Review: "Kaputt" by Destroyer

Dan Bejar is an acquired taste. Any fan of the New Pornographers will be able to easily pick out a song penned by Bejar versus one written by the other main songwriter A. C. Newman. On Challengers for example, "Myriad Harbor" and "Entering White Cecelia" are both Bejar additions to the album, and they both are good examples of the quirky voice and lyrics that separate Bejar's work from Newman's more infectious, hooky power pop. In fact, his inclusion in the Canadian indie collective that is New Pornographers has always seemed to me to be a forced fit simply because his sound is so very unique and individualized. Indeed, both times that I have seen them perform live, Bejar has not been included in the lineup. So, maybe it is better and more fair to judge Bejar by the work he does on his own project, Destroyer.

Perhaps you can tell that I entered into the world of Kaputt with some trepidation. As it turns out, there was nothing to fear. This is a great album. Yes, his voice is quirky, but when it is not heard in juxtaposition with Neko Case and Newman, it doesn't seem quite so jarring. And the quirky songwriting is subdued by the rich orchestration throughout the album. And that's what you will notice when you first sit down with this record -- the jazz orchestration. It is really quite delicious. There's certainly a late-70's feel to the songs, which is fine with me. If it recalls Steely Dan in their Aja period, or later Fleetwood Mac, that's great. There's not a lot out there evoking that time period, and though some might find the sound corny or cheesy, it seems fresh and real in Bejar's hands.

Kaputt is a cohesive album. From the radio-ready opener "Chinatown" to the beautifully rich closer "Bay of Pigs (detail)", the songs fit together and flow easily. This is not a collection of songs -- this is an album. What makes me continue to queue this up on the iPod are the horns, the jazz, and the feel of this record.

Why You Will Like It: Accessible, easy to listen to, tuneful songs. Well-written and thought provoking lyrics. Jazzy sound reminiscent of late-70's pop sound. It works as music in the background, but also has much to reveal in a more concentrated listening session.

Why You May Not Like It: If you think the jazz sound tends to lean too close to "soft jazz", or if you think the sound is corny and just a little cheesy. If you have a negative reaction to Bejar's previous work with New Pornographers.

Bottom Line: Highly Recommended

Listen to: "Chinatown"