That’s Good To Know

Destroyer “The State” –

Dear the Person Who Played Drums On “The State” By Destroyer,

I don’t mean to freak you out by getting all fanboyish, but for real, you’re totally awesome and I think you totally pushed “The State” to the next level. I mean, it would’ve been pretty swell without you, but I think it’s safe to say that it wouldn’t be my favorite song on Trouble In Dreams. Maybe “Leopard of Honor” or “Foam Hands” would take the top spot? Who knows. You probably made those songs better too, but I don’t have the album credits. I know nothing about you, it’s kinda embarrassing! Maybe you’re one of those classy drummers with the loose jazzy wrists; perhaps you’re a skinny indie rock boy with wiry arms; it could be that you’re one of those generic rock dudes who float from band to band for something to do, and you make intense faces as you beat the hell out of your snares. For some reason it is a little hard to imagine that Destroyer has a lady drummer, so I guess I can rule that out? (It would be cool if Destroyer had a lady drummer, though. No offense to you if you are indeed a man.)

Anyway, these are the things I know about you:

1) You give “The State” this feeling of shifting weight, which in effect makes the song sound like a drunken giant stumbling around and falling over and getting back up again.

2) You make Dan Bejar sound nervous, as though he’s constantly peering over his shoulder as if your snare hits are going to come after him.

3) Your snare hits are coming after him!

4) You give the song so much depth — you make it feel as though we’re falling through physical space in every dynamic shift.

5) This is especially true of the song’s climax from 2:17 to 2:40, which has the feeling of hitting the top of the roller coaster, and then zooming down the ramp.

So, yeah, you’re terrific. Thanks for everything! Keep on rockin’!

Sincerely yours,

Matthew

(Click here to buy it from Merge.)

Elsewhere: Pulp’s “Common People” presented as an Archie comic!

Meanwhile, on Fair Game: The Slits came by for a five-song session, and I talked to Faith about Madonna and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.