Review
Destroyer swings right out of the gate with “Dan’s Boogie,” an album that reads like a full-court press on the existential scoreboard. Dan Bejar, with his usual flair for the theatrical, dives into the big themes—aging and the kind of midlife drift we all feel creeping up on us from the bench. The album’s got that classic Destroyer maximalism but knows just when to pull back, like in “Travel Light,” where Bejar ditches the frills and lets a bare piano do the talking.
Musically, it’s a roster deep with plays worth replaying—“Cataract Time” goes for the long shot, blending somber storytelling with a closing instrumental run that gives you that walking-out-of-the-stadium grin. Cameos by Simone Schmidt and former sax ace Joseph Shabason add just the right amount of color, making the album feel like an all-star game with chemistry to burn. “Dan’s Boogie” really is Destroyer sticking to their guns while stretching out their playbook, offering up both innovation and comfort. Game plan: spin this one with good headphones during a late-night drive, and let Bejar’s sharp turns and left-field assists keep you guessing at every track. - Peter
Artist Bio
Destroyer is an indie rock project based in Vancouver, led by Dan Bejar since 1995. Starting as Bejar’s solo home-recording venture, the band has continually reinvented itself, with albums spanning lo-fi beginnings to polished, genre-blending releases like the jazz-tinged *Kaputt* and the recent *Dan’s Boogie*. Known for abstract, poetic lyrics and Bejar’s distinctive vocal delivery, Destroyer often shifts style from album to album, creating a discography that’s eclectic yet unmistakably his. He’s collaborated over the years with musicians like John Collins and David Carswell, and has drawn critical acclaim while maintaining an outsider’s position in the indie rock world. Fans of The New Pornographers, Stephen Malkmus, or The Magnetic Fields might find Destroyer’s sound and sensibility appealing.
