Album Review – New Pornographers

New Pornographers -‘Brill Bruisers.’ (Matador)

newpornographers

Yesssss!

When the title track and ‘War On The East Coast’ (the latter a serious contender for track of the year) started doing the rounds, it suggested that the latest album from this eight piece indie supergroup was going to be very, very good indeed. And so it proves.

A.C. Newman and Neko Case are [probably the most well-known members of the troupe, but between them all, they’ve produced a glorious album that begs to be played again. Right from the openeing ‘Bah-Bah! Bah-bah-bah-Bah!’ of the opening title track, this is a warm and fuzzy glow sort of record. It has been described by A.C. Newman as a celebration record and that’s exactly how it feels. And as well as the aforementioned tracks, other excellent songs can be found here in the form of ‘Another Drug Deal Of The Heart’ and ‘Champions Of Red Wine.’

Some people still think that indie rock is always navel gazing misery. If someone repeats that falsehood in your presence, hand them a copy of this: an effervescent joy from start to finish.

****

Brill Bruisers is out on Matador on August 25.

Stream the album via The Guardian

New Pornographers-or how I’m a Johnny-come-lately!

17 Seconds is kicking itself. On Sunday Morning, I went over to Song, By Toad to download his podcast, which is pretty damn good. I was blown away by the track ‘New Romantic’ by the New Pornographers and set about trying to find as much as I could legally.

For anyone who is even more of a Johnny-Come-Lately than me, they are an ‘indie-supergroup’ based in Chicago, and amongst their number are Neko Case and A.C.Newman, who I had heard of, but not really heard.

Their new album is called Challengers and will be out in August, from where ‘My Rights Versus yours’ comes from.

New Pornographers-‘My Rights Versus Yours.’ mp3

New Pornographers-‘The Laws have Changed.’ mp3

New Pornographers-‘Mass Romantic.’ mp3

New Pornographers-‘Twin Cinema.’ mp3

New Pornographers-‘Use It.’ mp3

And some of the solo stuff:

Neko Case-‘Star Witness.’ mp3

Neko Case-‘If You Knew.’ mp3

A.C. Newman-‘Miracle Drug.’ mp3

A.C. Newman-‘Drink To me.’ mp3

Official New Pornographers website here

These will be up for one week only. If yopu like what you hear, go investigate, either at Amazon or a local independent record shop.