Best Album
Diamond Destroyer of Death
ROAR frontman Owen Evans is somewhat soft-spoken in person, but don’t mistake that for a lack of ambition or artistic confidence. The excellent Diamond Destroyer of Death, which New Times deemed a standout in the first half of 2021, is a totally sweeping pop record. What makes this 10-track LP so magical isn’t just the gimmicks, like “songs within songs” or some kind of nebulous story or concept. It’s how Evans and his collaborators spin in strands of psychedelic, baroque, and ’60s pop to make something far more groovy than the sum of its catchy parts. It’s as if Evans himself is captaining an interdimensional tandem bike to take us through the pop sphere, pulling at bits of melody and romantic energies to delight and amuse along the way. The album itself doesn’t just celebrate the great music of yesteryear, but tweaks and evolves it in real time to present something that’s otherworldly and beguiling without losing any relatability or playfulness. This is pop music for a new, more strange world, and we should all be thankful for Evans’ guiding presence in it.