Destroyer’s Rubies

The band Destroyer was started by Dan Bejar, a regular contributor to the band the New Pornographers, back in 1995.  Destroyer serves as Bejar’s primary songwriting venture while in the New Pornographers he’s more apt to be a part of the music.  He has been more prolific writing for Destroyer, having released thirteen records (nine LPs, three EPs and a tape), but he has made contributions to other bands besides the New Pornographers, including Vancouver Nights, Swan Lake, Heartbreak Scene, and Hello, Blue Roses.

Destroyer has had a rotating cast of members since its inception (with the exception of Bejar), but no one has officially left.  Bejar has said in interviews he values all of their contributions and that he’s just bad at keeping a band together.  Destroyer’s record, Destroyer’s Rubies, features some of Bejar’s best writing.  It is the topic of my entry today.

# 62 – Destroyer, Destroyer’s Rubies (Metascore = 88)

The song “Rubies” opens the album, a nine-plus minute abstract account Bejar put together with interesting music.  I’ve read through the lyrics but have no idea whatsoever what he’s trying to say.  Perhaps he’s describing a dream (“golden slumber”), I don’t know.  “Your Blood” rollicks on in a folksy way, again with odd lyrics but something more focused, this time on Tabitha.  From the beginning, the music has a richness to it, with a mix of acoustic guitars, pianos, and carefully played electric guitar.  “European Oils” in particular has a cascading effect with Bejar’s “la la las”, making the song one of my favorites from this album.

Not all of the lyrics are oblique.  Bejar’s writing can be challenging at times, but there’s always something there just needing a little manipulation to understand.  “Painter in Your Pocket” achieves this with a mellow yet beautiful background to accompany.  If you ask me, the album’s strongest points are made from “European Oils” to “Looters’ Follies”, where the lyrics are majestic and the music is perfect for the images evoked.

“3000 Flowers” is the most rock-sounding song of all the songs on the record.  Most everything here is electric with a tight drumbeat.  Many of the songs, though, are along the same beaten path as “Your Blood”, which is good and bad.  At times I feel like it’s too routine, even if I understand the song better.  Sometimes when you get into a groove, though, I guess you don’t leave it unless the going is bad.  The album closer, “Sick Priest Learns to Last Forever”, sounds like a Neil Young song well executed, and honestly I am happy with the ending—a very nice tribute to a fellow Canadian.

Overall, I was more impressed with this album than I was the first time I heard it.  Initially I was a little put off by the rote musical stylings used, but this time I was a little more open to it.  This is an interesting album that may not meet up to what other people expect, but I would recommend a second listen just to be sure.