Top Ten of Twenty Thirteen: Ryan Allen of Destroy This Place

Ryan Allen (photo by David Dominic, Jr.)

Ryan Allen (photo by David Dominic, Jr.)


Michigan’s Destroy This Place, which is comprised of dual singing guitarists Ryan Allen (formerly of Thunderbirds Are Now!), John Nelson (of indie-pop faves New Grenada), bassist Monday Busque, and drummer Sean Sommer (who pounded the skins in Friendly Foes), channel equal parts of your 7? collection from the ‘90s.  Then they mix them with elements of early thrash, ‘70s power-pop, effects-pedal hopping UK shoegaze, and SST-affiliated punk.  The result is an amalgamous blend of volume, hooks, and intensity. 
For their new album, simply, fittingly, titled Destroy This Place, the band sought to refine their assets, while adding even more heaviness to their already pulverizing jams. Captured expertly by Mike Bridavsky (BLK JKS, Rogue Wave, Good Luck, Murder By Death, Magnolia Electric Co., etc) at Russian Recordings in Bloomington, IN, and mastered in Chicago by Bob Weston, Destroy This Place leave little doubt that they can deliver muscular, pop anthems that deserve to be cranked.
That said, Allen knows an album that deserves to be cranked when he hears one.  This is what he was crankin’ in 2013.
Superchunk – I Hate Music
Ovlov – AM
Polvo – Siberia
My Bloody Valentine – MBV
Roomrunner – Ideal Cities
Swearin’ – Surfing Strange
Speedy Ortiz – Major Arcana
Bleeding Rainbow – Yeah Right
Waxahatchee – Cerulean Salt
Cheatahs – Extended Plays
(Visit Destroy This Place here: https://www.facebook.com/destroythisplace.)