The New Pornographers
Together
Matador Records
If there was ever a perfect indie rock album to open up the summer with, then Vancouver-based band, The New Pornographers, have figured out the formula. Coming out of a three-year hiatus to create their fifth full-length album titled, Together, the band offers up a collection of a dozen brand new, effortless tracks of feel-good tunes for cult-followers and fans alike to embrace. To be perfectly honest, I didn’t know very much about this group going into this review. Most of my knowledge was comprised of Wikipedia facts and the information from the band’s website – i.e, they formed in 1997, put out a considerable amount of tracks to establish their musical talents, and then there’s the fact that Jimmy Fallon has quoted them as being “Indie Rock Icons” on his late night show.
So with an open mind I sat down one evening and listened to the entire record straight through. Then I listened to it again. By the third time I had already pinpointed my favorite songs but had also come to the pleasant realization that this was one of those easy, breezy and enjoyable albums that can be listened to straight through from start to finish, (truly a rarity these days) and that their sound can easily appeal to a mass audience, no matter what your musical preference. Rarely can one band, and or even one album for that matter, take you on a musical journey that flows so effortlessly from one song to the next, leaving the listener wanting just a little more after every thought-provoking line and subtle yet catchy chorus. This album resonates with a bubbly and charismatic charm that’s sure to leave the listener humming along. Togetheris brimming with the up-beat melodies and captivating lyrics that fans have come to love and adore. From the moment the first cello chords cut through the silence on their opening track, “Moves,” it was hard not to instantaneously want to bob along to the rolling melodies and harmonious blend of lead vocals comprised of Neko Case, Dan Bejar and Carl Newman. Next up, “Crash Years,” noted as the first single from Together, showcases Cases’ attractive vocal qualities while giving a nod to the recent recession with a bit of catchy flounce.
The album starts out strong and is scattered with quality tunes to check out, from the quirky, fun anthem “Your Hands (Together),” to the light and fluffy “Sweet Talk, Sweet Talk” and the confident, “Up in the Dark”. Not to say there weren’t a few songs that lagged in areas (“Valkyrie in the Roller Disco” was lost on me and “Daughter of Sorrow” seemed to drag on…) but for the most part, the execution of songs and their order of succession played off each other nicely.
This is the kind of album that one can listen to on a road trip with the windows rolled down the sun shining. It resonates with the listener in a way that’s pure poetry and musically cinematic in its simplicity. Let’s just say, Together goes down like a cold, tall glass of vodka lemonade on a hot summer’s day.
Release Date May 4, 2010
Track Listing
1. Moves
2. Crash Years
3. Your Hands (Together)
4. Silver Jenny Dollar
5. Sweet Talk, Sweet Talk
6. My Shepherd
7. If You Can’t See My Mirrors
8. Up in the Dark
9. Valkyrie in the Roller Disco
10. A Bite Out of My Bed
11. Daughters of Sorrow
12. We End Up Together
