Destroyer

Destroyer’s Rubies

[4/5] Dan Bejar has always gone his own way, whether he’s slamming the music industry, employing MIDI technology or attempting to downplay his participation in one of indie rock’s most beloved acts (the New Pornographers). On his seventh full-length as Destroyer, Bejar has once again fashioned his own rules and designed a winner: Destroyer’s Rubies is nothing if not ambitious, with lengthy songs (the opener, “Rubies,” clocks in at nearly 10 minutes); memorable lyrics; sprawling yet tasteful instrumentation; and all manner of hooks. The importance of keeping your pop songs focused while pursuing Built To Spill/Flaming Lips-style grandiosity can’t be stressed enough, and Bejar has come up golden with Rubies.
(MERGE) Marc Hawthorne