The New Pornographers - Challengers

Pay no attention to the reviews that imply the New Pornographers have "grown up" or "matured" or "drifted away" from the perfect-pop promise of their first three records. For if you throw darts at the songs on Challengers, an ambitious soundscape that had members of the all-star Canadian band recording their parts all over North America, you'll hit one flawless song after another. "All The Old Showstoppers," "All the Things That Go to Make Heaven and Earth," and "Mutiny, I Promise You" (with its driving Farfisa organ) all venture back to the infectiousness of the band's earlier records, with leader and chief songwriter A.C. Newman (now a Brooklyn native) penning some of the most thought-provoking lyrics this side of Billy Bragg. Yes, there are departures, including a string section, flute and harp, and Dan Bejar's foray into indie-pop hip-hop with the witty, New York-heavy "Myriad Harbour." But there's also Neko Case dominating the divine title track and equally charming "Go Places"" as only she can, Kathryn Calder making her lead-vocal debut on "Failsafe" and (with Newman) on the melancholy "Adventures in Solitude," and Newman using an ambitious six and a half minutes to write about his new home city ("Unguided"). Then, your 50 minutes--a dozen songs--are up, as is the conclusion: Grown up? Sure. Matured? OK. Still pop perfect? Utterly. --Scott Holter

More from the New Pornographers and Friends

Mass Romantic	Electric Version	Twin Cinema
Destroyer's Rubies, Destroyer (featuring Dan Bejar)	Fox Confessor Brings the Flood, Neko Case	Slow Wonder, A.C. Newman

Amazon.com

Erratic, but truly stellar in places

I was introduced to NPs by someone who was way more into indie music than me, but since I was way more into her than she was into me, I tried hard to like them, but I just couldn't stand most of their earlier work. Now, a couple of years later, Challengers falls into my lap, and I can't get enough of it.

That's not true. I can't stand what I consider the more manic stuff on here, like Myriad Harbour, All The Things, Entering White Cecilia, and Mutiny. They scream at me as I rush to turn the sound down.

However...

My Rights Versus Yours, Challengers, Go Places, and particularly Unguided have poignant and rich lyrics that gain more meaning to me after continued listening. They're wrapped in nicely layered sound that just reverberates around my car when I'm listening to them. I listened to a preview of the title track before I bought it and was really sucked in, ended up buying the entire album. Now all four of these tracks are in my top 25 most played on my iPod in the last three years, and I've only owned them for one!

I hope I don't offend the diehards - not my intention! This is just an opinion of a curious listener. I continue to be intrigued by this album that has four of my favorite songs and four of my least favorite in one place. And regardless, it was WELL worth the purchase. September 26, 2008

Eclectic and Creative

This was my first New Pornographers CD purchase. I bought it for my husband, and was looking for new and interesting music. We both love this CD and listen to it over and over. Each song sounds so different as they utilize 4 different lead singers and many different styles. I enjoy all the songs, but I think my 2 favorite are "Go Places" and "Myriad Harbor"---which are completely opposite songs! What a creative CD! With songs that are both fun, upbeat, slow, and beautiful. Nothing is boring! September 15, 2008

Loved it the first time through!

I learned about this group/CD in an NPR interview, of all things. I liked what I heard and ordered the CD - A great impulse decision! I fell in love with the songs the first time I played through the CD. I'm not a music snob or anything, so I can't think of anything clever to say about it - I just like it! June 20, 2008

Pornographic? Hardly!

These musicians are pretty good and the songs on CHALLENGERS are simple but extremely melodic. There's a fair amount of variation between them, as a few of them rock out a bit while others are more subdued and stately. The emphasis here is on vocal melody and voices singing in harmony. Overall, the music is a bit too twee and sing-songy for my tastes, but listening with an objective ear, I can tell why people like it. If you like, say, the Beach Boys PET SOUNDS (which I don't), you'll probably go for this.

What I don't get is why this band would call themselves The New Pornographers. There's nothing pornographic, raunchy or even "racey" about them. It's a very misleading name. the only thing I can think of is that they wanted a name well off the beaten path that will ensure their status as an "underground" band in order to maintain their "indie" cred. In the meantime, their name probably turns off a lot of people who would ordinarily like their music but would prefer not to hear anything having to do with "pornography." More astute music fans won't be so easiliy put off - in fact, one of my favorite albums, The Cure's PORNOGRAPHY, has virtually nothing to do with x-rated films. Robert Smith, the Cure's mastermind, gave that album its title to reflect the album's turmoil and depressive aspects - he in fact abhored pornography. Still, I can't help thinking that this other wise decent band chose a monumentally stupid name to call themselves. April 19, 2008

I just didn't get it.........recomend the new Poi Dog Pondering "7" CD

Too be honest....I just don't get it....a blend of numerous influences and styles, but they just never seem to quite blend...hard to describe and it's a worthwile listen....however if you want to hear a band blend various influences from Jam, to Jazz, to Grunge, to Americana Folk...check out the '7' CD from Poi Dog Pondering......truly amazing April 16, 2008

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