Destroyer brings catchy, elegant indie-rock with 'Poison Season'

Four years after releasing the critically acclaimed “Kaputt” (2011), Canadian indie rock band Destroyer has returned with their tenth studio album,“Poison Season” (2015). Led by singer Dan Bejar, Destroyer is similar, in a sense, to Sun Kil Moon: Bejar spins webs of poetry with his lyrics, oftentimes in a rambling, idiosyncratic manner much like those of Sun Kil Moon’s lead vocalist Mark Kozelek. This gives every Destroyer album a distinct feel and tone. “Kaputt” is a delicate, funky love record, while “Trouble in Dreams” (2008) is a noisier, more eccentric release.On “Poison Season,” Bejar and his crew bring a modern, jazzy sound to the album, coupled with winding guitar riffs and lively string notes.

The band name Destroyer may invoke visions of a destructive heavy metal outfit, but Bejar and his band do not exemplify that image at all. In an earlier interview with Free Williamsburg, Bejar said, "I kind of wanted to go for a rock 'n' roll name. In our own special way we're tearing s--- apart, you just have to listen very carefully. Musically I knew it was never going to be a metal band, but I thought lyrically there were fangs to the music." “Poison Season” doesn’t have fangs per se, but it does have moments -- certain saxophone solos and guitar melodies -- that are equally gripping. The album is made for an early-evening Sunday listening environment; it’s a mature sound, but Destroyer isn’t afraid to build the album around flashy horns, melodies and gliding guitar chords.

“Archer on the Beach” has an incredibly groovy chorus, and there is a shining moment when Bejar’s peculiar lyrics merge together beautifully with the surrounding bass notes and fluttering piano keys: “Careful now, watch your step, in you go. / The Ash King’s made of ashes, the Ice Queen’s made of snow.”Bejar whispers these lyrics, often interchanging words like “ash king” with “ass king” to his liking.The song was originally released on an EP, “Archer on the Beach” (2010), but the version that appears on “Poison Season” is a warmer, lighter rendition. “Dream Lover” is the most jubilant track of the 13 on “Poison Season,” and one might imagine it as a trendy choice for indie-friendly karaoke bars: simple, recite-able lyrics, catchy percussion and a big solo for a finale.

“Times Square” is another standout track on “Poison Season,” and Bejar tests the limits of his vocal range on the New York-centric anthem. "This is the first record that I've ever done that comes close to my idea of myself as a singer," Bejar said in an interview with Pitchfork. The track may seem quite full of itself, especially with Bejar’s penchant for cliché and the band’s insistence on sticking to a simple, chorus-driven formula, but it is pleasant enough to work successfully. “Poison Season” seems relatively safe for Bejar and the rest of Destroyer, but its simple sound is delivered well enough to make the album a pleasurable listen and a nice reminder of the many long, warm evenings of summer.