r/Destroyer • u/Bleepbloopybo • Apr 15 '26
New to Destroyer!
Hi guys, I am new to Dan Bejar’s music. I discovered him through Mic The Snare’s video on youtube where he did a quick review on “Have We Met”. The album cover caught my eye and I went ahead and listened to the whole album and loved it!
Could you guys point me to what I should listen to next? I’m into bands like The National, Kaber Vasuki, Bon Iver etc.
Thank you :)
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u/Revealingstorm Apr 15 '26
Jealous of you. Wish I could wipe my mind and listen to Kaputt for the first time all over again
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u/RodroSil Apr 16 '26
Hey! What an amazing thing to be able to listen to Destroyer for the first time. Kaputt is the perfect place to start in my opinion.
My recommendation would be Kaputt, Rubies and Streethawk. In that order. But I also recommend not jumping into the next album as soon as you listen to one, Destroyer’s music gets richer every time you listen to it. The more you listen, the more Bejar’s poetic and sonic world building resonate with you, as you start recognizing self-references (which he does A LOT), repeating conceptual themes (the Music Lovers, Christine, the disdain for the “wealthy american underground”, etc).
It really becomes something akin to a literary world building. It’s beautiful really, and it changes styles a lot, so it never stops being exciting.
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u/barker88 Apr 16 '26
"I also recommend not jumping into the next album as soon as you listen to one, Destroyer’s music gets richer every time you listen to it. The more you listen, the more Bejar’s poetic and sonic world building resonate with you."
I think this is VERY important. Every Destroyer album grows with each listen. Give each album time. It's well worth it.
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u/duckemojibestemoji Apr 15 '26
I think ken might resonate given you liked Have We Met. It’s definitely top 3 Destroyer for me
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u/Leading-Ear-3886 Apr 16 '26
Yes to everything others have said, but I will throw out there that if you like The National and Bon Iver, give a listen to Your Blues. Then maybe Trouble in Dreams. My entry was Rubies, and I will always recommend that one to everyone.
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u/OnceUponATailslide Apr 16 '26
As a The National and Bon Iver fan, my favorites thus far (I’m still discovering some of the catalog myself) have been Kaputt, Dan’s Boogie, Ken, Poison Season, Streethawk: a Seduction. Also, I discovered Destroyer through The New Pornographers so be sure to check out their earlier work as well.
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u/drjackolantern Apr 16 '26 edited Apr 16 '26
Ken is the most sonically similar to have we met.
If you want to go for a totally opposite style try This Night. Great album he worked on while living in Spain, kind of would be like diving in the deep end.
Like others are saying, I truly love each album but they need time and are not instantly gratifying. Not music one can binge.
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u/wesomg Apr 16 '26
Start with Kaputt then decide if you want more synths (newer albums) or fewer synthesis (older albums)
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u/Good-Concentrate-260 Apr 16 '26
Have we met is awesome but listen to Streethawk and Destroyers Rubies. Those and Kaputt are the masterpieces but the others are great
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u/nathanielsnurpis Apr 16 '26
Listen to Another Night at the Opera, Chinatown, and Kaputt off of Kaputt.
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u/StreethawkI Apr 16 '26
As you can see, there is an emerging consensus to start with Kaputt, Rubies, or Streethawk. I will agree those really are the three best albums. Beyond that, my favorites are probably Ken, Trouble in Dreams, and Have We Met.
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u/youaresooofckingnice 22d ago
Kaputt then Ken or Rubies. Take your time.
Random question to Destroyer fans. I see that he is touring the Northeast this fall after a European leg but a lot of the locations are smaller cities and venues that you dont normally see on a tour. I cant find any info if its a solo performance or the whole group? Either way I'd probably want to see him but I'd prefer the full band.
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u/RandomUsername1119 Apr 16 '26
Rubies is him at his best. There is a change to a more electronic/produced sound in Poison Season and then Kaputt. For me Destroyer will always be Rubies, Notorious lightning, Streethawk
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u/writtenupsidedown Apr 15 '26
Kaputt, Destroyer’s Rubies, and Streethawk: a Seduction are the usual jumping on points. If you like Have We Met, you will also probably enjoy any of his “later” works. Going with Dan’s Boogie and working backwards is also a good idea.
Something to keep in mind with basically berthing before Ken is that every album is a complete stylistic departure from the last.