Ping: New Pornographers fans

[cthomer5000]

Just an FYI to any big fans of this group (easily my favorite currently active group).

If you preorder the new album (Challengers), you get access to a site where you can stream the entire thing right now. Release date is August 21st, so 2 months in advance is pretty cool.

http://www.matadorrecords.com/matablog/?p=686

I'm such a fan that it was a no-brainer. I went ahead for the "executive edition" which will included access a ton of extra shit. 22 bucks and change from Matador after tax and shipping. Worth it for the CD and early access to tickets in my opinion.

[Ksyrup]

This is probably a good idea on their part, seeing as though I've been reading reviews of it for about a month. From what I've heard, it is a lot more laid back than their other stuff. I like the one song i've heard, since it sounds like an AC Newman solo song. For whatever reason, I don't really like NP, but I loved Slow Wonder. Listened to it today, as a matter of fact.

[cthomer5000]

I've given it about 5 listens today and yesterday, and yeah, it's definitely the most laid back album yet. It's another step in a new direction, and because my expectations are just sky-high, i'd probably say it's a disappointment at this point. But that's because this follows 2 of probably my top 50 favorite albums ever. Sometimes when you're such a fan of a band, and critical by nature, it's hard for the good bands to live up to their own expectations.

[Tigercat]

Its odd, I am a big fan of under-produced acoustic music.

But at the same time, their first CD is by far my favorite of theirs. Fake Headlines, Mass Romantic, and The Body Says No are constantly on my playlists.

[ThunderingHERD]

That's a great marketing idea. I might go for this deal.

As for the NP, I thought their last album was their weakest. Still good, but not Mass Romantc or Electric Version good. I'm probably in the minority, though, in that Electric Version is my favorite album of theirs. Mass Romantic had tremendous high points (Mass Romantic, Fake Headlines, The Slow Descent into Alcoholism, Letter From an Occupant, etc.) but there were a few tracks that I didn't care for so much (e.g. To Wild Homes). Electric Version was great all of the way through.

[Schmidty]

Very cool. Thanks for the info, CT.

[cthomer5000]

That's a great marketing idea. I might go for this deal.

As for the NP, I thought their last album was their weakest. Still good, but not Mass Romantc or Electric Version good. I'm probably in the minority, though, in that Electric Version is my favorite album of theirs. Mass Romantic had tremendous high points (Mass Romantic, Fake Headlines, The Slow Descent into Alcoholism, Letter From an Occupant, etc.) but there were a few tracks that I didn't care for so much (e.g. To Wild Homes). Electric Version was great all of the way through.

Electric Version is definitely my favorite. Then I'd probably put Twin Cinema, then Mass Romantic. I think Electric Version is really one of the truly great albums of the last 10 years.

[Schmidty]

Electric Version is my favorite NP album, but two of my favorite songs are on Twin Cinema - "Streets of Fire" and "The Bleeding Heart Show".

[terpkristin]

Never heard of them til now...giving them a sample listen on iTunes, I could really dig 'em I think. So now, the million dollar question...if I were to buy an album, which should I get first, to really give me a taste of their stuff?

/tk

[EagleFan]

This thread was soooooo disappointing..... ;) :D

[Schmidty]

Never heard of them til now...giving them a sample listen on iTunes, I could really dig 'em I think. So now, the million dollar question...if I were to buy an album, which should I get first, to really give me a taste of their stuff?

/tk

For the more peppy, accessable album, I recommend "Electric Version". For a bit more subdued, thoughtful album, I suggest "Twin Cinema".

[cthomer5000]

For the more peppy, accessable album, I recommend "Electric Version". For a bit more subdued, thoughtful album, I suggest "Twin Cinema".


Yeah, absolutely one of these two albums. If forced to choose, i'd probably say Electric Version, but Twin Cinema definitely shows a little more range.

The song that originally made me pick up and album was "The Laws Have Changed" off of Electric Version. Im 100% certain you can find the video on either their official website or youtube.

[TLK]

Any thoughts on the new album? I'll pick it up today, but haven't really heard anything about it.

[NoMyths]

They'll be on tour this fall -- I'm a big Neko Case fan, but as almost the only tracks of theirs I really dig are tracks she sings on, it might be a pass.

[cthomer5000]

This album makes them a victim of their own success. Their past stuff (specifically the last two) have been so good that this new album being merely quite good has made it a real disappointment.

I liked the last two so much that nothing less than something groundbreaking could have satisfied me.

Now, despite it not being as good as the last couple, it's a very good album and there are a couple songs that are as good as anything they're written previously.

Definite highlights are: My Rights Versus Yours, Myriad Harbour, Go Places, Challengers

Also, of all the albums so far, this one (Challengers) and Twin Cinema sound by far the most alike of any of their albums.

Overall, defintiely worth picking up, but doesn't measure up to the incredibly greatness of the last two.

[Ragone]

Clearly the most disappointingly named topic of the year