When the New Pornographers released their first album, Mass Romantic, in 2000, they were a cult sensation, partially because they were comprised of cult sensations from Vancouver, chief among them Carl Newman of Zumpano, Dan Bejar of Destroyer, and alt-country singer/songwriter Neko Case. Not longer after that first album, Case started to earn some accolades on her own, thereby raising the group's profile, which meant that their second album, 2003's Electric Version, garnered more attention than their debut. But by that point, the band had its own word-of-mouth following, large enough to attract the attention of indie rock standard-bearer Matador, who not only released the New Pornographers' sophomore effort, but Newman's superb solo album The Slow Wonder in the summer of 2004. All this set the stage for the group's third album, Twin Cinema, which arrived in late summer 2005 to rather high expectations -- after all, they not only had two fine records underneath their belt, but The Slow Wonder was also well regarded (and earned some airtime on The OC to boot), so the time seemed ripe for a masterpiece from the New Pornographers. By that standard, Twin Cinema is a disappointment, since it does not constitute either a definitive statement or a great leap forward, but by nearly every other measure, it's a success.
Like their previous two records, it's a bright, hooky record that sounds cheerful even when the tempos slow down and the melodies drift toward a minor key. It's sharp and tuneful, abundant in references to classic guitar pop yet never sounding beholden to the past, thanks to the lively, loose performances, a simple yet muscular production, and smart writing, usually from the pen of Newman. Although he writes ten of the 13 songs here (Bejar contributes the other three, including the insistent "Jackie, Dressed in Cobras" and "Broken Breads," which comes across like Syd Barrett fronting the Kinks or Robyn Hitchcock jamming with the Hoodoo Gurus, depending on your point of view), Newman has a different perspective when writing for the New Pornographers, composing within a specific framework that emphasizes the collective nature of the group, giving every member more or less equal time. And, as Twin Cinema proves, collective is a better word to describe the New Pornographers than band, since they have a friendly, casual vibe that sounds like the product of informal jam sessions. That's appealing, but it's also part of the reason that the New Pornographers can't quite deliver a masterpiece, or an album that's as strong and sustained as The Slow Wonder.
Since all contributions are treated equally, the group doesn't have a distinctive personality or focal point outside of the tunefulness of the music itself. Which is not to say that the New Pornographers lack engaging singers -- Newman has a sweet everyman voice, perfect for power pop, and Neko Case is so gripping a singer that it's hard not to wish she took the lead more often -- but there's such an emphasis on never overemphasizing any specific member that the music winds up humble to a fault. Which is why the New Pornographers are more of an indie band than a power pop band: instead of trading in titanic hooks and glistening surfaces, they make deliberately small-scale, insular music that cuts its classicist nature with enigmatic, sometimes impenetrable lyrics and ragged performances. While that may keep the group from power pop greatness, there's no denying that they're charming in their modesty, which is what makes Twin Cinema an endearing listen, if not a flat-out knockout. Like the previous two New Pornographers albums, there are plenty of great tunes here -- including the hard-rocking, invigorating title track, the urgent "Use It," and the moody, meditative "These Are the Fables" -- that are reminiscent of classic '60s and '70s guitar pop without specifically sounding like any band in particular. The hooks and harmonies tumble out one after another, as the band plays with energy and enthusiasm that falls somewhat short of being truly exciting, yet the catchiness of the songs is a good compensation for that. All this adds up to a very enjoyable record, one that compares favorably to what the band has done before, even if its modest nature suggests that the New Pornographers have found their niche, and will continue to refine it instead of expand upon it. While that may disappoint some waiting for a masterpiece, there's no shame in mining the same ground as long as they make records as tight and tuneful as this.
In the current phase of my musical journey, I have been discovering new bands at a torrid pace. I have slowed things down a bit because I find myself listening to one ENTIRE album often these days which is quite refreshing in itself. Now, the band name can be intimidating but don't be turned off. After all, what's in a name? The New Pornographers is the band.The album is Twin Cinema. It is cho...
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Figure 1: A very happy guy with a 3-day pass to the 2007 Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival.Figure 2: The New Pornographers, one of the many bands at Coachella who will be providing a religious experience for very happy guy in Fig. 1.
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the song Jackie, Dressed In Cobrasrocks my world.
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"I leapt across three or four beds into your armsWhere I had hidden myself somewhere in your charmOur golden handshake has been smashed into this shape.It's taken magic to a primitive new placeWatch 'em run, although it's the minimum, heroicWe hunched together in one chair out on the deckIn snow that froze and fell down on the modern setIt looked as if I picked your name out of a hatNext thing ...
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First the Postal Service for UPS and now The New Pornographers for The University of Phoenix (sorry, couldn't find it on youtube).I suppose this is the part where I rant about the indie darlings selling out but I know better. While it may be an unusual medium for the band, it generates more exposure and could only bring good things to this most deserving band.I think around the late 90's, we re...
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I have a good frend that probably loves music a little bit more than me and he used to burn some cd''s for me and for Lucha and I don't know who else, the thing is that I just listened to them like a stupid fan well not that stupid, anyway I don't really saw the track list and today by accident I listened to that familiar song to me and there was it the band .... so now I know that The New Porn...
More >
What's wrong with me? It's Friday night and every other party-hardier is out rocking the town. What am I doing instead? Hanging out on MOG and listening to rad music, of course. Not a bad thing by any means, but I'm wondering what I'd be doing right now if I was out partyin' in up like I did back in the day. For example:Having a few shots of jagger? +Check+Singing karaoke to Weezer's "Hash Pipe...
More >
I know we all know this, and this is why we are here, but sometimes I can't help but marvel at how lucky I feel just to have music in my life. Snapshot of last night. Its a funny thing, to be sitting in my home, doing some late night work near the end of a long week, a little sad and a lot tired, and be so strongly affected by people singing "hey-la" or just going "ahh." But the beauty of it, e...
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Well, it's been multiple days since the bug hit me and I still can't get rid of it. I got a fever, and the only perscription, is more Jessica Numbers!The New Pornographers-"The Jessica Numbers":http://www.nialler9.com/blog/media/listen/The%20New%20Pornographers%20-%20the%20jessica%20numbers.mp3
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I just purchased 4 tickets for The New Pornographers show at the Warfield in SF (Sept. 17th)PRESALE!!!Whoop-de-doo!!!Neko Case and Dan Behar are on for the whole tour, so it will be the full Balmoral breakfast (aka...the whole shebang).
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Controlled chaos...
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keep art alive; art by alison cassonsleep is often so fleeting. she comes in and kisses my eyelids lightly, pulling me into a watercolor dripping and dizzy sense of a dream. there is always music there, and sometimes i can step my own steps within all of it, wrapping arms around translucent bodies of light, and love. but sleep, she is a transient thing, coming and going with a fevered touch, el...
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What's wrong with me? It's Friday night and every other party-hardier is out rocking the town. What am I doing instead? Hanging out on MOG and listening to rad music, of course. Not a bad thing by any means, but I'm wondering what I'd be doing right now if I was out partyin' in up like I did back in the day. For example:Having a few shots of jagger? +Check+Singing karaoke to Weezer's "Hash Pipe...
More >
A song from a band I really like.Be Well.
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I know we all know this, and this is why we are here, but sometimes I can't help but marvel at how lucky I feel just to have music in my life. Snapshot of last night. Its a funny thing, to be sitting in my home, doing some late night work near the end of a long week, a little sad and a lot tired, and be so strongly affected by people singing "hey-la" or just going "ahh." But the beauty of it, e...
More >
Figure 1: A very happy guy with a 3-day pass to the 2007 Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival.Figure 2: The New Pornographers, one of the many bands at Coachella who will be providing a religious experience for very happy guy in Fig. 1.
More >
In the current phase of my musical journey, I have been discovering new bands at a torrid pace. I have slowed things down a bit because I find myself listening to one ENTIRE album often these days which is quite refreshing in itself. Now, the band name can be intimidating but don't be turned off. After all, what's in a name? The New Pornographers is the band.The album is Twin Cinema. It is cho...
More >
First the Postal Service for UPS and now The New Pornographers for The University of Phoenix (sorry, couldn't find it on youtube).I suppose this is the part where I rant about the indie darlings selling out but I know better. While it may be an unusual medium for the band, it generates more exposure and could only bring good things to this most deserving band.I think around the late 90's, we re...
More >
Well, it's been multiple days since the bug hit me and I still can't get rid of it. I got a fever, and the only perscription, is more Jessica Numbers!The New Pornographers-"The Jessica Numbers":http://www.nialler9.com/blog/media/listen/The%20New%20Pornographers%20-%20the%20jessica%20numbers.mp3
More >
"I leapt across three or four beds into your armsWhere I had hidden myself somewhere in your charmOur golden handshake has been smashed into this shape.It's taken magic to a primitive new placeWatch 'em run, although it's the minimum, heroicWe hunched together in one chair out on the deckIn snow that froze and fell down on the modern setIt looked as if I picked your name out of a hatNext thing ...
More >
the song Jackie, Dressed In Cobrasrocks my world.
More >
I have a good frend that probably loves music a little bit more than me and he used to burn some cd''s for me and for Lucha and I don't know who else, the thing is that I just listened to them like a stupid fan well not that stupid, anyway I don't really saw the track list and today by accident I listened to that familiar song to me and there was it the band .... so now I know that The New Porn...
More >
| Title | Lyrics | Buy |
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| 1 Twin Cinema |
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| 2 The Bones of an Idol |
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| 3 Use It |
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| 4 The Bleeding Heart Show |
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| 5 Jackie, Dressed in Cobras |
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| 6 The Jessica Numbers |
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| 7 These Are the Fables |
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| 8 Sing Me Spanish Techno |
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| 9 Falling Through Your Clothes |
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| 10 Broken Breads |
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| 11 Three or Four |
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| 12 Star Bodies |
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| 13 Streets of Fire |
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| 14 Stacked Crooked |
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Click to purchase…
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 "Twin Cinema")
