o hand in hand

ok, so i'm two thirds of the way through the new destroyer album, something i've been looking forward to with an adolescent giddiness which, thankfully, hasn't softened any with age when it comes to great music. anyway, it's really strange. the reviews i've read (click on the link for one) warned me, but i didn't quite believe them. full-on synth orchestra effects, enough to make you feel like you're stuck inside an 80's sword-and-scorcery flick. definitely divisive stuff here-- plenty material to alienate an audience. at this point, i'm not sure where i stand. but being as though i love his earlier albums (especially streethawk: a seduction), i figured i'd document my initial bewilderment. expect more on this...