A.C. Newman albums
	Band Members:                Carl Newman - Vocals, Guitar                                            John Collins - Bass                                            Fisher rose & Pete Bourne - Drums                                            Shane Nelken - Piano Best Album: The Slow Wonder Biggest Influences: Paul McCartney, Robin Hitchcock, Paul Simon                                                         2004                                                         The Slow Wonder -  8/8 Whatever moniker this guy goes under (New Pornographers, Zumpano, A.C. Newman), Carl Newman is one of the best songwriters alive today. He truly has a talent for writing melodies on par with the masters of melody (Paul McCartney, Robin Hitchcock, Elton John, Grant Hart, Robert Schnider, Paul Simon, Steve Merritt), and I'm sure will produce future records that will inspire all of us. As fas as pop music goes, his lead singing work with The New Pornographers showed the world that he could work with people and produce complicated melodies that rocked hard and also made you feel great. With his first "solo" album, he proves a softer touch, but it still feels more like the work of a band than a singer/songwriter. Who cares though, because there is not a bad song on here at all, which is no small feat. The melodies are instantly memorable, and while some songs only one listen to love, like "Secretarial", "Town Halo", and "Miracle Drug", some grow on you like "35 in the Shade", "Most of Us Prize Fighters", "Drink to me Babe, Then", and "Come Crash". "On the Table" probably sounds the most like The New Pornographers, and proves he was the writer behind all of those songs all along (like anyone doubted)! An album full of just catchy songs would not hold up, but depth is added in songs like "Better than Most" and "The Cloud Prayer". Maybe the music suffers some as studio effects get in the way on those two tracks, but it doesn't detract too much. The Slow Wonder is a perfect title really, because it takes a while to absorb the songs (accessible as they are), but it is a wonder how great it is, actually better and more consistent than most of his other bands work. In all, it proves the Newman is one of the best songwriters around these days, as a solo artist, a band leader, or whatever path he chooses to take. - Trevor e.y. 1.miracle drug- 4 2.drink to me, babe, then- 4 3.on the table- 4 4.most of us prizefighters- 4 * 5.the battle for straight time- 4 6.secretarial- 4 7.come crash- 4 8.better than most- 3 9.the cloud prayer- 2 10.the town halo- 4 11.35 in the shade- 4