The New Pornographers are indie rock royalty really at this point. The strength of their previous efforts such as Twin Cinema are such classic works in indie-dom, and they have generally been so consistently strong with their work that everyone knows and loves them (a bit of a generalization, but pretty much true). This year, the band released their follow up to the excellent Challengers with their new album Together. The New Pornographers is one of the bands out there that has a very distinctive sound with the male/female vocals as well as AC Newman’s distinctive delivery, and that sound has always served them well being unique and endearing yet very listenable and listener friendly as well. Here they have an album that maintains that unique sound and brings forth some very solidly put together and good songs, but it is also an album that does not really push any boundaries or take the band in new directions. They have an album here that is an extension of what they do and how they sound, but while the songs are generally all good here, nothing jumps out and nothing takes this album to the next level as they have with some of their prior efforts. That being said though, while it may not hit the high notes of Twin Cinema, this is still an excellent album and I definitely recommend checking it out.
“Moves” and “Crash Years” kick off the album in predictable style, with the usual off beat rhythms and progressions combined with clever, solid vocals and arrangements. “Silver Jenny Dollar” is a great song with a big sound, and “Sweet Talk, Sweet Talk” has a great driving rhythm to it. “My Shepherd” has some great vocal cues in it, but aside from great vocals doesn’t quite get going as much as you would like. “Valkyrie In The Roller Disco” carries on the NP tradition of great insane song titles and is actually a really strong song as well. I love the echoey Neil Young “Man Needs A Maid” style beginning to the song and it has a lot more weight and feel to it than many of the songs on here. “Daughters of Sorrow” is a superb, sweeping folk/rock song that has just an awesome feel to it. “We End Up Together” closes off the album in style, with a sweet acoustic intro into some big verses and choruses.
When you are a band as accomplished as this, it is hard to live up to what you have done before. This album fits right in with what they have done before, but for whatever reason it just doesn’t quite hit home quite as much as their previous efforts. Pretty much every song here is great, and this is one of the stronger albums to come out this year, but while it is strong top to bottom, it doesn’t quite reach the lofty heights of previous albums. Where the album strives on consistency of quality, there is not a watershed moment on the album to make it as memorable or classic as some of their other albums. Aside from that, I do recommend picking up this album as there is really not anything to dislike about it. There are great songs, catchy songs, a lot of singalongable tunes and you have that classic New Pornographers style and feeling to it. Hard to say that there is anything wrong with that. This is another really good album from a really good and incredibly consistent band.
The New Pornographers – Sweet Talk, Sweet Talk – From Together (CD, Vinyl, MP3, iTunes)
The New Pornographers – Daughters of Sorrow – From Together (CD, Vinyl, MP3, iTunes)
