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A little less sugar and a little more protein.
That was essentially the approach to Challengers, the latest
record from The New Pornographers. And the shift toward a
more understated, yet substantial, rock-pop sound is creating
some sharp and varied reactions from fans and critics.
"It seems like there are the people who just don't think
it's upbeat enough or whatever," says singer/
guitarist A.C. "Carl" Newman. "And then there
are the people who are like, 'I've never been
convinced by them before completely, but this
record really makes me like them.' That's about
exactly what I expected. That's the thing when
you change as a band; you know you're going
to lose some people along the way."
The ironic thing about the debate over
Challengers is that if you had asked Newman
in 2003, after the release of the group's
debut record. Mass Romantic, how The New
Pornographers' sound was likely to evolve, he *
probably would have laughed off the question.
At that point, the group seemed as likely as
anything to be a one-off project, considering
the lineup featured a couple of notable musi
cians who were just beginning to make names
for themselves with their own careers.
One of those members was Dan Bejar, whose
own somewhat off-center pop band Destroyer is
highly regarded in its own right. Bejar added a
somewhat offbeat songwriting voice to balance
the material Newman provides as the band's
chief songwriter. Another featured contributor
is singer Neko Case, who in 2003. was in the midst of building
an acclaimed catalog of country-noir solo records. Even with
his central role in the group, Newman, who had plans for his
own solo career, wasn't looking too far ahead with The New
Pornographers.
"When we first talked to Mint Records, who put out our
records in Canada, they said, 'So, are you guys going to put
out another record?"' Newman recalls. "I honestly sat there and
went: I don't know. They said, 'Are you guys going to tour this
record?' I don't know. All we knew is we had this record and we
would put it out and maybe a few people would buy it."
What's more, Newman's main goal for The New
Pornographers was pretty simple. As he observed in an inter
view around that time, some bands have great energy, but
not great songs, and some bands write great songs that are
basically downers. Newman wanted The New Pornographers to
write good, upbeat pop songs with great energy. That's exactly
what the group did on Mass Romantic, turning out a first-rate
album with some of the year's catchiest pop-rock songs (such
as "Letter from an Occupant" and the title track).
As time has gone on, it's become apparent that the group's
musical goals have grown more ambitious and multi-faceted.
Challengers, obviously, takes The New Pornographers into
slightly more measured musical territory. Even if the record is
not as buoyantly catchy as some fans would want, it is still
another strong effort from the group, which also includes Todd
Fancey (guitar), John Collins (bass/guitar), Blaine Thurier
(Fender Rhodes electric piano), Kurt Dahle (drums) and Kathryn
Calder (vocals/keyboards).
For instance, "My Rights Versus Yours," may pull back to a
comfortable mid-tempo pace, but its downright pretty vocal
melody is one of the strongest The New Pornographers have
committed to disc. "Failsafe" takes the record into semi
psychedelic territory with a shimmering guitar line that frames
a typically graceful vocal melody. The baroque touches on
"Unguided" are also an appealing new dimension in the group's
sound.
And fans of the band's friskier material won't go
home empty-handed with Challengers, either. "All the Old
Showstoppers," with its dynamic instrumental coda and bouncy
keyboard-accented melody and bright harmonies, certainly
lives up to past pop glories. "Myriad Harbor" is another upbeat
tune with plenty of melodic treats (be it in the unique sonic
treatment of the vocals or the song's nifty acoustic guitar lick).
And with "All the Things That Go to Make Heaven and Earth,"
the group rocks out with frenetic delight.
Newman correctly points out that the band's excellent third
album, the 2005 release Twin Cinema, was already pointing
toward a bit deeper kind of pop songcraft.
"I think if you listen to Twin Cinema and
then you listen to this record, or even if you
listen to all of our records in a row, chronologi
cally, you can see the direction we were head
ing in. Like, if you took 'Use It' and 'Sing Me
Spanish Techno' off of Twin Cinema," he says
pointing out two of the denser pop tracks on
the record, "you'd probably have an album not
that dissimilar from Challengers. Twin Cinema
just has slightly more catchy, upbeat songs."
For the spring tour, fans will hear the band
sounding pretty much the way the band does
on record. That's because Case—who because of
her solo career can't always tour with them—
will be on hand for all of the dates. (Bejar,
unfortunately, is not on board this time out.)
Newman says the songs from Challengers
have been fitting in very well alongside the
band's earlier material in recent live shows, and
the band is giving fans a taste of songs from
throughout its career.
"We're trying to dig back and do songs we
haven't played in a few years, like dig out a few
Moss Romantic songs that used to be staples in
our set, but now we don't really even play anymore, and even
stuff from (the second album) Electric Version," Newman says.
"The majority of the sonqs, I think, are going to be from
the last two records," he says. "But it also changes. The one
time when the set list goes out the window, of course, is when
you're getting into encore material. That's where we may have
only played one Mass Romantic song in the set, but we'll do
four in the encore because people are yelling out for them."
Alan Sculley
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WHO: Okkervil River, The New Pornographers
WHERE: Georgia Theatre
WHEN: Thursday, April 17
HOW MUCH: $22 (advance), $25 (door)
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