Photo by Optically Active
Despite what the critics would have you believe, the new New Pornographers song is formulaic, boring and to these ears, totally unsurprising; no one wants to admit it, but 2005's Twin Cinema was pretty lackluster, too.
The band's juggernaut status isn't hard to understand with Dan "Destroyer" Bejar and Neko Case involved, and I can't deny that A.C. Newman has written some really excellent songs. Really excellent songs that are all pretty much the same and happen to be written in a fairly limited style. At this point, it's like dude's been writing the same song over and over for a half-decade and doesn't know what to do with it anymore.
And honestly, compared to Bejar and Case, Newman couldn't write (or sing) his way out of a cardboard box -- put on Destroyer's Rubies or Fox Confessor Brings the Flood and then ask yourself, "Do I really like The Slow Wonder?"
I'm sure the album will have some gems, but I don't know, guys. I'm hoping that this is the album where the band stops getting a free pass from critics. (Aside: OMG a negative blog post! What next, a review without MP3s?) But give it a listen and see what you think. Me, I'm putting Rubies back on.
The New Pornographers - "My Rights Vs. Yours": mp3
(Challengers is due August 21 on Matador)
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Labels: 2007
posted by Dave Rawkblog @ 10:58 AM 
Comments (8)
Couldn't agree more. Newman hasn't written a song as strong as "Letter From An Occupant", "Mass Romantic", or "The Fake Headlines" since the first album. The second was still pretty enjoyable. The third, the one everyone liked for some reason, was a not at all catch turd.
I unfortunately have to agree on the new single, but I'll keep my hopes up for those few gems on the album...
thanks for saying it.
oooooh, i have to disagree man. yes, twin cinema was not their best moment - i agree there - but i really enjoy almost anything ac newman does. the slow wonder isn't rubies, but it is fox confessor and then some. i'm really enjoying the new song too. a little slower, but every bit as catchy as anything he's written. just my opinion (vs. yours).
The new single is boring, for sure. And maybe Twin Cinema as a whole wasn't everyone's cup of tea, but "The Bleeding Heart Show" kicks the crap out of anything else any of them have done. Except for MAYBE "Letter From and Occupant."
But yeah, the new song (and The Slow Wonder)...yawn.
I have to stick for Twin Cinema. I think it is every bit as good as the first two albums. I like the new song too, its a bit slower then their usual, but it is still very likable. Granted it is hard to produce something as good as Rubies, but who can? And if you try to compare anyone in the singing department against Neko it's always going to be a losing battle.
The New Pornographers are one of those groups I just Do Not Get. All that I've heard by them sounds kind of samey and dull to me, though I love Neko Case.
Dan Bejar is brilliant…when arranged by Carl Newman. Rubies? Oh, don’t you love how that acoustic guitar sounds like it was being played by someone in the next room wearing Band – Aids on his finger tips and recorded on a Montgomery Wards cassette player from the 70’s? Brilliant? Can you get any more self indulgent or purposefully obtuse? Oh, yeah, with earlier Destroyer albums.
Twin Cinema is a perfect pop confection, layered and catchy at the same time.
And the new song, “My Rights,” keeps coming back to haunt me. Having said that, I will say that the Bejar tracks off of Challengers are its strongest moments, with “Myriad Harbor” the most brilliant. But it is also more brilliant than any Destroyer offerings. The best yield of Newman and Bejar’s talents would be a true, full collaboration.
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