Now I just read this review from this Village Voice critic, who should be slapped around for the line I have pointed out...
THE NEW PORNOGRAPHERS Electric Version (Matador) Earns its buzz. Tremendous craft, winning enthusiasm. You'll remember every song when it comes on—maybe even when it doesn't, hum hum. But if it has a point beyond whistling at the void, it declines to mention what that point might be. --->Also, I wish the sparingly deployed Neko Case would abandon her faux-country career.<----(???) Carl Newman likes a lot of things about British pop that I don't, starting with vocal filters (his seems built-in) and that cute accent (signifying not class but artifice as a virtue). Is this what Zumpano sounds like? Who cares?
― ham on rye (ham on rye), Monday, 16 June 2003 18:07 (twenty years ago) link
I suppose that's his point: he can say Neko Case is worse than New Pornographers, because he has heard her to compare, unlike the other bands.
― Andrew Farrell (afarrell), Monday, 16 June 2003 18:21 (twenty years ago) link
― Matthew Perpetua (Matthew Perpetua), Monday, 16 June 2003 18:25 (twenty years ago) link
There's a reason I don't listen to them 65 yr old academics...
― ham on rye (ham on rye), Monday, 16 June 2003 18:30 (twenty years ago) link
― fields of salmon (fieldsofsalmon), Monday, 16 June 2003 18:36 (twenty years ago) link
Both of which predate New Pornographers.
Also, I wish the sparingly deployed Neko Case would abandon her faux-country career.<----(???)
I wouldn't call her country either. And I also wish she would settle down into pop and write Mary Margaret O'Hara's long lost sequel to Miss America.
The New Pornographers C/D [answer: the former!]new New PornographersNeko Case - Blacklisted
― Mr Noodles (Mr Noodles), Monday, 16 June 2003 18:47 (twenty years ago) link
Now I love NP, but Neko Case is on another level entirely.
― ham on rye (ham on rye), Monday, 16 June 2003 18:49 (twenty years ago) link
I mean, The Virginian was a cute little hello to country music, a nice voice having a good time with some okay songs, and then the scope and haunting beauty of FRL just blew me away.
But, this guy, who is this guy? He writes like the world should care what he personally likes. That's not criticking, that's keeping a diary.
― Horace Mann (Horace Mann), Monday, 16 June 2003 18:57 (twenty years ago) link
I have no problem with people who would prefer more Neko Case. They're just wrong is all :)
― Andrew Farrell (afarrell), Monday, 16 June 2003 19:00 (twenty years ago) link
And she keeps getting better. The Virginian was okay, I like it alright, still haven't bought it. Furnace Room Lullaby is mind-blowing however, Blacklisted tops that ever-so-slightly, and her Canadian Amp EP is another fine piece of work.
― ham on rye (ham on rye), Monday, 16 June 2003 19:01 (twenty years ago) link
― Sean (Sean), Monday, 16 June 2003 19:03 (twenty years ago) link
― ham on rye (ham on rye), Monday, 16 June 2003 19:05 (twenty years ago) link
― Vic Funk, Monday, 16 June 2003 19:06 (twenty years ago) link
― s1utsky (slutsky), Monday, 16 June 2003 19:08 (twenty years ago) link
― Horace Mann (Horace Mann), Monday, 16 June 2003 19:09 (twenty years ago) link
― ham on rye (ham on rye), Monday, 16 June 2003 20:02 (twenty years ago) link
― Bruce Urquhart (Bruce Urquhart), Monday, 16 June 2003 20:50 (twenty years ago) link
Fact: I could really do without Bejar's NP songs, even though they are quite good. To me, the appeal of the group is the Case/Newman collaboration.
― Matthew Perpetua (Matthew Perpetua), Monday, 16 June 2003 20:55 (twenty years ago) link
― Ben Boyer, Monday, 16 June 2003 21:36 (twenty years ago) link
― Sean Thomas (sgthomas), Monday, 16 June 2003 21:42 (twenty years ago) link
― James Blount (James Blount), Monday, 16 June 2003 21:45 (twenty years ago) link
And, yeah, maybe Carl Newman leans more towards later/poppier glam than Bowie -- in addition to the Sweet's "Action," I've heard them play Sparks's "Throw Her Away (And Get A New One)" as an encore. But it's hardly apples and oranges.
― Sean Thomas (sgthomas), Monday, 16 June 2003 21:46 (twenty years ago) link
― James Blount (James Blount), Monday, 16 June 2003 21:46 (twenty years ago) link
― jess (dubplatestyle), Monday, 16 June 2003 21:50 (twenty years ago) link
Which doesn't mean it isn't a weak argument: "Neko Case hardly appears on the NPs album, therefore she should stop performing her own material." Yeah, that's the traditional career path for the alt-country chanteuse: a few years of twang (y'know, just to get it out of her system), and then settle down into a serious career in glam-inflected power pop. Enough with the dawdling!
(Better? Worse?)
― Sean Thomas (sgthomas), Monday, 16 June 2003 22:28 (twenty years ago) link
― Anthony Miccio (Anthony Miccio), Monday, 16 June 2003 22:30 (twenty years ago) link
― James Blount (James Blount), Monday, 16 June 2003 22:32 (twenty years ago) link
― Sean Thomas (sgthomas), Monday, 16 June 2003 22:41 (twenty years ago) link
― Anthony Miccio (Anthony Miccio), Monday, 16 June 2003 23:00 (twenty years ago) link
Didn't it come out last month?
― Sean (Sean), Monday, 16 June 2003 23:04 (twenty years ago) link
― James Blount (James Blount), Monday, 16 June 2003 23:05 (twenty years ago) link
― James Blount (James Blount), Monday, 16 June 2003 23:10 (twenty years ago) link
― Anthony Miccio (Anthony Miccio), Monday, 16 June 2003 23:12 (twenty years ago) link
― James Blount (James Blount), Monday, 16 June 2003 23:14 (twenty years ago) link
― keith (keithmcl), Tuesday, 17 June 2003 02:09 (twenty years ago) link
Neko solo would blow them away, if only she wrote somewhat better songs. I still prefer her to them, though, 'cuz she sings lead on all the Neko Case stuff.
― JesseFox (JesseFox), Tuesday, 17 June 2003 04:16 (twenty years ago) link
― JesseFox (JesseFox), Tuesday, 17 June 2003 04:19 (twenty years ago) link
― M Matos (M Matos), Tuesday, 17 June 2003 05:37 (twenty years ago) link
― James Blount (James Blount), Tuesday, 17 June 2003 05:41 (twenty years ago) link
― M Matos (M Matos), Tuesday, 17 June 2003 05:59 (twenty years ago) link
― James Blount (James Blount), Tuesday, 17 June 2003 06:29 (twenty years ago) link
― M Matos (M Matos), Tuesday, 17 June 2003 06:34 (twenty years ago) link
― James Blount (James Blount), Tuesday, 17 June 2003 06:38 (twenty years ago) link
― Horace Mann (Horace Mann), Tuesday, 17 June 2003 14:11 (twenty years ago) link
― fields of salmon (fieldsofsalmon), Tuesday, 17 June 2003 14:35 (twenty years ago) link
― Horace Mann (Horace Mann), Tuesday, 17 June 2003 14:39 (twenty years ago) link
― Sean Thomas (sgthomas), Tuesday, 17 June 2003 15:22 (twenty years ago) link
― Aaron A., Wednesday, 18 June 2003 02:56 (twenty years ago) link
Carl looks more like Howdy Doody with each passing day.
― Matthew Perpetua (Matthew Perpetua), Wednesday, 18 June 2003 03:56 (twenty years ago) link
Saw them in June, it was cool to hear Neko sing in so many of the songs. But I'm a sucker for her voice.
― Blood and sparkles (bloodandsparkles), Wednesday, 7 January 2004 02:41 (twenty years ago) link
It just came on randomly and was surprised at how much it would fit in on Mass Romantic.
― gygax! (gygax!), Monday, 8 August 2005 00:58 (eighteen years ago) link
― Drooone, Tuesday, 6 March 2007 23:03 (seventeen years ago) link
― David R., Tuesday, 6 March 2007 23:08 (seventeen years ago) link
― Drooone, Tuesday, 6 March 2007 23:12 (seventeen years ago) link
― calstars, Wednesday, 7 March 2007 00:45 (seventeen years ago) link
'mass romantic' is so fucking good.
― Matt P, Wednesday, 24 September 2008 04:12 (fifteen years ago) link
Song or album? - in neither case would it be a revelatory insight, but I'm all for whimsicality.
― Freedom, Wednesday, 24 September 2008 04:20 (fifteen years ago) link
i have no insights or whimsicality, i just pulled it out the other night and it was perfect.
― Matt P, Wednesday, 24 September 2008 21:57 (fifteen years ago) link
any opinions on the new one that's out today, y'all?
― ksh, Tuesday, 4 May 2010 18:37 (fourteen years ago) link
new New Pornographers
― Zeno, Tuesday, 4 May 2010 19:39 (fourteen years ago) link
thank u sir
― ksh, Tuesday, 4 May 2010 19:42 (fourteen years ago) link
i like the new disc a lot. i don't think there's a weak track, and as much as i love the new pornographers, that's an unusual feeling for me (even twin cinema had a weak patch IMO). teaming neko case/kathryn calder for vocal harmonies works wonders, in songs like if you can't see my mirrors; sweet talk; and my shepard. the interesting drum patterns and fills are back. the hooks are, too.
i guess i've said most of this before, and on the other thread. sorry for being a broken record about this record.
― Daniel, Esq., Tuesday, 4 May 2010 19:47 (fourteen years ago) link
awesome review, Daniel. Twin Cinema was a record that i got on the day it came out, and i could listen to again and again, so i'm hoping this one is the same . . . i passed on the last one
― ksh, Tuesday, 4 May 2010 19:54 (fourteen years ago) link
Don't sleep on Challengers. It took me a full year to really warm to, but now it's indispensable.
― Johnny Fever, Tuesday, 4 May 2010 19:56 (fourteen years ago) link
really? i was turned off by the lukewarm response, but i really love Twin Cinema, so maybe i should go back to it
― ksh, Tuesday, 4 May 2010 19:57 (fourteen years ago) link
it's underrated. i mean, the songs do lay there more than you'd expect for this band's work, but they were following a different muse. the songs themselves were still very strong, and i liked the depth that was added when they slowed down the tempo and didn't try to cram enough hooks for five songs into one song.
having said all that, challengers is hardly my favorite new pornographers' disc.
― Daniel, Esq., Tuesday, 4 May 2010 20:00 (fourteen years ago) link
Yeah, it's not my favorite either, but I'd be sad if it didn't exist.
― Johnny Fever, Tuesday, 4 May 2010 20:01 (fourteen years ago) link
my goal here is for the "New Pornographers" and "New New Pornographers" threads to sit atop the SNA page.
symmetry.
― Daniel, Esq., Tuesday, 4 May 2010 20:03 (fourteen years ago) link
mission accomplished.
:-D
― ksh, Tuesday, 4 May 2010 20:08 (fourteen years ago) link
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U8-1EPeYn3A&feature=player_embedded
― Darin, Tuesday, 22 June 2010 23:25 (thirteen years ago) link
does anyone else LOVE the first song on each NP album, and everything else is just kinda meh with a few exceptions?
― i also enjoy in line skateing (spazzmatazz), Saturday, 30 August 2014 04:33 (nine years ago) link
New album 'Whiteout Conditions' in April. First single today.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TuxVvtDt6ss
Cautious anticipation commence.
― Ⓓⓡ. (Johnny Fever), Friday, 27 January 2017 17:49 (seven years ago) link
thrilled that their album covers are terrible again
― who is extremely unqualified to review this pop album (BradNelson), Friday, 27 January 2017 17:49 (seven years ago) link
Carl Newman took over handling the band's twitter feed today, and he's spending time re-tweeting his own personal tweets and big-upping them.
― Lauren Schumer Donor (Phil D.), Friday, 27 January 2017 17:51 (seven years ago) link
Todd Fancey (guitar for NP) has a new record out today, "Love Mirage"
― calstars, Friday, 27 January 2017 17:55 (seven years ago) link
I like the album cover. Don't care for how they incorporated it into the YouTube vid.
― MarkoP, Friday, 27 January 2017 18:09 (seven years ago) link
Interesting timing on the Fancey album cover.
http://www.albumkings.com/packages/anahkiasen/illuminage/eae355e430f9ab09db94469e65430503.jpg
― Hideous Lump, Saturday, 28 January 2017 06:03 (seven years ago) link
is bejar not on the new album? they're touring w/out him apparently
― Mordy, Saturday, 28 January 2017 16:26 (seven years ago) link
haven't heard either way but at this point they've toured without him way more than they've toured with him.
― call all destroyer, Saturday, 28 January 2017 16:55 (seven years ago) link
When this tour was announced, I read a few articles which said he was going to be on the tour. Maybe it was just assumption? He certainly doesn't look to be on the album cover.
― winnebago taco, Sunday, 29 January 2017 16:56 (seven years ago) link
Bejar is indeed not on this album apparently
― a serious and fascinating fartist (Simon H.), Sunday, 29 January 2017 17:18 (seven years ago) link
decent single
― niels, Tuesday, 31 January 2017 09:53 (seven years ago) link
― call all destroyer, Saturday, January 28, 2017 11:55 AM (three days ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink
Here's one of my favorite "It's A Small World After All" stories. I saw the NPs on one of the Dan-less shows at the House of Blues in Cleveland. (I want to say it was on the "Challengers" tour.) Late in the show, they picked a guy out of the audience who came up on stage and they had him sing "Myriad Harbor." The guy was super-nervous, but did a great job.
Flash forward to last summer, when I went to Chicago to see the Belly reunion tour. I'm standing up near the stage chatting with some other people there, and we all get to talking about other bands we like. I mention the NPs, and one of the guys talking with me starts telling a story about when he was at a show in Cleveland and they pulled him out of the audience . . . I literally finished his sentence: "To sing 'Myriad Harbor?'" I asked if it was pre-arranged and he said, "No, I think they picked me because I'm tall, black and have a Mohawk, so I stood out." He said Carl put his hand on his shoulder and just said, "Don't worry, you're gonna do fine."
― Lauren Schumer Donor (Phil D.), Tuesday, 31 January 2017 13:28 (seven years ago) link
haha, what a great story
love 'myriad harbor'
― niels, Tuesday, 31 January 2017 13:41 (seven years ago) link
have they said no Bejar on this or do you have inside info, Simon?
― alpine static, Tuesday, 31 January 2017 21:36 (seven years ago) link
Perpetua just tweeted about there being zero Bejar on this one, and also more Neko than ever.
I am no pre-emptively considering it the great NPs album of all time.
― Ⓓⓡ. (Johnny Fever), Thursday, 9 February 2017 22:46 (seven years ago) link
otm, more Neko than ever???? <3<3<3 glad i already have my ticket
― Mordy, Thursday, 9 February 2017 22:48 (seven years ago) link
Wiki also says no Bejar and all the songs are solo Newman comps.
― to fly across the city and find Aerosmith's car (C. Grisso/McCain), Friday, 10 February 2017 06:15 (seven years ago) link
Newman talks
STEREOGUM: Dan Bejar wasn’t involved in this record. Was he just busy with Destroyer?NEWMAN: I was talking to him about what I wanted to do [with this record], and I think I told him, “I see it as being a bubblegum krautrock record.” Talking about the songs being 160BPM. He was talking to me and saying that all the songs he was writing were weird, quiet songs, and he was right in the middle of doing a Destroyer record. Which was something we’d narrowly skirted for our whole career. I’m always amazed that we managed to. Sometimes we avoided Destroyer, sometimes Destroyer avoided us, but eventually we hit at the same time. It wasn’t anything weird. We were just in Vancouver rehearsing and I’d go up and hang out with Dan. It’s not like anything’s really changed between us. It’s always the way it’s been. When we made Mass Romantic, we really didn’t know we were going to make another record. If nobody had paid attention, it’s possible we wouldn’t have, because it was hard to get that one done. When nobody’s asking for it…it’s hard to do something when you’re just doing it for yourself as a labor of love. The economics kicked in. If people wanna hear it, we’ll make it.
NEWMAN: I was talking to him about what I wanted to do [with this record], and I think I told him, “I see it as being a bubblegum krautrock record.” Talking about the songs being 160BPM. He was talking to me and saying that all the songs he was writing were weird, quiet songs, and he was right in the middle of doing a Destroyer record. Which was something we’d narrowly skirted for our whole career. I’m always amazed that we managed to. Sometimes we avoided Destroyer, sometimes Destroyer avoided us, but eventually we hit at the same time. It wasn’t anything weird. We were just in Vancouver rehearsing and I’d go up and hang out with Dan. It’s not like anything’s really changed between us. It’s always the way it’s been. When we made Mass Romantic, we really didn’t know we were going to make another record. If nobody had paid attention, it’s possible we wouldn’t have, because it was hard to get that one done. When nobody’s asking for it…it’s hard to do something when you’re just doing it for yourself as a labor of love. The economics kicked in. If people wanna hear it, we’ll make it.
― to fly across the city and find Aerosmith's car (C. Grisso/McCain), Thursday, 23 March 2017 17:51 (seven years ago) link
On the plus side, I hope this means we get a new Destroyer album later this year.
― MarkoP, Thursday, 23 March 2017 20:38 (seven years ago) link
new album is so amazing. this plus Brill Bruisers has just brought much-needed Newman-y joy back to my life after the (relative) lull (imo) of Together.
― alpine static, Tuesday, 28 March 2017 18:53 (seven years ago) link
is the new one out? i think i get a free album download w/ my concert tics
― Mordy, Tuesday, 28 March 2017 19:07 (seven years ago) link
Seeing them tonight, excited to hear them. It's a bummer that Bejar won't be around. You really feel his absence on this new record (which I enjoy), especially since he wrote the best songs on Brill Bruisers.
― passionate plant-based athlete (voodoo chili), Wednesday, 26 April 2017 16:51 (seven years ago) link
I'm kicking myself for getting into this band just in time for Bejar to be gone. It's like XTC without Colin Moulding or Guided by Voices without Tobin Sprout.
― JRN, Wednesday, 26 April 2017 17:22 (seven years ago) link
did he ever tour with them?
― niels, Wednesday, 26 April 2017 19:04 (seven years ago) link
bejar toured with them several times. they were a lot of fun last night tho.
― call all destroyer, Wednesday, 26 April 2017 19:07 (seven years ago) link
I'm pretty sure he was with them the last time they played in my part of the country, hence the kicking of self.
― JRN, Wednesday, 26 April 2017 19:15 (seven years ago) link
I saw them with Bejar, some time around 2010. He stood with his back to the audience.
― obvious, Wednesday, 26 April 2017 20:21 (seven years ago) link
Even when he sang?
― JRN, Wednesday, 26 April 2017 20:47 (seven years ago) link
Yeah—I figured it was a shyness thing, but I'm not sure. If I remember right, he went off stage most of the time when he wasn't singing.
― obvious, Wednesday, 26 April 2017 21:15 (seven years ago) link
^^Saw the full band on the Challengers tour, and Bejar only came out for his songs, which were spread out in single shots throughout the set.
― to fly across the city and find Aerosmith's car (C. Grisso/McCain), Wednesday, 26 April 2017 21:18 (seven years ago) link
Wow. His place in the band is even more mysterious, then. Moulding and Sprout still played instruments in their bands when they weren't singing, i.e. almost always. I can't think of another band that works or worked like New Ps apparently did with Bejar.
― JRN, Wednesday, 26 April 2017 21:28 (seven years ago) link
it looked to me like bejar was getting some quality drinking done between his songs
― call all destroyer, Wednesday, 26 April 2017 21:29 (seven years ago) link
Ha!
― calstars, Wednesday, 26 April 2017 21:37 (seven years ago) link
The new album has faded.
― the Rain Man of nationalism. (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Wednesday, 26 April 2017 21:37 (seven years ago) link
The one time I saw Bejar with the New Pornographers he was drinking so much he looked like he could barely stand up for his last couple of songs. He was still singing perfectly though.
― silverfish, Thursday, 27 April 2017 13:52 (seven years ago) link
Who is the Skunk Baxter of the New Pornographers?
wait wait wait https://t.co/UuNeMqhHmX pic.twitter.com/URlrZRQrxN— Sarah Zhang (@sarahzhang) July 27, 2017
― Ned Raggett, Friday, 28 July 2017 12:59 (six years ago) link
Haha. I'm guessing AC
― calstars, Friday, 28 July 2017 13:44 (six years ago) link
his twitter feed is a heck of a smokescreen in that case
― call all destroyer, Friday, 28 July 2017 13:51 (six years ago) link
Maybe Fancey then?
― calstars, Friday, 28 July 2017 14:06 (six years ago) link
New album, In the Morse Code of Brake Lights, out September 27.
First single:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UqDO6DWldpw
― Herman Woke (cryptosicko), Friday, 2 August 2019 23:44 (four years ago) link
Good titleAnyone heard the single yet?
― calstars, Friday, 2 August 2019 23:58 (four years ago) link
friend of mine did the cover 8)
― Its big ball chunky time (Jimmy The Mod Awaits The Return Of His Beloved), Saturday, 3 August 2019 00:01 (four years ago) link
song is unfortunately pretty boring :/
― Simon H., Saturday, 3 August 2019 00:08 (four years ago) link
enjoying their new direction
― PaulTMA, Saturday, 3 August 2019 00:16 (four years ago) link
Is Dan Bejar involved? Their last one missed him.
― aphoristical, Saturday, 3 August 2019 00:17 (four years ago) link
I didn’t miss him at all on the last one. His schtick really gets on my nerves. Chacun a son etc etc
― Una Palooka Dronka (hardcore dilettante), Saturday, 3 August 2019 23:38 (four years ago) link
Last album was among their best ever.
Not super crazy about the new song but looking forward to hearing more.
― sctttnnnt (pgwp), Sunday, 4 August 2019 21:51 (four years ago) link
― calstars, Sunday, 4 August 2019 23:51 (four years ago) link
does anyone know who is playing bass in the Letter From An Occupant video? is that John Collins? doesn't look like him to me, but this was a long time ago...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XBAUQaj6EJo
― alpine static, Saturday, 7 September 2019 09:12 (four years ago) link
Yep, young John in a pre-beard era. When I saw them live a few years after this I thought “new John” was a different dude. I think he musta got more exercise as an Evaporator.
Big surprise in this vid for me: Blaine smiling and acting animated. Anytime I’ve seen them live he’s looked like he was updating his resume, not playing keys in a power-pop band.
― Una Palooka Dronka (hardcore dilettante), Saturday, 7 September 2019 11:03 (four years ago) link
yeah, I've been watching old New Pornos live footage on YouTube and Blaine has completely changed his demeanor onstage ... either because he's older, he's tired of it, he won't go thru the motions anymore ... who knows. pretty much the same for Todd Fancey, too. Carl should tell everyone in the band to at least pretend like you want to be there for these upcoming tours.
related: there is an incredible dearth of old New Pornos live footage on YouTube. i found a clip from '03 and some stuff from '07 and that's kind of it. (or i don't know where to look.)
― alpine static, Saturday, 7 September 2019 19:50 (four years ago) link
There probably isn't a lot of fan footage from the last several years, as Neko bans cell phone recording/photography from both her own gigs and Newpies shows.
― a bevy of supermodels, musicians and Lena Dunham (C. Grisso/McCain), Saturday, 7 September 2019 19:58 (four years ago) link
The Latin branch of PBS has a cool Challengers-era appearance they filmed in Mexico City for a show called Billboard Studio or something. Quite interesting, as it's sans-Neko and Bejar.
― a bevy of supermodels, musicians and Lena Dunham (C. Grisso/McCain), Saturday, 7 September 2019 20:03 (four years ago) link
^^Not sure if it's on YT tho.
― a bevy of supermodels, musicians and Lena Dunham (C. Grisso/McCain), Saturday, 7 September 2019 20:04 (four years ago) link
Thoughts on the new one?
One listen in and nothing really immediately clicked with me. Their albums tend to reveal themselves to me upon repeat listens, though.
― Herman Woke (cryptosicko), Friday, 27 September 2019 14:57 (four years ago) link
It clicked.
― TikTok to the (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Friday, 27 September 2019 15:00 (four years ago) link
It's good. Not top tier NPs, but good.
― alpine static, Friday, 27 September 2019 17:54 (four years ago) link
i miss bejar! but this record is really good
― american bradass (BradNelson), Monday, 30 September 2019 17:53 (four years ago) link
I like this more than their past few; it's a little peppier/zippier. They were sounding more & more "over-the-hill" with every release, to the point I kept mistaking each new LP for their swan song.
― #YABASIC (morrisp), Monday, 30 September 2019 18:27 (four years ago) link
Bejar’s absence certainly contributes to what feels like a lack of variety.
― Maria Edgelord (cryptosicko), Monday, 30 September 2019 18:33 (four years ago) link
I'm not usually big on strings in rock songs; but they sound so "grafted on" here that it almost works for me in a "That's interesting..." kinda way.
― #YABASIC (morrisp), Monday, 30 September 2019 18:40 (four years ago) link
I like this more than their past few; it's a little peppier/zippier. They were sounding more & more "over-the-hill" with every release, to the point I kept mistaking each new LP for their swan song.― #YABASIC (morrisp), Monday, September 30, 2019 11:27 AM (forty-five minutes ago)
― #YABASIC (morrisp), Monday, September 30, 2019 11:27 AM (forty-five minutes ago)
You should re-listen, I think? This one is a little less peppier/zippier than their last two, which firmly allayed any (rightful, after Together) concerns about them being over the hill.
― alpine static, Monday, 30 September 2019 19:14 (four years ago) link
I actually am revisiting "Whiteout Conditions" as we speak...
― #YABASIC (morrisp), Monday, 30 September 2019 19:29 (four years ago) link
Strings or keyboards? They got two keyboardists now.
― TikTok to the (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Monday, 30 September 2019 20:28 (four years ago) link
They sound like strings, maybe they’re synths, I dunno
― #YABASIC (morrisp), Monday, 30 September 2019 20:37 (four years ago) link
Ambition fails them when the keys or synths smother good songs ("Dreamlike and On the Rush") and mediocre ones ("Leather on the Seat") in hysterical swells.
― TikTok to the (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Monday, 30 September 2019 21:00 (four years ago) link
I like it a lot on first listen, though I wish there were more guitars.
― kornrulez6969, Tuesday, 1 October 2019 14:26 (four years ago) link
I wish there were more Bejars.
― Maria Edgelord (cryptosicko), Tuesday, 1 October 2019 15:14 (four years ago) link
there is an incredible dearth of old New Pornos live footage on YouTube. i found a clip from '03 and some stuff from '07 and that's kind of it.
weirdly of this small number of videos, two of these were from the one and only time I saw them in Seattle which was kind of cool to watch again.
I was 33 and saw Animal Collective the night before where my wife and I felt very, very old. This show was full of greying music nerds with at least a few pregnant women and we felt much more at home
― joygoat, Tuesday, 1 October 2019 15:39 (four years ago) link
I really really loved Whiteout Conditions—easily their best this decade; I listen to it as much as their first four classic albums.
Unfortunately I’m super lukewarm on the new album. Takes a lot of elements of the last album and smooths them out. It’s just missing that intangible oomph.
― sctttnnnt (pgwp), Tuesday, 8 October 2019 01:17 (four years ago) link
I'm of the opposite opinion: liked WC well enough, quite like this one except for the last couple tracks. Their best since Twin Cinema, but my suspicion of power pop means I miss the subtleties of their albums after 2005 (and don't think Bejar works at all).
― TikTok to the (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Tuesday, 8 October 2019 02:24 (four years ago) link
suspicion of power pop?
― alpine static, Tuesday, 8 October 2019 06:34 (four years ago) link
Whiteout Conditions and Morse Code definitely feel cut from the same cloth—no Bejar, guitars pushed back and keyboards emphasized, and more of a constant duet between Cass and Wilson. That shift in sound felt freeing on WC; there was a lightness to it. This time around it feels a little more mannered. Idk.
More songs are rising up on subsequent listens but it still takes a few tracks to really warm up. My favorite NP albums feel stacked with perfection right up front.
― sctttnnnt (pgwp), Tuesday, 8 October 2019 15:18 (four years ago) link
Ages ago I emailed talk show host Rob Simone to ask what this song was and the answer made no sense until some more recent googling tuned it up. Will always be associated with Area 51 etc.
https://youtu.be/09Ix2inAWaI
― Noel Scott Emits (Noel Emits), Thursday, 14 November 2019 18:24 (four years ago) link
saw these guys live last week and the songs from the new album generally sounded excellent, especially 'backseat driver.'
― kanye kendrick frank kendrick frank kanye (voodoo chili), Thursday, 14 November 2019 19:02 (four years ago) link
They rolled through town Tuesday and i didn’t make it out. Kicking myself ngl
― A-B-C. A-Always, B-Be, C-Chooglin (will), Friday, 15 November 2019 01:26 (four years ago) link
Doing a small tour late this year w/Bejar doing Mass Romantic and Twin Cinema on back-to-back nights.
https://www.thenewpornographers.com/#tour
― blue whales on ambient (C. Grisso/McCain), Tuesday, 13 July 2021 23:25 (two years ago) link
AC Newman is kind of annoying on the burd app
― cerebral halsey (rip van wanko), Tuesday, 13 July 2021 23:46 (two years ago) link
really wish that tour was coming my way, i would be at twin cinema night for sure
― call all destroyer, Wednesday, 14 July 2021 00:19 (two years ago) link
Sounds dumb but I wish they were playing a smaller NY venue than Webster hall
― calstars, Wednesday, 14 July 2021 00:24 (two years ago) link
is Kathryn Calder not on this tour? i am seeing blurry photos that have a woman on keys at stage left and it doesn't look like her. anyone know?
― alpine static, Friday, 3 December 2021 05:21 (two years ago) link
So the new single.
― And Your Borad Can Zing (James Redd and the Blecchs), Friday, 3 February 2023 14:17 (one year ago) link
Tried getting a discussion going over here: new New Pornographers
― an icon of a worried-looking, long-haired, bespectacled man (C. Grisso/McCain), Friday, 3 February 2023 15:28 (one year ago) link
Upon first listen I like the one song that is available as a single.
― And Your Borad Can Zing (James Redd and the Blecchs), Friday, 3 February 2023 16:03 (one year ago) link
I will always adore the first four albums, but tbh the album I play the most these days is Whiteout Conditions.
― sctttnnnt (pgwp), Friday, 3 February 2023 16:31 (one year ago) link
Same, mostly, although every time I reset I shore up my appreciation for at least one more of the other albums.
― And Your Borad Can Zing (James Redd and the Blecchs), Friday, 3 February 2023 16:34 (one year ago) link
In order of how frequently I still play them (maybe slightly more objective than ranking by “favorite”? At least it spares me agonizing over placing Electric Version so low)
Whiteout ConditionsMass RomanticChallengersElectric VersionTwin CinemaIn the Morse Code of Brake LightsBrill BruisersTogether
― sctttnnnt (pgwp), Friday, 3 February 2023 16:36 (one year ago) link
I would put Twin Cinema higher and bump Brill Bruisers a place but yeah.
― And Your Borad Can Zing (James Redd and the Blecchs), Friday, 3 February 2023 16:39 (one year ago) link
Twin Cinema's my favorite. I underrated WC.
― Malevolent Arugula (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Friday, 3 February 2023 16:44 (one year ago) link
Brill and Together are a tier unto themselves. The only reason I rate BB higher is “war on the east coast”
― sctttnnnt (pgwp), Friday, 3 February 2023 17:07 (one year ago) link
"War on the East Coast" is my fave NP song.
Agree that the new single is solid.
― Les hommes de bonbons (cryptosicko), Friday, 3 February 2023 17:11 (one year ago) link
that and Backstairs are my fav 2
― nxd, Friday, 3 February 2023 17:29 (one year ago) link
Together is their weakest and is still pretty good. The last three albums have been consistent and sometimes great, but they still blend in together in my head (though I voted for Brill Bruisers in the ILX Teens poll). I'm going to re-listen today to sort them out.
― Halfway there but for you, Friday, 3 February 2023 17:57 (one year ago) link
i prefer the jap movie
― CerebralCaustic, Saturday, 4 February 2023 00:25 (one year ago) link
I hadn't listened to In the Morse Code of Brake Lights for two years, it turns out it was pretty strong. I haven't missed Bejar on the last two albums because I found his songs on Brill Bruisers were the weak links. Sequencers really gave them a shot of energy that they seemed to be losing on Challengers and Together.
― Halfway there but for you, Monday, 6 February 2023 15:32 (one year ago) link
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4rPYlH1626M
I like
― an icon of a worried-looking, long-haired, bespectacled man (C. Grisso/McCain), Friday, 17 February 2023 02:29 (one year ago) link
Sounds good so far.
― the very juice and sperm of kindness. (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Thursday, 30 March 2023 16:05 (one year ago) link
Official tomorrow?
― It’s Only Her Factory, Girl! (James Redd and the Blecchs), Thursday, 30 March 2023 16:11 (one year ago) link
lol why on earth is this thread marked NSFW
― obsidian crocogolem (sleeve), Thursday, 30 March 2023 16:16 (one year ago) link
Certain picture of Neko maybe?
― It’s Only Her Factory, Girl! (James Redd and the Blecchs), Thursday, 30 March 2023 17:12 (one year ago) link
Ooh this is a very vibey record. Most of the albums post-Twin Cinema have had more buried hooks than the first three, and take repeated listens (or distracted listening) to really sink in. This one's doing that too but in a fresh way.
― ⓓⓡ (Johnny Fever), Friday, 31 March 2023 04:45 (one year ago) link
― obsidian crocogolem (sleeve), Thursday, March 30, 2023 11:16 AM (yesterday) bookmarkflaglink
naughty artist name
― ludicrously capacious bag (voodoo chili), Friday, 31 March 2023 14:52 (one year ago) link
The name Old Pornographers was taken.
― immodesty blaise (jimbeaux), Friday, 31 March 2023 19:30 (one year ago) link
The Old Weird Cartographers.
― Little Big Man Yells at Red Cloud (James Redd and the Blecchs), Friday, 31 March 2023 19:32 (one year ago) link
Professor Clank and the Old Weird Cartographer Society
― immodesty blaise (jimbeaux), Friday, 31 March 2023 19:33 (one year ago) link
lol
― Little Big Man Yells at Red Cloud (James Redd and the Blecchs), Friday, 31 March 2023 19:37 (one year ago) link
“Pontus Pilate” could almost be a Radiohead tune circa amnesiac
― calstars, Saturday, 1 April 2023 21:31 (one year ago) link
This is slack -- the tempos, that is.
― the very juice and sperm of kindness. (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Saturday, 1 April 2023 21:59 (one year ago) link
I have a kneejerk allergy to saxophones in rock music, and as much as I try to overcome that, I can already tell I’m just not going to come back to this album as much as I do their others.
― sctttnnnt (pgwp), Saturday, 1 April 2023 23:22 (one year ago) link
The saxes are meh too. I prefer Goon Sax.
― the very juice and sperm of kindness. (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Saturday, 1 April 2023 23:34 (one year ago) link
Believe we even have a thread about that (xp)
― Little Big Man Yells at Red Cloud (James Redd and the Blecchs), Saturday, 1 April 2023 23:34 (one year ago) link
New Pornographers Are Alright If You Like Saxophones
― an icon of a worried-looking, long-haired, bespectacled man (C. Grisso/McCain), Sunday, 2 April 2023 15:46 (one year ago) link
not normally one for horns in general when it comes to rock music – but i feel like it *really* works on the title track.
― FRAUDULENT STEAKS (The Cursed Return of the Dastardly Thermo Thinwall), Monday, 3 April 2023 15:48 (one year ago) link
Really like the sax, it gives me a Psych Furs vibe, which is a very good thing.
― Gerald McBoing-Boing, Tuesday, 4 April 2023 22:53 (one year ago) link
Not as sleazy.
― the very juice and sperm of kindness. (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Tuesday, 4 April 2023 22:53 (one year ago) link
Going to see the New Pornographers tonight. Have been a fan since Twin Cinema. Very surprised that they’re playing an old theater right in my backyard in suburban CT. This place seems to mostly host tribute bands, but over the years one of my favorites shows up: X, Paul Westerberg, Conor Oberst, and now the New Pornos. Here are the top 20 songs I’m hoping to hear tonight:
1. Falling Down the Stairs of Your Smile2. The Bleeding Heart Show3. Sing Me Spanish Techno4. The Slow Descent Into Alcoholism 5. Another Drug Deal of the Heart6. Failsafe7. All the Old Showstoppers8. Challengers9. Brill Bruisers10. Born With a Sound
― Justineyukon, Sunday, 14 May 2023 20:18 (one year ago) link
Only meant to list 10, but since I misstyped 20, I’ll continue:
11. Dancehall Domine12. Myriad Harbour13. Go Places14. From Blown Speakers15. Twin Cinema16. Moves17. High Ticket Attractions18. We End Up Together19. The Spirit of Giving 20. The Laws Have Changed
― Justineyukon, Sunday, 14 May 2023 20:24 (one year ago) link
was discussing this in another online spot: they're going the wrong direction in terms of draw.
enjoy, though! still the best rock band of the past two decades.
― alpine static, Monday, 15 May 2023 01:22 (one year ago) link
Saw them last week, they were ... OK. But that happens to everyone.
― Josh in Chicago, Monday, 15 May 2023 01:29 (one year ago) link
lemme say that I am shooked! SHOOKED and STOONED, per Barry Wom, that there is another Ilxor living in Fairfield County! Mostly finance people into Dave Matthews, Dead & Co, Phish and so forth, so its nice to know there's another ILMnik lurking around.
In said county, I wanna support shit like this band doing a show at a venue 15 minutes from my house, because it is slim, geriatric pickings almost all of the time…you have to go to New Haven to see current acts, and I have very small children, so going to NYC is challenging… and in fact, that Nu Porns were booked at Wall St Theater at all indicates that they are more geriatric than not…when I saw this band in 2001, 2005 and 2015, they came out all guns blazing each time and would settle down for some subdued shit but were mostly there to throw down…even at Prospect Park Bandshell, in front of thousands of Slope-ites whom the band resembles, they TOE SHIT UP… but last night, it was gray and white hair, bald heads, seated in the venue…to me, seated audience = not enough energy. Josh and Alpine seem to be saying that the band is mostly listless no matter what, but it seems to me that even a late 40s/early 50s crowd on its feet can transmit sufficient energy back at the band…Carl (my wife, who doesn't follow music at all but admires Neko, called him "Ed Begley Jr.") and Neko barely kept up any of the sort of patter I remember them being quite good at…they did get going at the end, and so I wanna blame the crowd, who may rep for legacy indie rock but ultimately are uptight CT people too concerned with their own comfort. There is room at the back of the venue at the bar for people to stand and respond physically to the music, so that helped a bit. Do you remember what Carl said about Norwalk, Justineyukon?
Says it all, really, that me and my buddy from Sheffield, talked a bit, possibly too loudly, and were indignantly shushed by two sets of couples, one who exclaimed "WE'VE BEEN WAITING THREE YEARS FOR LIVE MUSIC!!!" My friend got his back up. pissed that american stick in the muds now come to rock shows and demand hushed, attentive respect…he doesn't know the band and this ruined the show for him, but they did "Mass Romantic," "Slow Descent," "bleeding Heart show" (a very very moving song")… I am happy the band came to my area, but do I have to be resigned that music designed to be kinetic will occasionally be subject to aging indie rock who want to sit down? Is this what National shows are like?
― veronica moser, Monday, 15 May 2023 14:57 (one year ago) link
xpost: "aging indie rock fans"
― veronica moser, Monday, 15 May 2023 15:00 (one year ago) link
Doesn't Neko live in New England?
My fave they played here was ... "July Jones"? I liked hearing that again. But yeah, I've seen them a bunch over the years, in increasingly big places (not huge, but bigger than where I used to see them), and they'd always put on a pretty good show. This one (one of two sold out shows in a maybe 1000 person venue) was relatively listless, or at least not particularly fun, compared to how I remembered them. That said, there were two rapt guys in front of us (I was in a balcony spot, so most people were sitting) that hung on every word. For comparison's sake, a couple of people I was with absolutely loved them, but one of them worships Neko. Another person I was with, a more casual fan though nonetheless one familiar with their whole catalog, thought the set was weighed down by the new stuff, not in an old fan likes older stuff sort of way, just that she thinks the new stuff is much more subdued.
― Josh in Chicago, Monday, 15 May 2023 15:28 (one year ago) link
I saw them on tour for their last album cycle and they were terrific. I have hard time believing their love show has fallen off that considerably, from just one cycle to the next. Granted, we had a whole pandemic in between so maybe some shit has happened.
― sctttnnnt (pgwp), Monday, 15 May 2023 15:56 (one year ago) link
They're playing Brooklyn Steel and tickets are pretty affordable - is Neko definitely with them the entire tour?
FWIW, I saw that Prospect Park show in 2015 - I thought it was okay, but by then I was kind of losing interest in them. I managed to see them in 2006 and Neko was part of the band - a nice surprise as IIRC she wasn't actually touring with them. I think it happened because she was living around Chicago at the time and didn't have a tour going on herself. That was an excellent show and it was probably the peak of my fandom - Twin Cinema had come out and it's probably still my favorite album of theirs.
― birdistheword, Monday, 15 May 2023 18:28 (one year ago) link
First of all, I didn't say they were listless this time, I said their draw is shrinking. No worries, just wanted to clarify.
HOWEVER ... I do think they're generally a little bit listless, at least in recent years. I've seen them three times: First in 2003 and they were great, then in 2010 and they were listless (but also touring on what I think is their worst album, Together), and again in 2017, and they were great, but they were great because of the *songs* not because they gave a great performance. (There were other tangential circumstances that made me love them that time, too.)
The real fuel for the listlessness is just the lack of personality that comes through anymore ... if Carl and Neko were once great at banter, they really aren't these days. (Neko is definitely still better at it than Carl.) They mostly look like they're going through the motions, *especially* Blaine Thurier (who is no longer with the band, but was a vibe-killer when he was). Carl's affect looks more like a mix of "a little nervous + lots to do and trying not to mess up + going through the motions" ... I think he enjoys what he does, mostly, but he just doesn't really act like it.
I haven't seen them on this tour, but if they seem listless this time, I would suggest that it's because the setlists are heavy with songs from an album that's just OK. I'm not sure they have the show to carry dreary songs anymore.
Maybe the next album will be a Brill Bruisers-style return to form and I'll pounce on the chance to see them again, but otherwise, it might be time - for me, at least - to prioritize anniversary shows focused on the albums I really love. (I missed the Mass Romantic / Electric Version tour and it still bums me out.)
― alpine static, Monday, 15 May 2023 20:13 (one year ago) link
Yeah, I should stress, it wasn't a bad show, as such. Just ... fine. Rarely exultant.
― Josh in Chicago, Monday, 15 May 2023 20:16 (one year ago) link
I thought it was a pretty good concert, despite the subdued, elderly audience. They played 5 of the 10 songs I most wanted to hear. Seven songs from the new album was a bit much, though. Hearing Neko Case sing just about anything was worth the price of admission.
Veronica, sorry to hear the uptight Connecticuters dampened your enjoyment. What Carl said about Norwalk was something along the lines of “I think I am correct in the assumption that we have never played Norwalk before.” I doubt they’ll ever be back, but I’ll hold out hope that they’ll return someday with Dan Bejar in tow.
― Justineyukon, Monday, 15 May 2023 21:54 (one year ago) link
sad to hear the pit at new pornographers shows back in the day got pretty violent
― Blues Guitar Solo Heatmap (Free Download) (upper mississippi sh@kedown), Monday, 15 May 2023 22:44 (one year ago) link
welcome to the thread!
― alpine static, Monday, 15 May 2023 23:31 (one year ago) link
They haven't quite been the same since they dropped the growling and blast beats.
― Josh in Chicago, Tuesday, 16 May 2023 00:00 (one year ago) link
Just got out of the Vancouver show. You could tell, every time, when they were playing a song from the new album. Lack of dynamics, a turgid kinda vibe, it’s just not good. The Neko replacement, when she was singing in unison with Kathryn, sounded eerily lifelike — but of course none of the stage presence and just plain old charisma and star power of Neko. First half of the show was kinda tentative and very heavy on the new stuff. They picked up a lot toward the end, leaning more on hits (including a surprise visit from “Sweet Talk, Sweet Talk”) and ofc ending with “The Bleeding Heart Show” which ejected us from the venue in the right mood. I don’t think they played anything from Brill Bruisers or Morse Codeat all. Bejar showed up and sang a few — “Myriad Harbour” and “A Testament To Youth In Verse” were great — I’m really inclined to dislike him but the song choices were spot on. There’s a new touring member, whom we dubbed “Band Camp”, didn’t catch her name, playing saxophone & keys & flute. She looked like she was terrified of making a mistake. Overall it was a careful and well constructed show, with flashes of glory — mostly concentrated in the songs from the first 4 albums. Not sad I went at all, but a very different thing than it was 20 years ago (obv to be expected).Still the best power pop band ever, fite me about it.
― The land of dreams and endless remorse (hardcore dilettante), Wednesday, 15 November 2023 07:26 (six months ago) link
no need to fite, you are correct
if you didn't, scroll up and see the convo from May about them. i think this is just the NPs experience now.
― alpine static, Wednesday, 15 November 2023 18:28 (six months ago) link
I saw them live in Baltimore in… 2001, I think? Still one of the best live shows I’ve ever seen. But not sure if I would go today, haven’t really kept up.
― The Triumphant Return of Bernard & Stubbs (Raymond Cummings), Wednesday, 15 November 2023 18:56 (six months ago) link