User ratings in Music are temporarily disabled. More info

Ken
by
  • Record Label:
  • Release Date:
Ken Image
Metascore
78

Generally favorable reviews - based on 22 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
8.1

Universal acclaim- based on 27 Ratings

  • Summary: The 12th full-length release for indie rock band led by Dan Bejar was was produced by Josh Wells of Black Mountain.
Buy Now
Buy on

Top Track

Tinseltown Swimming in Blood
Blood Destroyer Eminem Rhyming With Orange Is Lil Uzi Vert Hip-Hop's Marilyn Manson? Starset Breaks Down "Monster" Ella Vos Performs Bon Iver's... See the rest of the song lyrics
See Full Track List »
Powered by

Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 17 out of 22
  2. Mixed: 5 out of 22
  3. Negative: 0 out of 22
  1. The Independent (UK)
    Oct 19, 2017
    100
    A set of songs seething with dark knowledge, as Bejar peeks behind the curtain of appearances in search of underlying motivations.
  2. The 405
    Oct 25, 2017
    80
    This album scales back significantly from the relative bombast of the grand Poison Season in favor of a more intimate, simple setting. Stranding himself nearly alone--aside from longtime collaborator Josh Wells--Bejar hunkered down to record the simultaneously unconcerned and emotional splash that is ken.
  3. AllMusic
    Oct 19, 2017
    80
    It dispenses cautionary maxims through passages of heavy guitar distortion and sleeker moments of acoustic guitar and synths. Taken together, his typical existential outlook combined with a heavier presence of New Order-like industrial timbres make this a somewhat darker album, but still delightfully Destroyer.
  4. musicOMH.com
    Nov 15, 2017
    80
    Comfortably surpassing Poison Season, ken is hugely listenable throughout, and with so many ‘80s touchpoints in evidence, it often sounds like it could actually have been made at that time. Which, despite the uneducated blindly condemning the decade due to its considerable amount of cheese and big hair, is no bad thing.
  5. Pitchfork
    Oct 20, 2017
    79
    Like one of Lynch’s filmic worlds, ken is elegant and perverse, a reflection on where we came from, and the unbelievable place we seem to have ended up.
  6. Consequence
    Oct 20, 2017
    75
    Overall, ken is one of Destroyer’s most accessible albums. It features nary a song over six minutes and several under three, its sounds are compact and crisp, and its arrangements are clever and cohesive.
  7. Tiny Mix Tapes
    Oct 20, 2017
    50
    The lyrics can’t support the music, and vice-versa. That’s not to say there aren’t some great moments for people who’ve been following Bejar’s work--“Ivory Coast” and much of the second half of the record have a lot of noteworthy moments, in both their musical adventurousness and lyrical successes. But the interplay between flatness and richness that Bejar describes as integral to his lyrics--and that can be extended to its interplay with his music--isn’t here a lot of the time.

See all 22 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

Write a Review
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 3 out of 4
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 4
  3. Negative: 0 out of 4
  1. heady_v_goode
    Oct 23, 2017
    10
    user "jungstir" review before mine is extremely misleading. the first half of this album is not acoustic in any way! A few acoustic guitarsuser "jungstir" review before mine is extremely misleading. the first half of this album is not acoustic in any way! A few acoustic guitars pop up at various points throughout the album, but it's certainly not limited to the first half. The sound is consistent throughout this record. It definitely has a UK/Euro 80s throwback vibe to it, but its true heart (like Poison Season before it) lies squarely in the light, sophisticated sonic journey begun in earnest with Kaputt, which is when Destroyer arguably found his sound.

    Saxes and muted trumpets appear occasionally; layers of electric guitars sometimes sound so wet and smeared they resemble foggy horn sections. Destroyer music always plays well in nice weather and this is no exception, despite its grey sky vibes. No matter its influences or goals it marries everything to the aforementioned trademark Destroyer sound.    … Expand
  2. DavidWasHere
    Oct 21, 2017
    8
    ken is a rather interesting album. While I'm not as familiar with Destroyer's past work outside of the New Pornographers and his last albumken is a rather interesting album. While I'm not as familiar with Destroyer's past work outside of the New Pornographers and his last album Poison Season, which has been a while, I'm not sure if ken is representative of his other work, especially coming off of Poison Season because it's a total throwback to gothic 80s post-punk, particularly the Cure. Like it is kind of scary how super similar the instrumentation and production sounds like it would have been on a Cure album in the 80s. Which isn't a bad thing. Not at all. The album has this eerie tone and atmosphere that is complimented by beautiful spaced out guitar work that just adds to the overall vibe and mood. While some listeners might be thrown off by how relaxed and low-key the album can be, and people new to Destroyer might not like Dan's vocals, which sound like an odd mix of Bowie and Marc Bolan (I dig it), dig deeper and there is more to enjoy, especially with the lyrical content matching so well to the overall mood.… Expand
  4. Jungstir
    Oct 21, 2017
    7
    Destroyer unabashed and unafraid. 1st half acoustic and the more enjoyable latter half fully electronic with fine guitar riffs and memorableDestroyer unabashed and unafraid. 1st half acoustic and the more enjoyable latter half fully electronic with fine guitar riffs and memorable keyboards with David Bowie like vocals. Truly Destroyer has loyal fans and always delivers.… Expand
  5. Music_Observer
    Nov 2, 2017
    6
    The musicians had a nice clean slate approach that came through with sharp texture changes and prominent guitar effects, but without muchThe musicians had a nice clean slate approach that came through with sharp texture changes and prominent guitar effects, but without much pleasantry or color the sound wasn’t overwhelmingly successful and didn’t deserve to be the crux of the entire work, as the songwriting suffered from being ordinary and awkward despite keeping a basic level of interest. My Score: 118/180 (Good) = 6.5/10… Expand

Related Articles

  1. 2017 Preview, Music

    Fall Music Preview (2017): 40+ Key Albums

    Fall Music Preview (2017): 40+ Key Albums Image
    Published: September 7, 2017
    Get details on the most-anticipated albums arriving this fall (including new releases from St. Vincent, Taylor Swift, U2, Beck, and more), and listen to tracks from each one.
    More »

Current Music Releases

Full List »
99 Band on the Run [50th Anniversary Edition] - Paul McCartney & Wings
95 If I don't make it, I love u - Still House Plants
95 The Sky Will Still Be There Tomorrow - Charles Lloyd
91 COWBOY CARTER - Beyoncé
91 The Carnegie Hall Concert - Alice Coltrane
90 Iechyd Da - Bill Ryder-Jones
90 This Could Be Texas - English Teacher
89 I Got Heaven - Mannequin Pussy
89 Tigers Blood - Waxahatchee
89 All Born Screaming - St. Vincent
88 What Now - Brittany Howard
88 Only God Was Above Us - Vampire Weekend
88 Hey Panda - The High Llamas
88 Orquídeas - Kali Uchis
88 The Past Is Still Alive - Hurray for the Riff Raff
87 Filthy Underneath - Nadine Shah
87 i/o - Peter Gabriel
87 Blue Lips - ScHoolboy Q
87 Bright Future - Adrianne Lenker
87 Bite Down - Rosali
All Current Music »