New Pornographers
albums
The New Pornographers are one of the best supergroups of all time. That might be because of many factors,
including the fact that the main songwriter (Carl Newman) has no other main distractions and mainly writes for this
band. But seriously, looking back at many of the supposedly great supergroups that get credit for bringing
members of other bands together (Bad Company, Flying Burrito Brothers, many many others). But none of that
really matters, what matters is when these people come together something magical happens: incredible music is
made. Pop music that is catchy, but complicated enough to warrant more repeated listens than any band around
in the 00's. Carl Newman and Dan Bejar might right the songs, but Neko Case's voice adds that magical element
to everything that truly launches the band into one of the greatest bands ever, consisting of any number of
people. Whenever there is a New Porno's song heard, joy is to be found, because you know you are in for a rare
kind of music.
Band Memebers: Carl Newman - Vocals, Guitar
Neko Case - Vocals
Dan Bejar - Vocals
John Collins - Bass
Kurt Dahle - Drums
Blaine Thurier - Keyboards
Todd Fancey - Guitar
Best Album: Electric Version
Biggest Influences: The Chills, The Undertones, The Beatles
2000
Mass Romantic - 7/8
Sometimes albums just come along and blow you away, and this is one of those albums. Confidence is the word:
"Mass Romantic" the first track off the record, blasts the listener away with its opening guitar chord chug,
announcing the arrival of one of rock musics most forceful bands. When Neko Case's voice comes in, everyone
immediately starts paying attention, even if the lyrics don't make any linear sense. There is a complex tone to this
record, one not easily heard at first, but with repeated listens songs like "Centre for Holy Wars", "The Body Says
No", and "The Mary Martin Show" drift by in these weaving melodies of intricacy and become very listenable. Some
songs are catchy right off like "The Fake Headlines", "The Slow Decent into Alcholism", Dan Bejar's "Jackie", and
Case's vocal showcase "Letter From an Occupant". That last song is truly one of the best pop songs ever
recorded, and the vocals are out of this world! Some of the albums tracks do not work as well: "Mystery Hours" is a
mess of keyboards and guitars that goes nowhere; "Executuion Day" is very similar in that go no where vain,
proving that you have to make the song interesting as well as complex. "Breakin' the Law" is also a boring way to
close such an intriguing energy filled album, with some kind of little kid sounding cheering going on (including the
line "lair liar everything is on fire"). Despite these little flaws though, the album is a astonishing debut, if nothing
more than some great songs that could be in any order and still be enjoyable. What songs they are though!
- Trevor e.y.
1.mass romantic- 4
2.the fake headlines- 4
3.the slow decent into alcoholism- 4
4.mystery hours- 2
5.jackie- 4
6.letter for an occupant- 4
7.to wild homes- 4
8.the body says no- 3
9.execution day- 2
10.centre for holy wars- 4
11.the mary martin show- 4
12.breakin' the law- 3
2003
Electric Version - 9/8
Now here we go, this is one of the contenders for best pop album ever. I can't think of a more entertaining
album from back to front then this one, nor can I think of one more accessible to people of any age: children,
parents, friends, grandparents, they will all love it! That is no small feat on its own, but in reality there are just no
bad songs on Electric Version. Complexity? Check - "Testament to Youth and Verse" ends with a vocal chime
section; "The New Face of Zero and One" still makes no sense musically, but somehow works; "From Blown
Speakers" evolves into a sing along chorus that is great once you know it. Diversity? Check again - "July Jones" is
the best white reggae you've ever heard; "It's Only Divine Right" is almost metallic hard rock; "Loose Translation"
is almost adult contemporary, but in a good way! The music changes singers, styles, and forms through the whole
album to make it a perfect listening experience; it helps that all of the band members work together so well also.
Remember, just because it sounds poppy and looks easy, does not mean it is so. The influences are all over the
place too, from Liz Phair (end of "Testament"), countless New Zealand pop bands, and Bowie meets Beatles
meets Zombies meets Soft Boys meets well, almost everyone that came before in pop music! None of this distracts
form the music though because it all blends in so well. "The Laws have Changed" is of course the stand out
single, but Electric Version is more important than all of that "singles" talk: a perfect album. That will inscribe its
place in history forever. - Trevor e.y.
1.the electric version- 4
2.from blown speakers- 4
3.the laws have changed- 4
4.the end of medicine- 4
5.loose translation- 4
6.chump change- 4
7.all for swinging you around- 3
8.the new face of zero and one- 4
9.testament to youth in verse- 4
10.it's only divine right- 4
11.ballad of a comeback kid- 4
12.july jones- 4
13.miss teen wordpower- 4
2005
Twin Cinema - 6/8
There is a going trend in good pop bands. The first album has some fabulous songs, but usually is not perfect
and kind of inconsistent. The second album is the catchiest, and the most consistent one, and usually very poppy.
The third album is darker and more experimental. Look at bands like, The Undertones, Big Star, and now the New
Pornographers, and one will see the pattern. For some reason, this band is finally getting the fame they deserve,
both commercially and critically, but this is a very strange album. Darker than usual, more toned down, but that the
same time, angrier? I don't know, it is no sell out though that is for sure, but I'm positive many will be bewildered by
this stuff, and turned off to the band. Very different from the previous records, and that should be stressed. This is
a good album, and the band really challenges their sound in a good way here. I'm not gonna name song names,
cause that gets old, I'll just say that it is true that even if a song sounds bland at first, you'll be humming along by
the end, because they are structured weirdly.
Newman and Bejar are a great team, and Neko Case has one of the all time great vocalists, so the songs are
always interesting even when they don't have much going for them, which is few and far between don't get me
wrong. Ok, I'll name songs, screw it. I don't like the computer touches in the production, this album is kind of badly
produced in my opinion, and in songs like "Falling Through Your Clothes" and "Stacked Crooked" the computer
touches on the voices get annoying, while other songs like "These are the Fables", "Bones of an Idol", and
"Streets of Fire", dispite the delicate tricks, don't quite work, making this the band's least consistent album. On the
other hand, this new more challenging sound helps songs like "The Jessica Numbers", "Use It" and "Three or
Four", while "Twin Cinema", "Star Bodies" and "Sing Me Spanish Techno" (the band's best song yet) are just great
pop songs in Newman style (complicated but genius). It should be said, and I don't know how much more proof
people need, but Carl Newman is just one of the best songwriters who has ever lived. I think if people didn't get
distracted by his numerous aliases, he would be more respected, though. Or maybe he just needs more praise?
ALL HAIL CARL NEWMAN!!!! I mean, his solo album as A.C. Newman could be looked at as the third New Pornos
album really (but that would prove my little theory wrong, so never mind. I like that theory).
The album has to many songs too, they could have easily cut a couple. And you know, there are not any
showcases for Neko on here, and that could spell trouble for the band. I mean, she deserves showing off that sexy
voice, seriously. The whole album has this 80's feel to it too that it can't shake. For example the "hey-la" parts of
"The Bleeding Heart Show", I don't know, its good but also a dead end. Not timeless like their other albums. Twin
Cinema is still worth getting, half of this album is great, and even one of those songs I'd worth the cover price in
my opinion. You'd still like your favorite bands worst album right? Because it is still better than most stuff; that is
what this is like. - Trevor e.y.
1.twin cinema- 4
2.the bones of an idol- 2
3.use it- 4
4.the bleeding heart show- 3
5.jackie dressed in cobras- 4
6.the jessica numbers- 4
7.these are the fables- 2
8.sing me spanish techno- 4
9.falling through your clothes- 3
10.broken beads- 2
11.three or four- 4
12.star bodies- 4
13.streets of fire- 2
14.stacked crooked- 2
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