City of Daughters

Rock · 1998 · 17 tracks

City of Daughters

1998 · Tinker Recordings

'City of Daughters' is a captivating snapshot of Destroyer's nascent genius, a bridge between lo-fi indie rock and the more ornate chamber pop that would define later works. It's an album for the introspective, the word-obsessed, and those who find beauty in melancholic jangle and enigmatic narratives.

Bejar's distinctive voice, brimming with poetic abstraction, guides listeners through a labyrinth of personal and observational tales, set against a backdrop of shimmering guitars and subtly swelling strings.

It feels like a late-night conversation with a brilliant, slightly eccentric friend, full of wry observations and profound, if sometimes obscure, insights. This is an album to own for its unique lyrical density and its pivotal role in the evolution of a truly singular artist.

Tracklist · 17 Tracks

01

Comments on the World as Will

0:57

02

No Cease Fires! (Crimes Against the State of Our Love, Baby)

3:31

03

The Space Race

2:22

04

Dark Purposes

2:15

05

Emax I

1:47

06

I Want This Cyclops

3:14

07

Loves of a Gnostic

2:39

08

Emax II

0:58

09

State of the Union

1:17

10

School, and the Girls Who Go There

2:52

11

Melanie and Jennifer and Melanie

3:59

12

War on Jazz

1:54

13

Emax III

0:59

14

You Were So Cruel

3:34

15

Signs

0:48

16

Rereading the Marble Faun

3:16

17

Son of the Earth

2:13

Moments Worth Listening For

The sudden shift from a sparse acoustic verse to a full, jangling band arrangement, often punctuated by a subtle string swell.

A particularly verbose and intricate lyrical passage delivered with Bejar's signature deadpan yet emotive croon, revealing a hidden depth.

The unexpected introduction of a melancholic violin line that weaves through an otherwise guitar-driven track, adding a layer of sophisticated sadness.

A moment where the drums drop out, leaving only a shimmering guitar arpeggio and Bejar's voice, creating an intimate, almost fragile atmosphere.

Reviews

Also reviewed byPitchfork

Where This Album Departs

How does City of Daughters sound next to the rest of Destroyer's catalogue?

This album stays in step with the catalogue across the board — no axis departs enough to be worth its own note. Hover the dots to see where each one sits.

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