{{Short description|Australian indie rock band from Melbourne}} {{Use dmy dates|date=September 2021}} {{Use Australian English|date=March 2012}} {{Infobox musical artist | name = The Devastations | image = Devastations.jpg | caption = Devastations at The Water Rats, Kings Cross, London, UK. September, 2007. | image_size = | background = group_or_band | origin = Melbourne, Australia | genre = Indie rock | years_active = 2002–2010 | label = Spooky/MGM, Beggars Banquet | associated_acts = Luxedo | website = [http://devastations.bandcamp.com Official website] | current_members = Conrad Standish<br>Tom Carlyon<br>Hugo Cran | past_members = }}
'''Devastations''' were an indie rock band from Melbourne, Australia, they were active from 2002 to 2010. The band's solemn lamentations often earned comparisons to artists such as Nick Cave and Tindersticks.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Martin|first1=Luke|title=The Devastations – The Devastations|url=http://fasterlouder.junkee.com/the-devastations-the-devastations/773120|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170906135549/http://fasterlouder.junkee.com/the-devastations-the-devastations/773120|url-status=dead|archive-date=6 September 2017|accessdate=6 September 2017|publisher=FasterLouder|date=31 March 2005}}</ref>
==Band history== The band was founded in 2002 by Tom Carlyon, Hugo Cran and Conrad Standish after the end of their former band Luxedo.<ref name="allmusic">[{{AllMusic|class=artist|id=p832228/biography|pure_url=yes}} Allmusic biography, Mackenzie Wilson]</ref> Originally called ''The Devastations'' to mimic the style of bands such as ''The Temptations'', "The" was later dropped.<ref>{{cite web|title=The Devastations|url=http://www.terapija.net/english.asp?ID=361|website=terapijanet|accessdate=6 September 2017}}</ref>
On 5 May 2003 the band released their self-titled debut album. In 2004, the band was signed to Beggars Banquet Records for the European release.<ref name=Donovan>{{Citation| last = Donovan| first = Patrick| title = Crossing Borders| newspaper = The Age| date = 14 December 2007| url = http://www.theage.com.au/news/music/crossing-borders/2007/12/13/1197135621887.html}}</ref> Their self-titled debut album was named by ''Rolling Stone Germany'' as the best debut of 2004.<ref name="toint">{{cite web|url=http://www.timeoff.com.au/archive/1243/interviews/8.html|title=The Devastations Interview|website=TimeOff|date=16 September 2008|accessdate=1 September 2020|archive-date=16 September 2008|archive-url=https://archive.today/20080916234300/http://www.timeoff.com.au/archive/1243/interviews/8.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>
On 19 September 2005, the band released their second studio album, ''Coal''. The album was nominated for the 2005 Australian Music Prize.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.remotecontrolrecords.com.au/artistDetail.asp?ArtistID=426|title=Devastations profile|website=Remote Control Records|date=30 October 2007|accessdate=1 September 2020|archive-date=30 October 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071030080444/http://www.remotecontrolrecords.com.au/artistDetail.asp?ArtistID=426|url-status=dead}}</ref>
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.<ref name=Donovan />
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 (her ethereal song "Walking on Thin Ice" was a reference point for the band's "Black Ice"), Grace Jones, Suicide, David Bowie and Scott Walker."<ref name=Donovan /> 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."<ref name=Donovan />
In 2008, Devastations recorded a cover of the Cure's 1981 song "All Cats Are Grey" for ''Perfect as Cats: A Tribute to the Cure'', a charity record released in October 2008 by Los Angeles indie label Manimal Vinyl.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Gourlay|first1=Dom|title=Perfect As Cats: A Tribute to the Cure|url=http://drownedinsound.com/releases/13812/reviews/4136066-various-perfect-as-cats--a-tribute-to-the-cure|website=Drowned in Sound|accessdate=6 September 2017|archive-date=6 September 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170906135450/http://drownedinsound.com/releases/13812/reviews/4136066-various-perfect-as-cats--a-tribute-to-the-cure|url-status=dead}}</ref>
In 2009, Devastations collaborated with New York City-based band ''Blonde Redhead'' to record "When the Road Runs Out" for the AIDS benefit album ''Dark Was the Night'' produced by the Red Hot Organization.<ref>{{cite web|title=Dark Was The Night|url=http://redhot.org/project/dark-was-the-night|website=Red Hot|accessdate=6 September 2017}}</ref>
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.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Mathieson|first1=Craig|title=Darker side of yuppiedom|url=http://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/music/darker-side-of-yuppiedom-20130718-2q6xo.html|accessdate=6 September 2017|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|date=19 July 2013}}</ref>
==Personnel== * Tom Carlyon – guitar, piano * Hugo Cran – drums * Conrad Standish – vocals, bass
==Discography== ===Studio albums=== {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" border="1" !Title !Details |- ! scope="row"| ''The Devastations'' | * Released: 5 May 2003<ref name="ARIA Report 689">{{cite web | date = 5 May 2002 | archiveurl = https://webarchive.nla.gov.au/awa/20030506140000/http://pandora.nla.gov.au/pan/23790/20030507-0000/Issue689.pdf | title = The ARIA Report | publisher = Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) | issue = 689 | page = 30 | url = http://www.aria.com.au/pages/documents/issue689.pdf | archivedate = 6 May 2003 | accessdate = 1 October 2015 }}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> * Label: Spooky Records (Spooky008) * Format: CD |- ! scope="row"| ''Coal'' | * Released: 19 September 2005<ref name="ARIA Report 812">{{cite web | date = 19 September 2005 | archiveurl = https://webarchive.nla.gov.au/awa/20051019140000/http://pandora.nla.gov.au/pan/23790/20051020-0000/issue812.pdf | title = The ARIA Report | publisher = Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) | issue = 812 | page = 30 | url = http://www.aria.com.au/pages/documents/issue812.pdf | archivedate = 19 October 2005 | accessdate = 1 October 2015 }}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> * Label: In-Fidelity (INFCD-120) * Format: CD, DD |- ! scope="row"| ''Yes, U'' | * Released: 17 September 2007<ref name="ARIA Report 915">{{cite web | date = 17 September 2007 | archiveurl = https://webarchive.nla.gov.au/awa/20071019140000/http://pandora.nla.gov.au/pan/23790/20071020-0000/issue915.pdf | title = The ARIA Report | publisher = Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) | issue = 915 | page = 30 | url = http://www.aria.com.au/pages/documents/issue915.pdf | archivedate = 19 October 2007 | accessdate = 1 October 2015 }}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> * Label: Beggars Banquet, Remote Control (BBQCD 255) * Format: CD, DD, LP |}
==Awards and nominations== ===Australian Music Prize=== The Australian Music Prize (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.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.australianmusicprize.com/winners-shortlists|title=Winners & Shortlists|website=australian music prize|accessdate=22 August 2020|archive-date=29 July 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190729180503/https://www.australianmusicprize.com/winners-shortlists|url-status=dead}}</ref> {{awards table}} |- | 2005 |''Coal'' | Australian Music Prize | {{nom}} |- |- | 2007 |''Yes U'' | Australian Music Prize | {{nom}} |- {{end}}
===EG Awards/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 Victorian music. They commenced in 2005.<ref name=Donovan/>
{{awards table}} |- | EG Awards of 2007 | ''Yes, U'' | Best Album | {{nom}} |- {{end}}
==References== {{reflist}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Devastations}} Category:Australian indie rock groups Category:Musical groups from Melbourne Category:Musical groups established in 2002 Category:Musical groups disestablished in 2010