The New Pornographers are one of my favourite bands. They are a Canadian supergroup, featuring members of many other notable bands (including Destroyer and Neko Case), and they possess a seemingly superhuman level of enthusiasm and energy. They are also an indie band, but without the snobbish, cooler-than-thou aspect that many artists under that description seem to enjoy flaunting. The music they make is joyful and accessible, but unfortunately they didn’t release anything this year.
The New Pornographers are one of my favourite bands. They are a Canadian supergroup, featuring members of many other notable bands (including Destroyer and Neko Case), and they possess a seemingly superhuman level of enthusiasm and energy. They are also an indie band, but without the snobbish, cooler-than-thou aspect that many artists under that description seem to enjoy flaunting. The music they make is joyful and accessible, but unfortunately they didn’t release anything this year.
Thankfully their frontman, Carl Newman, released a solo album under the name of A.C. Newman. Shut Down the Streets is a more chilled-out affair than his New Pornographers output. Where albums such as Twin Cinema or Together were organised chaos, this is all strummed acoustic guitars, boy-girl vocal lines and chamber-pop flutes.
I admit that this description makes the album sound like a mixture of Belle & Sebastian and Jethro Tull, but I assure you that it’s better than that. Quirky lyrics, lush orchestration and passionate singing haul the basic material from the trap of kooky-folkiness into the realms of respectable and, crucially, exciting music. Newman is a talented and genuine artist in his own right, and this album proves that he is more than just a component of a supergroup.
My only regret is that I haven’t seen any of the songs performed live. ‘I’m Not Talking’ would be an excellent crowd pleaser, and I can imagine that the stomp of ‘Hostages’ would translate well to a stage. Sure, there’s a chance that the slower songs on the album could dissolve into iPhone-aloft sway-alongs, but that’s true with any album.
. Although there have been some strong contenders, including Channel Orange by Frank Ocean and What We Saw From The Cheap Seats by Regina Spektor, I think this album is the best that 2012 had to offer.
Thankfully their frontman, Carl Newman, released a solo album under the name of A.C. Newman. Shut Down the Streets is a more chilled-out affair than his New Pornographers output. Where albums such as Twin Cinema or Together were organised chaos, this is all strummed acoustic guitars, boy-girl vocal lines and chamber-pop flutes.
I admit that this description makes the album sound like a mixture of Belle & Sebastian and Jethro Tull, but I assure you that it’s better than that. Quirky lyrics, lush orchestration and passionate singing haul the basic material from the trap of kooky-folkiness into the realms of respectable and, crucially, exciting music. Newman is a talented and genuine artist in his own right, and this album proves that he is more than just a component of a supergroup.
My only regret is that I haven’t seen any of the songs performed live. ‘I’m Not Talking’ would be an excellent crowd pleaser, and I can imagine that the stomp of ‘Hostages’ would translate well to a stage. Sure, there’s a chance that the slower songs on the album could dissolve into iPhone-aloft sway-alongs, but that’s true with any album.
Although there have been some strong contenders, including Channel Orange by Frank Ocean and What We Saw From The Cheap Seats by Regina Spektor, I think this album is the best that 2012 had to offer.
