Records
  • Destroyer

News

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  • Destroyer
    Director's Cut: Destroyer: "Kaputt"
    www.pitchfork.com
    the fantasies, there was some sort of odd feeling that something wasn't right. Like, all the people singing and dancing in the desert are men. And, wi...
    Read More
  • Destroyer
    Destroyer Reveals Strange "Kaputt" Video, Tour
    www.pitchfork.com
    -04 Philadelphia, PA - First Unitarian Church # 04-05 Washington, DC - Black Cat # 04-06 Asheville, NC - Grey Eagle # 04-07 Carrboro, NC - Cat's Cradl...
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  • Destroyer
    Listen: Destroyer on KEXP
    www.pitchfork.com
    Photo by Ted Bois Destroyer's Dan Bejar recently dropped by the studios of Seattle radio station KEXP to perform a four-song set. As the Merge blog po...
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  • Destroyer
    Destroyer, Josh T Pearson + more confirmed for Green Man 2011
    drownedinsound.com
    Two of the artists responsible for our highest ranked albums of 2011 so far have been confirmed for the increasingly excellent Green Man Festival, in ...
    Read More
  • Destroyer
    Destroyer Announces Tour | News | Pitchfork
    www.pitchfork.com
    Photo by Eirik Lande Destroyer's Dan Bejar will soon hit the road once again in support of his extra-wonderful 2011 LP Kaputt, kicking off the schedul...
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  • Destroyer
    Destroyer Announces 2012 Tour Dates | Prefix
    www.prefixmag.com
    Tweet In support of Kaputt, one of our favorite albums of last year, Destroyer has announced their upcoming tour. The Vancouver-based, Dan Bejar-led b...
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  • Destroyer
    Watch: Destroyer Performs 'Kaputt' At Coachella | Prefix
    www.prefixmag.com
    Tweet On Saturday, Destroyer took the stage at Coachella. It's a testament to Dan Bejar's talent that his band's slick soft-rock sound translates so w...
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  • Destroyer
    Destroyer Expands Tour
    www.pitchfork.com
    Photo by Eirik Lande Dan Bejar has added new dates to the tour in support of last year's excellent Destroyer album Kaputt. He'll route through various...
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  • Destroyer
    Watch Destroyer Perform "Libby's First Sunrise"
    www.pitchfork.com
    Pitchfork.tv on YouTube today presents a new episode of City of Music, the MPLS.TV series which highlights private studio performances in unique locat...
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  • Destroyer
    Destroyer Albums From Worst To Best
    stereogum.com
    like he's playing a different sport from other songwriters. Take this not atypical account from celebrated recording artist (and Stereogum contributor...
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Tour Dates

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  • Jun 1 Saturday
    San Francisco, CA, US Great American Music Hall
    Buy Ticket

Discography

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  • Ideas for Songs (2011)
    Destroyer
    Ideas for Songs (2011)
    Triple Crown Audio Recordings
  • Kaputt (2011)
    Destroyer
    Kaputt (2011)
    Merge
  • Trouble in Dreams (2008)
    Destroyer
    Trouble in Dreams (2008)
    Rough Trade
  • Destroyer's Rubies (2006)
    Destroyer
    Destroyer's Rubies (2006)
    Rough Trade
  • Your Blues (2004)
    Destroyer
    Your Blues (2004)
    Merge Records
  • This Night (2002)
    Destroyer
    This Night (2002)
    Merge Records
  • Streethawk: A Seduction (2001)
    Destroyer
    Streethawk: A Seduction (2001)
    Merge
  • Thief (2000)
    Destroyer
    Thief (2000)
    Merge
  • City of Daughters (1998)
    Destroyer
    City of Daughters (1998)
    Merge
  • We'll Build Them a Golden Bridge (1996)
    Destroyer
    We'll Build Them a Golden Bridge (1996)
    Tinker Records
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