Category:
Rock / Pop

Try if you like:
Fig Dish, Guided By Voices, Limblifter, Peter Bjorn And John, Shins

•   My Rights Versus Yours

I am going to attempt to review The New Pornographers latest album Challengers. The reason I say "try" is because you already have a preconceived notion of what it is going to sound like. I do too for that matter. So why review? It's a good album and deserves my time and yours for reading this. 

Challengers brings back the same crew and while most members have other projects going on as well, it seems as though the heart and soul of the members belongs in The New Pornographers. 

Challengers starts out with the understated "My Rights Versus Yours". By understated I mean that this song creeps up and infects your brain with lovely layered vocals and amazing harmonies. It's like the perfect way to start the album. Then the band moves into a slightly different mindframe with "All The Old Showstoppers". Yes, they even incorporate some horns in this one. 

The title track is honestly the best I've ever heard Neko Case sound. She sounds simply heavenly with the perfect arrangement and production behind her voice. And then on "Myriad Harbour" you hear how well the band gels together. Honestly, the harmonies and hooks on this one send shivers down your spine. "Go Places" is another Neko track but this one isn't as immediate as the title track. This is redeemed with the wonderful interweaving of Case and Newman's voice on "Mutiny, I Promise You" and "Adventures In Solitude". These songs are transcending when listened to on headphones. 

"We thought we lost you, it will all come back.

We thought we lost you, welcome back."

The New Pornographers just seem to be getting better with age. They started off on a strong foot but each album seems to get subsequently better. So if their last two albums warranted 5 Stars, how does one indicate that each album gets better? I have no option but to give Challengers 4.5 because I felt that it was slightly more complex and harder to get into.