Top tracks — play these first
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Notorious Lightning — Opening with an expansive nine-and-a-half-minute track, it encapsulates the album's mood through its blend of intricate instrumentation and existential themes.
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New Ways of Living — This track stands out for its catchy hooks and upbeat tempo, contrasting with the album's more somber moments while still reflecting on themes of change.
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Don't Become the Thing You Hated — With its poignant lyrics and engaging melody, this song captures the essence of self-reflection and regret that permeates much of the album.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The EP showcases strong lyrical themes and varied tempos, but its cohesion is somewhat uneven.
What we noticed
- The first track features a layered arrangement with strings and synths that build gradually, setting a reflective tone for the EP.
- Each song varies in tempo, with the second track introducing a more upbeat rhythm before returning to slower, introspective pieces.
- The lyrics often employ vivid imagery and personal anecdotes, creating a narrative thread that connects the tracks thematically.
- Composition 25% of the score
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7/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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6/10
- Durability 25% of the score
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6/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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7/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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5/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
Known within its scene. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.
Is this for you?
Good fit if you like
- introspective moments for reflection
- gradual build towards resolution
- lush melodies for quiet evenings
- short tracks for casual listening
Maybe skip if you
- seeking instant gratification
- prefer standalone hits
Where this album fits
- Career context
- By the time 'Notorious Lightning & Other Works' was released in 2005, Destroyer, led by Dan Bejar, had already established a distinct sound with previous albums. This collection followed their critically acclaimed album 'Your Blues', showcasing Bejar's continued evolution as a songwriter while embracing a more experimental approach to pop rock.
- Stylistic neighbors
- The New Pornographers· Spoon· Wolf Parade
Moments worth listening for
Where the writing does something specific.
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Your Blues
The verse shifts from abstract imagery to a direct confrontation of personal feelings, marking a stark emotional transition within the song.
This structural choice intensifies the listener's engagement, moving from a detached perspective to an intimate revelation that underscores the album’s introspective nature.
Tracklist
Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.
- 1 Notorious Lightning 9:51
- 2 New Ways of Living 3:21
- 3 The Music Lovers 4:41
- 4 An Actor's Revenge 2:55
- 5 Don't Become the Thing You Hated 3:07
- 6 Your Blues 3:32
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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