I hate the words “soft rock.” Its like, if you identify with that kind of music, I don’t want to be your friend. It reminds me of being 19 or 20 years old and working at QMFM in Vancouver and not getting it.
People want to hear Luba, “Let It Go?”
Turns out they do (QMFM crushes in Vancouver radio ratings)… but the whole idea of “soft” and “rock” being two words, though maybe accurate, together to brand something seems weird and not right. On a fundamental level!
So what is up Destroyer? You’re new record Kaputt is getting a ton of positive hype and is described as soft rock. And yeah, honest moment, I didn’t buy the hype at all based on that description alone.
Pitchfork “Best New Music” ‘d the record. That is something right? PopMatters was a little more critical giving it a strong 6 out of 10.
My man Simon was talking about how good the record was last week at Veneto Lounge. Its funny, not until after a trusted friend says, “yeah, for real,” did I even think to check it out.
I began by downloading the free download offered up at Pitchfork.
Destroyer – “Chinatown”
Download MP3 >> 01 Chinatown
First listen… while doing other internet trolling… it was pleasant. You know, like soft rock.
Second listen… this is too much, too much.
Third listen, OK I like the album cover (I’m a sucker) so I bought the record Kaputt.
Admittedly, it was a hard for me to get into right away. It wasn’t till I hit the middle-ish and songs like “Savage Night…,” “Suicide Note…,” “Poor In Love,” and “Kaputt,” that i started to gel on the record a bit.
The disc is crazy pleasant… and can be too much for some (it was for me at times… saxophone fills? c’mon man!). This record reminds of eating too much Koala Kandy Kones at work. So yummy, so upset belly.
The final cut is an older song that he had released then included on Kaputt, “Bay of Pigs.” There are some interesting tones and audio-weirdness that feel like a massage on all the little hairs that grow in my ears.
If I had to give it a score, I might split the difference between Pitchfork’s glowing 9 and PopMatter’s ho-hum 6. Like a 7 or 7.5. Its a cool record, but it won’t be for everyone.
Fuck, I do like the record cover.
Go with yourself.
The Morning After 