Dan Bejar is as prolific as he is eclectic. Even if you're familiar with his work with the New Pornographers and/or Swan Lake, his ninth album as Destroyer may still come as a surprise. The first impression of Kaputt may be a sickly cheesy one; the album serves up a heaping portion of '80s soft rock with a side of adult contemporary and a mellow horn section to wash it down. New listeners may want to turn away, but what has made Destroyer's past releases so engaging carries over on Kaputt and will hopefully convert some new fans. By Joe Iannazzo
Dan Bejar's distinguished vocal style certainly fits the vibe here - he even sounds more relaxed than usual (apparently a number of vocal tracks were recorded while lying on a couch), giving the album an alluring casual elegance. Bejar's witty musings would make even Bryan Ferry (a not-so-subtle influence) crack a smile. It's Bejar's distinctive personality juxtaposed with the explicitly '80s-style rock that makes Kaputt so charming (author's note: best served with a manhattan).
Recommended if you like: Smog, Steely Dan, David Bowie