NEW PORNOGRAPHERS

'Challengers'

Okay, this review is way behind the rest of the blogosphere as the latest offering from Canadian supergroup the New Pornographers, 'Challengers', has actually been floating around out there for over a month now. I've been hearing praises heaped upon it in my certain circles for that same amount of time, but hadn't got around to getting a listen until this week. After a few spins, I can emphatically say better late than never.

The writing was on the wall w/ their previous release, 'Twin Cinema', that Carl Newman and company were looking to move beyond their punchy power pop wheelhouse into something more expansive. Now, as much as I loved them for that sound, the lush offerings that unfold w/ every track on this one are too impressive to deny them the opportunity to grow up. Granted, this is still a pop album and a great one at that...albeit, more Fleetwood Mac or ELO than Cheap Trick.

The 'everything but the kitchen sink' arrangements on this are orchestral w/out ever becoming overwhelming. The trademark vocal interplay and harmonies are there, but seemed to be a little more reeled in for sake of the complete package. The ivy-league lyricism is there too, but again doesn't overshadow the rest of the pieces to each song. Bottom line, uniformity is king and provides them their most cohesive release to date.

The lead-off track 'My Right Versus Yours' picks up where the last album's closer, 'Bleeding Heart Show', left off. A slow burner that builds into a sweeping exercise in pop anthems, it sets the stage for other favorites like the boisterous 'All the Old Showstoppers'...the beautifully layered torch song of a title track (complete w/ smokey Neko vocals so on point it'll make you blush)...Dan Bejar's excellent ode to NYC, 'Myriad Harbour'...and on and on. There really aren't any clinkers on this one and it seems to grow in stature every time I listen, totally deserved of the hype it's receiving.

The album hits stores, iTunes, etc. on Tuesday (21-Aug) and i'll leave you a little taste in the sample area. This band has made my Top 10 w/ every release and it looks like they'll keep that streak alive. Good stuff.