Destroyer : Biography

From Wikipedia

Daniel Bejar is an independent singer-songwriter from Vancouver who created Destroyer in 1995. He self-produced his first album, the lo-fi We'll Build Them a Golden Bridge, which was recorded at his in home studio in Vancouver. As Bejar gained popularity in the Vancouver music scene, he was joined by John Collins on City of Daughters after which he managed to put together a band. In 2000 the band broke up and Bejar took an extended vacation in Spain.

Following his brief break from Destroyer, he returned to Vancouver to release Thief in 2000. Interpreted by many critics as an indictment of the music industry, this album brought Destroyer significant recognition.

Following Thief's release, Bejar put more focus into his music, beginning his music contributions to The New Pornographers. After the 2001 release of Streethawk: A Seduction on Misra Records, Destroyer picked up something of a cult following. Having the band Frog Eyes play back-up for several shows inspired Notorious Lightning & Other Works, a reworking of six tracks from the previous album Your Blues with Frog Eyes once again as back-up.

Destroyer continued its sonic development with 2006's Destroyer's Rubies, 2008's Trouble in Dreams and the 2009 EP Bay of Pigs.

Bejar calls Destroyer's style "European Blues". It is often compared to David Bowie; the band's admitted influences are Pavement, and Guided by Voices, as well as other indie and shoegaze bands. Bejar's lyric stylings are also noteworthy for their cryptic poetry, which frequently vex and intrigue listeners. Bejar openly borrows phrases from other artists and a variety of other sources (and others' songs), even political rhetoric (ex: Ronald Reagan's "Evil Empire"). Your Blues presented a new direction in Destroyer's style by introducing orchestral elements as well as a heavy reliance on midi instruments.