The Devastations
| Company type | Indie rock band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 2002 |
| Founder | Tom Carlyon, Hugo Cran, Conrad Standish |
| Defunct | 2010 |
| Headquarters | Melbourne , Australia |
| Products | Music albums |
Devastations was an indie rock ensemble originating from Melbourne, Australia, active between 2002 and 2010. Their melancholic sound often invited comparisons to musicians such as Nick Cave and Tindersticks.
Band history
The group was established in 2002 by Tom Carlyon, Hugo Cran, and Conrad Standish following the dissolution of their former band Luxedo. Initially, they performed under the name The Devastations but later omitted "The" to better reflect their developing identity.
Their debut album, titled after the band, was released on 5 May 2003. In 2004, they secured a deal with Beggars Banquet Records for distribution across Europe. This first album was recognized as the best debut of 2004 by Rolling Stone Germany.
Their sophomore album, Coal, launched on 19 September 2005, received a nomination for the prestigious 2005 Australian Music Prize.
Released on 17 September 2007, their third album Yes, U also garnered a nomination for the Australian Music Prize and was shortlisted for Best Album at the EG Awards of 2007. This album represented a deliberate move toward electronic elements, featuring an 808 drum machine and input from keyboardist Adam Yang. Patrick Donovan from The Age characterized it as "dark, sexy, and claustrophobic," highlighting influences from avant-garde figures like Yoko Ono, Grace Jones, and David Bowie. Carlyon noted that the band prioritized sonic experimentation over conventional songwriting methods.
In 2008, Devastations contributed a rendition of the Cure's "All Cats Are Grey" to the charity tribute compilation Perfect as Cats: A Tribute to the Cure, released by Los Angeles-based indie label Manimal Vinyl.
The following year, in 2009, they collaborated with New York’s Blonde Redhead on the track "When the Road Runs Out" for the AIDS awareness compilation Dark Was the Night, which was produced by the Red Hot Organization.
By 2010, Devastations had disbanded. Subsequently, Carlyon and Standish formed an electronic duo named Standish/Carlyon, releasing their album Deleted Scenes in 2013.
Personnel
- Tom Carlyon – guitar, piano
- Hugo Cran – drums
- Conrad Standish – vocals, bass
Studio albums
| Title | Details |
|---|---|
| The Devastations |
|
| Coal |
|
| Yes, U |
|
Australian Music Prize
The Australian Music Prize is an annual $30,000 award recognizing exceptional Australian albums since its inception in 2005. Devastations earned nominations for:
|- | 2005 |Coal | Australian Music Prize | |- | 2007 |Yes U | Australian Music Prize |
EG Awards/Music Victoria Awards
The Music Victoria Awards, previously known as The Age EG Awards since their establishment in 2005, honor outstanding music from Victoria each year. The band received a nomination for:
|- | EG Awards of 2007 | Yes, U | Best Album |