Spring Break
Canada's best export deliver strongest album yet
Greg Walker/staff reporter
Issue date: 9/9/05 Section: The Verge
The acclaimed Canadian super group, The New Pornographers, is back with their third and strongest album, "Twin Cinema."
A.C. Newman and gang are known for their ridiculously catchy pop-rock after the much-hailed "Mass Romantic" and equally fun second album "Electric Version."
On "Twin Cinema," The New Pornographers tone it down just a little bit; the songs are still catchy but can at times take a few listens before they really grab a hold. Songs like "Twin Cinema" and "Sing Me Spanish Techno" are still just as fun as any of their previous outputs.
What really sets "Twin Cinema" apart from previous albums is the incredible drumming from Kurt Dahle. Dahle has always been a strong drummer, but between albums he must have really fine-tuned his skills. The drums take over the songs and become the lead instrument; they are the driving force on songs such as "The Jessica Numbers," with the pulsating machine gun intro.
When The New Pornographers decide to slow things down for a moment, that is when their superior musical craftsmanship becomes apparent. The chilling "The Bones of An Idol," which alt-country singer-songwriter Neko Case sings, is beautiful enough to give one goose bumps. Other such moments occur on the group sing-along "The Bleeding Heart Show," the ending "hey la's" are enough to let you know that you need this album.
Even Dan Bejar, of the Canadian band Destroyer, also the weakest leak of the band, produces some of his best songs this time around. "Jackie, Dressed in Cobras" an obvious throwback to the song "Jackie" from "Mass Romantic," contains some undeniably catchy moments.
The man behind these Pornographers is Newman, who keeps proving over and over that he is one of the best singer-songwriters around today. Time and time again Newman is somehow able to pull off another perfect power-pop song. The album's first single, "Use It," grabs hold of the listener and forces them to sing along when Newman and company croons, "Two sips from the cup of human kindness, and I'm shit-faced."
Other stand-out tracks include the electronic-feeling "Three or Four" and the somewhat experimental last song "Stacked Crooked" among others.
I doubt another record is going to come along this year that will be able to top the catchiness and fun that is "Twin Cinema." It may not grab you on the first listen like their previous albums, but repeated visits will have you humming and singing along to yourself for days. The New Pornographers are Canada's best export.
A.C. Newman and gang are known for their ridiculously catchy pop-rock after the much-hailed "Mass Romantic" and equally fun second album "Electric Version."
On "Twin Cinema," The New Pornographers tone it down just a little bit; the songs are still catchy but can at times take a few listens before they really grab a hold. Songs like "Twin Cinema" and "Sing Me Spanish Techno" are still just as fun as any of their previous outputs.
What really sets "Twin Cinema" apart from previous albums is the incredible drumming from Kurt Dahle. Dahle has always been a strong drummer, but between albums he must have really fine-tuned his skills. The drums take over the songs and become the lead instrument; they are the driving force on songs such as "The Jessica Numbers," with the pulsating machine gun intro.
When The New Pornographers decide to slow things down for a moment, that is when their superior musical craftsmanship becomes apparent. The chilling "The Bones of An Idol," which alt-country singer-songwriter Neko Case sings, is beautiful enough to give one goose bumps. Other such moments occur on the group sing-along "The Bleeding Heart Show," the ending "hey la's" are enough to let you know that you need this album.
Even Dan Bejar, of the Canadian band Destroyer, also the weakest leak of the band, produces some of his best songs this time around. "Jackie, Dressed in Cobras" an obvious throwback to the song "Jackie" from "Mass Romantic," contains some undeniably catchy moments.
The man behind these Pornographers is Newman, who keeps proving over and over that he is one of the best singer-songwriters around today. Time and time again Newman is somehow able to pull off another perfect power-pop song. The album's first single, "Use It," grabs hold of the listener and forces them to sing along when Newman and company croons, "Two sips from the cup of human kindness, and I'm shit-faced."
Other stand-out tracks include the electronic-feeling "Three or Four" and the somewhat experimental last song "Stacked Crooked" among others.
I doubt another record is going to come along this year that will be able to top the catchiness and fun that is "Twin Cinema." It may not grab you on the first listen like their previous albums, but repeated visits will have you humming and singing along to yourself for days. The New Pornographers are Canada's best export.
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