1996–2001
We'll Build Them a Golden Bridge, Destroyer's 1996 debut, is made up of sixteen lo-fi home-recordings. One reviewer suggested that the album combines Bejar's "gift for melodies" with “a concerted effort to make the recording downright inconsumable; the guitars are always out of tune, and the vocals of Fisher-Price quality. 'Static means punk / tuning is junk,' Bejar moans on one track.” [5] (Ideas for Songs, released on cassette in 1997, features songs akin to those on his first album. The cassette stemmed from a request to contribute songs for a compilation album.[6])
As Bejar gained popularity in Vancouver's music scene, he was joined by producer John Collins for 1998's City of Daughters, which was recorded at a proper studio. Pitchfork noted that the songs still sounded "homespun," also noting "[t]he wordiness that would become something of a trademark is in full effect," but that "unlike much of what came later, not every line is worthy of examination."[7]
Thief (2000) embodied "Bejar's first stab at matching his grandiose, idiosyncratic vision to a showier sound;" it was the first to feature a backing band on every track.[8] The record's "anthemic yet understated"[9] piano-driven ballads have characteristically enigmatic lyrics, though some reviewers interpreted them as critiques of the music industry.[10][11]
Streethawk: A Seduction (2001) realized the sonic refinement started with City of Daughters. Bejar put it this way: "I don't think it gives credence to any kind of conceptualization of the records, but I hope that City of Daughters, Thief, and Streethawk will pop into some kind of a progression that ends with Streethawk.“ [12] A critical success, the album (retrospectively) received a rating of 9.1/10 from Pitchfork.[7]
2002–2007
The 2002 rock album This Night was a dramatic change in style. The looser, less rehearsed style was criticized as "messy [and] haphazard without purpose,"[13] though other critics praised the "beautiful mess of sounds" as "challenging... [and] a powerful, cohesive whole."[11] In a 2006 interview (after the release of Your Blues and Destroyer's Rubies), Bejar said the album "came together pretty quickly - we probably could have used more than four or five days to mix the whole thing, but that's all hindsight. It's still my favorite Destroyer record."[12]
Your Blues (2004) saw Destroyer take another unexpected turn, using MIDI instrumentation for almost all the backing music. Bejar coined the term "European blues" to describe its unique, theatrical sound.[14] One reviewer pointed out that "Bejar’s unusual voice sounds more confident, and higher up" in the synth-rich arrangements.[15] In yet another twist, the EP Notorious Lightning & Other Works reworked six tracks from the record with a live band, the very thing the LP had forsaken (the band was Frog Eyes, who toured with Destroyer in support of Your Blues).
Bejar returned with a live band for 2006's Destroyer's Rubies, delivering arguably his most confident record up to that point. The backing band took new-found prominence and, according to Bejar, "[t]he production seems... warm and lush and pretty focused on just making the band sound good and having everything sit well together."[12] NOW Magazine observed, "[w]hile the sheer density of Bejar’s writing can be overwhelming, Destroyer’s Rubies is, on a musical level, the most ’accessible’ disc he’s released."[16]
2008–2013
For Trouble in Dreams (2008), "there was a scary lack of ideas coming into the record," Bejar admitted.[17] Destroyer's piano player Ted Bois took it upon himself, as an alternative to keyboard and piano accompaniment, to create all string and synth arrangements for the songs.[17] At the time, Bejar said it was the "hardest record" to make.[17]
After the 2009 EP Bay of Pigs came 2011's full-length album, Kaputt (featuring a slightly modified "Bay of Pigs" track). Bejar cited influences such as Miles Davis and Roxy Music for his new jazz-infused, lounge music-inspired, sophisti-pop direction. In multiple interviews, Bejar variously stressed that he "sang in a completely different manner, almost unconscious of even singing, more like speaking into a vacuum, and was really happy with the results."[18][19] The record entailed a number of firsts for Destroyer: first national television performance (on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon); first official music video; first female backing vocals; and the first time Bejar performed without an instrument on tour - his concentration placed solely on his singing. Kaputt was short listed for the 2011 Polaris Music Prize [20] and was Pitchfork's second best album of 2011.[21]
Although smaller in scale, Destroyer's fourth EP "Five Spanish Songs" continued to surprise listeners. Sung entirely in Spanish, Bejar covered songs by Sr. Chinarro (es). Bejar's own tongue-in-cheek press release announcing the new songs began: "It was 2013. The English language seemed spent, despicable, not easily singable."[22]
2014–present
Bejar released Poison Season on August 28, 2015. Bejar notes that the album's sound grew from "just really getting into what we were sounding like playing live [following Kaputt]."[4] Bejar added that he would not have been able to make such an ambitious album if Kaputt had not been successful.[23] Recorded with a live band and a pronounced string section, the album's "grand cinematic set of songs"[23] feature Bejar singing with a broader range than before: "This is the first record that I've ever done that comes close to my idea of myself as a singer," Bejar said.[24]
In 2017, Bejar released ken.
Suicide Demo for Kara Walker
Destroyer Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Plain brown wrapper in your pocket
Is it still the invisible man you're consorting with, woman?
Now that you got it all wrong
You got it all backwards, girl
Enter through the exit, and exit through the entrance when you can
Seen you consort with your invisible manhole
Fool child, you're never gonna make it
Though they'd never say so
Wise, old, black and dead in the snow, my southern sister
Sister, sister, was the name of the band
Flesh and blood, my death close at hand
Sister, this is not about me, and it's not about you, I swear
No hard feelings, nothing personal
Soft sculpture rides the air
For free words, words, words
Longings, longings, longings, all in vain
Just ask vanity, abandoned out in the rain by the world
Another proud American
And as proud Americans
We let it slide away
Harmless little negress
You've got to say yes to another excess
Let's go for a ride today
In possession of eyes that say
In possession of eyes that say
A southern bunkhouse
Blue skies up above
A kind of figure of feminine grace and wit passes for love these days
All that slender-wristed, white, translucent business
Passes for love these days
Much hailed genius passes for love these days
Four more years
Four more years
Four hundred more years of this shit, fuck it
I look up, I see the north star
I look up, I see the north star
When I look up at the bar through these tears
Four white pillars Yankee-style
All of America loves to lights his pipes
All of America live to light his pipe at night
To which Dixie responds, "free me"
And then washes his sashes
Again
Maybe or maybe not fast forward, she said
Maybe once the seed is sown, fast forward, she said
This bird has flown south, she said
Don't talk about the south, she said
It's not you, it's nothing personal
No hard feelings, nothing's there
Soft sculpture rides hard on the air
Now that you got it all wrong
You got it all backwards, girl
Enter through the exit, and exit through the entrance
When you can
The lyrics to Destroyer's song Suicide Demo for Kara Walker portrays a combination of different emotions, ideas, and themes, making it a little difficult to pinpoint the exact meaning of the song. The song draws inspiration from Kara Walker, a renowned African-American artist known for her use of silhouettes to depict American history and race issues. The song begins with an allusion to drugs and partying with the line "brown paper bag, don't stop me now, I'm on a roll." The lyrics then suggest the idea of hiding and secrecy with the "invisible man" conceit, insinuating that the people we interact with are not always who they appear to be.
The song's lyrics also touch on the fragility of fame, as the singer addresses a woman who seems to be struggling to establish herself in New York City, and the city seems to only want to exploit her exposure with the line "New York City just wants to see you naked, and they will, though they'd never say so." The song also references southern culture, describing a "southern sister" who is "wise, old, black, and dead in the snow."
There is an interesting contrast between the upbeat, pop-like melody with the bleak, thought-provoking lyrics. The lyrics also use a combination of metaphors such as "soft sculpture rides the air" and "slender-wristed, white, translucent business passes for love these days."
Line by Line Meaning
Brown paper bag, don't stop me now, I'm on a roll
I am unstoppable and on a roll, so don't let anything stop me now.
Plain brown wrapper in your pocket
You are carrying something that you want to conceal or hide.
Is it still the invisible man you're consorting with, woman?
Are you still having a relationship with someone who is not visible or transparent to others?
Now that you got it all wrong
You have completely misunderstood the situation or made a mistake.
You got it all backwards, girl
You have reversed the order or sequence of events.
Enter through the exit, and exit through the entrance when you can
Do things in the wrong order or in a non-traditional way to subvert established norms.
Seen you consort with your invisible manhole
I have witnessed you having a relationship with someone who is not visible or transparent to others.
Fool child, you're never gonna make it
You are foolish and will not succeed.
New York City just wants to see you naked, and they will
New York City desires to see you vulnerable and exposed, and they will fulfill that desire.
Though they'd never say so
Even though they may not openly admit their true feelings, their desires remain the same.
Wise, old, black and dead in the snow, my southern sister
A wise, old, deceased, African-American woman from the South who is revered as a sister.
Sister, sister, was the name of the band
The band's name was Sister, Sister.
Flesh and blood, my death close at hand
I am mortal and my death is imminent.
Sister, this is not about me, and it's not about you, I swear
This is not specifically about me, you, or anyone else.
No hard feelings, nothing personal
There are no negative emotions or personal attacks involved.
Soft sculpture rides the air
A form of art or expression takes shape and can be sensed or felt without being tangible or physical.
For free words, words, words
I speak or write freely and without compensation or obligation.
Longings, longings, longings, all in vain
My desires and hopes have failed to materialize or become reality.
Just ask vanity, abandoned out in the rain by the world
One's ego or self-importance has been left to suffer or be ignored by the rest of the world.
Another proud American
One more conceited or arrogant citizen of the United States.
And as proud Americans
As a collective group of conceited or arrogant citizens of the United States.
We let it slide away
We allowed something to be lost or wasted without making an effort to prevent it.
Harmless little negress
A term used to describe a Black woman that is seen as harmless or non-threatening because of her gender and race.
You've got to say yes to another excess
You must accept or indulge in another instance of overindulgence or excess.
Let's go for a ride today
Let's embark on an adventure or journey together today.
In possession of eyes that say
One has a look or gaze that communicates a particular message or feeling.
A southern bunkhouse
A type of dwelling commonly found in the Southern United States.
Blue skies up above
Clear and unobstructed skies overhead.
A kind of figure of feminine grace and wit passes for love these days
Traits associated with femininity, such as grace and wit, are often mistaken for or equated with love in contemporary society.
All that slender-wristed, white, translucent business
All of the superficial, delicate, and fragile qualities commonly associated with Whiteness.
Passes for love these days
People often confuse or substitute these superficial qualities for genuine love.
Much hailed genius passes for love these days
People often mistake brilliance or exceptional talent for love.
Four more years
A reference to United States presidential elections and the possibility of a re-election for another term.
Four hundred more years of this shit, fuck it
Exasperation and fatigue with something that has persisted or will continue to persist for an indefinite amount of time.
I look up, I see the north star
I look up and see a guiding beacon, a symbol of hope and direction.
When I look up at the bar through these tears
Even though I am crying and overwhelmed with emotion, there is still a clear vision or goal in sight.
Four white pillars Yankee-style
Four pillars that symbolize or represent a distinctly American, Northern, or Yankee aesthetic.
All of America loves to light his pipes
A reference to an influential or celebrated person that is revered and admired by the United States as a whole.
All of America live to light his pipe at night
People are eager to bask in the glow or aura of said influential or celebrated person.
To which Dixie responds, "free me"
A request or demand from the Southern United States to be liberated or freed from Northern influence or domination.
And then washes his sashes
Neglectful or forgetful behavior towards one's own identity, culture, or heritage.
Maybe or maybe not fast forward, she said
An uncertain or ambivalent attitude towards the future and the possibility of progress or change.
Maybe once the seed is sown, fast forward, she said
If something is set in motion or initiated, it may lead to rapid or significant progress or change.
This bird has flown south, she said
This person or thing has left, moved on, or migrated to a different location or state.
Don't talk about the south, she said
Do not discuss or bring up the Southern United States, as it may lead to conflict or discomfort.
It's not you, it's nothing personal
Whatever is happening or being discussed is not a personal attack or reflection on the individual.
No hard feelings, nothing's there
There are no negative emotions or feelings involved, nor is there any interest or connection.
Soft sculpture rides hard on the air
An intangible or abstract creation or concept is forcefully or confidently brought into existence.
Now that you got it all wrong
You have completely misunderstood the situation or made a mistake.
You got it all backwards, girl
You have reversed the order or sequence of events.
Enter through the exit, and exit through the entrance
Do things in the wrong order or in a non-traditional way to subvert established norms.
When you can
If and when the opportunity arises or presents itself.
Lyrics © SC PUBLISHING DBA SECRETLY CANADIAN PUB., Downtown Music Publishing
Written by: Daniel Bejar
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@mylastchannelgotdeleted6213
The melody that starts at 1:59 gets stuck in my head randomly for the past 10 years. Amazing song
@drewbeee86
Are you me?
@kodekodak9298
@@drewbeee86 does it from TikTok
@rodrigogalindez
Possibly the best album of the decade.
@1779DA
this song is actually incredible.
@lequinntessential
It's a remarkably beautiful piece of work that culminates in wild abandonment and exhilarating ecstasy.
@MaraLatorre
It IS.
@joebazooks
definitely destroyer's best album, and i'd have to say, it's up there -- top 100 albums, easy. you rarely if ever come across an album loaded with this many top notch songs
@NealJackMeKC
Rubies is also amazing and Poison Season is pretty damn solid. Great band.
@luckyomolo4962
shit hits diffrent when you havent gone to sleep yet at 8 am