Destroyer - Kaputt (2011, Merge Records)
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I know Dan Bejar mostly from his other band, the so called "Canadian power-pop super group" The New Pornographers. That's not to say that I have not heard of Destroyer. I have previously listened to his most recent albums, Trouble in Dreams and Rubies, and Thief was on my best of 2000 list (which sadly has never been published on this blog). Destroyer released the Bay of Pigs EP way back in 2009. "Bay of Pigs" is the last song on this album. Dan Bejar has, in essence, built two years of hype for this album. Kaputt delivers on that hype in every way. It is a record that manages to encapsulate a feeling of nostalgia, while feeling new and creative at the same time. It is already one of the best albums of a young 2011.
Track 1: Chinatown
The first song on Kaputt is a good introduction to what I am trying to say. It is called Chinatown. The song name itself, whether intentional or not, references a classic film. The song sounds almost hazy and listless. It is as if there is a fog permeating the song structure. The horns and female backing vocals give the song a nice touch. Noir and nostalgic.
Verdict: 10/10
Track 2: Blue Eyes
A very The Cure-ish song. Specifically the lyrical content. I would say Bejar is a little more tongue in cheek of his assessment of a girl that would send him "A coffin full of roses". This is the first song we get that shows Bejar's haphazard songwriting and lyricism. While it can be tiresome at times, it works pretty well on this track.
Verdict: 8/10
Track 3: Savage Night At The Opera
This song pretty much veers straight into 80's song territory. Take a nice big whiff of that nostalgia. While the song structure is repetitive, I do enjoy the lyricism. The vague dig on hipster culture ("I've heard your record, it's alright") is amusing.
Verdict: 8/10
Track 4: Suicide Demo For Kara Walker
The first of three sprawling tracks on Kaputt, and the second longest track on the album to the aforementioned "Bay of Pigs". Just an immensely beautiful track. It is pretty much Bejar just riffing. If there is any artist that isn't a rapper that can pull that off, its him. Seriously, just go listen to it.
Verdict: 10/10
Track 5: Poor In Love
Another tongue in cheek love song. Also one of the best songs on the album. You just have to wait for the buildup to finally expand. "I was poor in love, I was poor in wealth, I was ok in everything else there was" - statement of the decade.
Verdict: 10/10
Track 6: Kaputt
The second sprawling track, the shortest of the three. Probably one of the weaker tracks on the album, which in context still makes it a pretty good song. There is a lot going on, but it doesn't feel very cohesive. Never really goes anywhere.
Verdict: 7/10
Track 7: Downtown
Yes more female backing vocals. For some reason I am really loving those on this album. Also more horns. Maybe a more subdued track, but the pieces fit together nicely. The brief flashes of vocals are an interesting choice, but the song really relies on its horn section, which I like.
Verdict: 9/10
Track 8: Song For America
This might be the most interesting song on Kaputt. Between the spastic horns, the guitar work, and the strange a cryptic lyrics and vocalism. While it is entirely too busy, it actually feels like a good thing. I can see why this is the "last" track on Kaputt, it feels like Bejar just put all the leftover parts that didn't fit into any other song on this one. That being said, it is a pretty amazing song.
Verdict: 9/10
Track 9: Bay of Pigs
Not much to say about this one. It's been out for two years. Probably the most epic track Bejar has been involved in through any aspect of his music career. A masterpiece
Verdict 10/10
Cohesiveness Score: 10/10
The feeling of a hazy nostalgia continues from the first second in until the end of the album.
Final Score: 91/100 = 9.1
Closing Thoughts:
Kaputt takes its influence from both jazz and what seems like an infatuation with the 80's. Bejar puts his own unique spin on both of these genres and dashes in his own style of cryptic and spastic lyricism and songwriting. He has created what may very well be his masterpiece, and at the least one of the best albums of 2011.
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