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One of my favorites on the album (and one of the band's most lively songs) is "All Things That Make Heaven and Earth," reminiscent of "The Laws Have Changed," from their second album, "Electric Version." With three solid albums, and one extraordinary one, the NPs are a band that has captured my interest, and I'm very much looking forward to the band's next release. Once again, Neko Case's pure powerful vocals leap out in the superb title track, and the compelling "Go Places," the latter of which reminds me of both Irish Folk music and a few Ray Thomas songs (the flutist of The Moody Blues). I'm also hoping they play in my area so I can see them live (preferably with Neko Case, but I'll take them either way). While perhaps not reaching the dazzling heights of "Twin Cinema" (the NP's previous album), "Challengers," like their first two albums, is consistently very good with some stand-out tracks. "Myriad Harbor," is easily one of Dan Bejar's two best contributions (the other being "Jackie Dressed in Cobras" from "Twin Cinema").
They scream at me as I rush to turn the sound down.However. This is just an opinion of a curious listener. Now, a couple of years later, Challengers falls into my lap, and I can't get enough of it.That's not true.
I listened to a preview of the title track before I bought it and was really sucked in, ended up buying the entire album. I continue to be intrigued by this album that has four of my favorite songs and four of my least favorite in one place. Now all four of these tracks are in my top 25 most played on my iPod in the last three years, and I've only owned them for one.I hope I don't offend the diehards - not my intention.
I was introduced to NPs by someone who was way more into indie music than me, but since I was way more into her than she was into me, I tried hard to like them, but I just couldn't stand most of their earlier work. They're wrapped in nicely layered sound that just reverberates around my car when I'm listening to them. And regardless, it was WELL worth the purchase.
I can't stand what I consider the more manic stuff on here, like Myriad Harbour, All The Things, Entering White Cecilia, and Mutiny. My Rights Versus Yours, Challengers, Go Places, and particularly Unguided have poignant and rich lyrics that gain more meaning to me after continued listening.
With songs that are both fun, upbeat, slow, and beautiful. I enjoy all the songs, but I think my 2 favorite are "Go Places" and "Myriad Harbor"---which are completely opposite songs. What a creative CD. This was my first New Pornographers CD purchase. Nothing is boring. We both love this CD and listen to it over and over. I bought it for my husband, and was looking for new and interesting music. Each song sounds so different as they utilize 4 different lead singers and many different styles.
I'm not a music snob or anything, so I can't think of anything clever to say about it - I just like it. I fell in love with the songs the first time I played through the CD. I learned about this group/CD in an NPR interview, of all things. I liked what I heard and ordered the CD - A great impulse decision.
Overall, the music is a bit too twee and sing-songy for my tastes, but listening with an objective ear, I can tell why people like it. In the meantime, their name probably turns off a lot of people who would ordinarily like their music but would prefer not to hear anything having to do with "pornography." More astute music fans won't be so easiliy put off - in fact, one of my favorite albums, The Cure's PORNOGRAPHY, has virtually nothing to do with x-rated films. There's a fair amount of variation between them, as a few of them rock out a bit while others are more subdued and stately.
It's a very misleading name. Robert Smith, the Cure's mastermind, gave that album its title to reflect the album's turmoil and depressive aspects - he in fact abhored pornography. the only thing I can think of is that they wanted a name well off the beaten path that will ensure their status as an "underground" band in order to maintain their "indie" cred.
These musicians are pretty good and the songs on CHALLENGERS are simple but extremely melodic. There's nothing pornographic, raunchy or even "racey" about them. Still, I can't help thinking that this other wise decent band chose a monumentally stupid name to call themselves.
The emphasis here is on vocal melody and voices singing in harmony. If you like, say, the Beach Boys PET SOUNDS (which I don't), you'll probably go for this.What I don't get is why this band would call themselves The New Pornographers.
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