Devastations were an indie rock band from
Melbourne
Melbourne ( ; Boonwurrung/Woiwurrung: ''Narrm'' or ''Naarm'') is the capital and most populous city of the Australian state of Victoria, and the second-most populous city in both Australia and Oceania. Its name generally refers to a met ...
,
Australia, they were active from 2002 to 2010. The band's solemn lamentations often earned comparisons to artists such as
Nick Cave and
Tindersticks
Tindersticks are an English alternative rock band formed in Nottingham in 1991. They released six albums before singer Stuart A. Staples embarked on a solo career. The band reunited briefly in 2006 and more permanently the following year. Th ...
.
Band history
The band was founded in 2002 by Tom Carlyon, Hugo Cran and Conrad Standish after the end of their former band Luxedo.
[ Allmusic biography, Mackenzie Wilson/ref> Originally called ''The Devastations'' to mimic the style of bands such as '']The Temptations
The Temptations are an American vocal group from Detroit, Michigan, who released a series of successful singles and albums with Motown Records during the 1960s and 1970s. The group's work with producer Norman Whitfield, beginning with the Top ...
'', "The" was later dropped.
On 5 May 2003 the band released their self-titled debut album. In 2004, the band was signed to Beggars Banquet Records
Beggars Banquet Records is a British independent record label. Beggars Banquet started as a chain of record shops owned by Martin Mills and Nick Austin and is part of the Beggars Group of labels.
History
In 1977, spurred by the prevailing ...
for the European release. Their self-titled debut album was named by ''Rolling Stone Germany'' as the best debut of 2004.
On 19 September 2005, the band released their second studio album, ''Coal''. The album was nominated for the 2005 Australian Music Prize
The Australian Music Prize (often shortened to the AMP) is an annual award of $30,000 given to an Australian band or solo artist in recognition of the merit of an album released during the year of award. The award was made by Australian Music Pri ...
.
On 17 September 2007, the band released their third studio album, ''Yes, U''. The album was also nominated for The Australian Music Prize. ''Yes, U'', was also nominated for Best Album at the EG Awards of 2007.
Patrick Donovan from the Age said "''Yes, U'' is a dark, sexy and at times claustrophobic record. By using an 808 drum machine and recording with Hate Rock keyboardist Adam Yang, they move into more electronic territory that recalls the avant garde works of Yoko Ono
Yoko Ono ( ; ja, 小野 洋子, Ono Yōko, usually spelled in katakana ; born February 18, 1933) is a Japanese multimedia artist, singer, songwriter, and peace activist. Her work also encompasses performance art and filmmaking.
Ono grew up i ...
(her ethereal song "Walking on Thin Ice
"Walking on Thin Ice" is a song by Yoko Ono, released in 1981. She and John Lennon concluded the recording of the song on December 8, 1980. It was upon their return from the recording studio to The Dakota (their home in New York City) that Lenn ...
" was a reference point for the band's "Black Ice"), Grace Jones, Suicide, David Bowie and Scott Walker." Carlyon said "With 'Yes U'' we wanted to move away from the traditional song structure and focus more on sounds, and just see where the songs took us, We didn't want to be in control of the process. We wanted to make a different album to ''Coal''. Anyone can write a song. We were more interested in the sounds. The drum machine opened up a world of possibilities."
In 2008, Devastations recorded a cover of the Cure
The Cure are an English rock band formed in 1978 in Crawley, West Sussex. Throughout numerous lineup changes since the band's formation, guitarist, lead vocalist, and songwriter Robert Smith has remained the only constant member. The band's ...
's 1981 song "All Cats Are Grey
''All Cats Are Grey'' (french: Tous les chats sont gris) is a 2014 Belgian coming-of-age drama film directed by Savina Dellicour and co-written by Dellicour and Matthieu de Braconier. ''All Cats Are Grey'' had its world premiere at the 32nd Tur ...
" for '' Perfect as Cats: A Tribute to the Cure'', a charity record released in October 2008 by Los Angeles indie label Manimal Vinyl
Manimal Vinyl is a Los Angeles-based record label founded in 2006 by film/TV producer, composer and former fashion editor Paul Gebser-Beahan.
History
The label was started out of Beahan's living room in late 2006 in the historical Hancock Park ...
.
In 2009, Devastations collaborated with New York City-based band ''Blonde Redhead
Blonde Redhead is an American alternative rock band composed of Kazu Makino (vocals, keys/rhythm guitar) and twin brothers Simone and Amedeo Pace (drums/keys and lead guitar/bass/keys/vocals, respectively) that formed in New York City in 1993. ...
'' to record "When the Road Runs Out" for the AIDS benefit album ''Dark Was the Night Dark Was the Night may refer to:
* ''Dark Was the Night'' (album), a 2009 compilation album
* ''Dark Was the Night'' (2014 film), an American thriller film
* ''Dark Was the Night'' (2018 film), an American drama film
* "Dark Was the Night" (''Grey' ...
'' produced by the Red Hot Organization.
By 2010, Devastations had disbanded, although Carlyon and Standish later reunited as an electronic music duo, ''Standish/Carlyon'', releasing the album ''Deleted Scenes'' in 2013.
Personnel
* Tom Carlyon – guitar, piano
* Hugo Cran – drums
* Conrad Standish – vocals, bass
Discography
Studio albums
Awards and nominations
Australian Music Prize
The Australian Music Prize
The Australian Music Prize (often shortened to the AMP) is an annual award of $30,000 given to an Australian band or solo artist in recognition of the merit of an album released during the year of award. The award was made by Australian Music Pri ...
(the AMP) is an annual award of $30,000 given to an Australian band or solo artist in recognition of the merit of an album released during the year of award. The commenced in 2005.
, -
, 2005
, ''Coal''
, Australian Music Prize
,
, -
, -
, 2007
, ''Yes U''
, Australian Music Prize
,
, -
EG Awards/Music Victoria Awards
The Music Victoria Awards
The Music Victoria Awards (previously known as The Age EG Awards and The Age Music Victoria Awards) are an annual awards night celebrating music from the Australian state of Victoria. They commenced in 2006 and are awarded in Melbourne Music W ...
(previously known as The Age EG Awards and The Age Music Victoria Awards) are an annual awards night celebrating Victorian music. They commenced in 2005.[
, -
, EG Awards of 2007
, ''Yes, U''
, Best Album
,
, -
]
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Devastations
Australian indie rock groups
Musical groups from Melbourne
Victoria (Australia) musical groups
Musical groups established in 2002
Musical groups disestablished in 2010