Fans of Destroyer -- and what a faithful, tasteful lot they are -- have an understandably tough time pinning down what it is they like about the group. In reviews, singer-songwriter Dan Bejar -- of the New Pornographers, Swan Lake and new project Hello, Blue Roses -- constantly gets compared to Bowie and Dylan. True, Bejar's lyrics are uncommonly plush, filled with odd literary and pop references, and a can't-put-your-finger-on-it kind of romanticism. But namedropping really isn't giving the guy (or his smart, often-overlooked band) enough credit. If Destroyer's Rubies, its fantastic 2006 release, is the reliable genius of the family, the new Trouble in Dreams is its scrappier, messier little brother. But the troublesome ones, as we all know, can be a blast, too. The opening track, "Blue Flower/Blue Flames," sets up a nostalgic, lazy summer day vibe. In contrast, "The State," two tracks later, finds Bejar venomously spitting self-reflexive lines over a jangly rhythm: "Turn away if you should hear me begin to sing, 'I look like a fucking monster with this wing' / Craving new experiences but so what?" Meanwhile, "Introducing Angels" and "Foam Hands" expose Bejar's more tender and -- dare we say -- prettier side. Per usual, the stormy/romantic back-and-forth works well for Destroyer, but a few overreaching sonic experiments -- most notably all of "Shooting Rockets (from the Desk of Night's Ape)" -- stop this from being another ruby.

-- Tim Lowery