Destruction Island
"Preaches the New
Wilderness" CD
Rural Wolf Records
Genre: indie rock, rock, pop
Sep 16 2008 |
Named after an actual location in their home-state of Washington,
Destruction Island plays dramatic pop music that sticks quick. A
rock band at heart, the members of this fourpiece are scene veterans,
and their experience leads to a well-polished album delivered with an
unmistakable professionalism. Looking at the track listing, you
half-expect pretentious emo or math-rock ("Casually Finding a Torso on
a Sunday Morning," "France!!!," "Sex With Strangers: Being Young and
Stupid"), but that couldn't be further from the truth. Destruction
Island is an exceptionally accessible band, but also one with a
distinct sound of its own. New Wilderness is alive with strong
songs; obvious highlights are rapidly transitioning "Good
Reincarnations," twangy ballad "The End is Near!!!," and Trail of
Dead-esque "France!!!" But a strong supporting cast of songs helps
keep this album thriving, with very few songs falling flat. I am not
in love with awkward "Holy Waters" and promising but unfulfilling
"Pissing Contest," although Counting
Crows ringer "Putting Down the Dog" and electric "Sex With
Strangers" are pretty solid. If I may select the album's hidden gem,
it would be the warm "Would It Kill You?," which has a nice,
understated charm.
Just over half an hour in length, New Wilderness seems a lot
heftier. Thanks to its eclectic nature, these eleven songs flow like a
rapidly shifting adventure, keeping the
listener engaged throughout. Its end ("Holy
Waters") could have been better, but as it is, New Wilderness
is a very satisfying debut album from a promising young band. Keep an
eye on Destruction Island.
destruction island's myspace
84%
youuuuuuuutube!:
"put down the dog" live,
"torso" live,
"good reincarnations" live
Matt Shimmer
Fun Fact: Destruction
Island is well-known for its lighthouse, which was built in 1888 and
maintained for two centuries (the light was shut off for good in
April). Apparently, there used to be keepers who lived in the
lighthouse, but this ended in 1968, when the lens was automated. Being
a lighthouse keeper on Destruction must have been a pretty interesting
profession, considering the island is otherwise uninhabited.
[Vitals: 11 tracks, distributed by
CD
Baby,
released 2008] |
