quote:

I do wish they'd let Neko let loose on some of the newer songs, though. Her songs on Mass Romantic and Electric Version were thrilling because they were sung so damn passionately. "I cried five rivers on the way here, which one will you sail away on?!" Her stuff on Twin Cinema and Challengers doesn't really let her go all-out.

It's a fair point, but the way it's playing out, it seems that Neko Case is slowly being phased out (as is Bejar). I foresee both of them leaving and the New Pornographers becoming the Traveling A.C. Newman Show. Honestly, I've always preferred Newman to Bejar anyway, and Kathryn Calder sounds fine.

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Originally posted by brainofp:
for me the only reason i listen to NP is to hear Neko Case's voice. it's so gorgeous

you know she has solo albums as well, right? funny story... I wasn't too keen on the new pornos on first listen, but I loved the songs that the girl sang - the girl being Neko Case. So I went and bought her solo albums and revisited the new pornos albums and now I love everything.

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Originally posted by Sinister:

quote:

I do wish they'd let Neko let loose on some of the newer songs, though. Her songs on Mass Romantic and Electric Version were thrilling because they were sung so damn passionately. "I cried five rivers on the way here, which one will you sail away on?!" Her stuff on Twin Cinema and Challengers doesn't really let her go all-out.

It's a fair point, but the way it's playing out, it seems that Neko Case is slowly being phased out (as is Bejar). I foresee both of them leaving and the New Pornographers becoming the Traveling A.C. Newman Show. Honestly, I've always preferred Newman to Bejar anyway, and Kathryn Calder sounds fine.

Why would they be getting phased out of a group that they are a major part of? if they were phased out there would be no more new pornographers, it would just be a.c. newman, maybe with some guest appearances.

im sure neko and bejar have more input in the material than just singing on two or three songs. and then again maybe they dont? i mean both neko and bejar have excellent solo careers so maybe they just dont have the time/ effort to put into these new porno projects.

I, for one, am thankful they still find time to get together and make quality music, even if their songs are more scarce on each consecutive album.

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Originally posted by kendocubano:

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Originally posted by Platypus Quest:
For me, the Case songs are the highlights on Challengers (I know I'm the minority, I don't care) and as for "Bones of an Idol" and "These are the Fables," I love those songs!

I'm not sure that you're "in the minority" as much as you think. I've always love the NP songs where the women take the lead, even such "dull" songs as Bones of an Idol, and Fire in the Street.

In fact, the only song I didn't really like when I first heard the album has become my favorite: Myriad Harbor. When I first heard it, I thought she sounded like Laurie Anderson!

Are you saying that you thought that Myriad Harbor was sung by a woman? It's Dan Bejar...

I believe kendo was referring to Anderson's treated vocals on "O Superman". They do sound a bit like Bejar.

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Originally posted by sh6ne:

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Originally posted by brainofp:
for me the only reason i listen to NP is to hear Neko Case's voice. it's so gorgeous

you know she has solo albums as well, right? funny story... I wasn't too keen on the new pornos on first listen, but I loved the songs that the girl sang - the girl being Neko Case. So I went and bought her solo albums and revisited the new pornos albums and now I love everything.

yeah i know. i have them too. thanx for the lookout though

quote:

Originally posted by mark f:
I believe kendo was referring to Anderson's treated vocals on "O Superman". They do sound a bit like Bejar.

Exactly. I just revisited that track with the 25th anniversary re-issue.

I know it's too late for this, and probably inappropriate, but just a few a days ago I was seriously considering publicly withdrawing my support of this album on these forums. I just found it impossible to bring myself to listen to it almost immediately after throwing my chips in for it. Hate when that happens.

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Originally posted by Chamberk:
"Adventures in Solitude" isn't Neko Case, it's Kathryn Calder.

I listened closer, and you're right. Her voice is similar, but its definitely not Neko Case. I still adore that song, and Katheryn Calder's vocal is awesome.

And for this talk of the New Pornographers phasing out Neko Case and Dan Bejar, thats ridiculous. Mass Romantic was more of a collaboration, but since Electric Version its been AC Newman's show. He throws a few songs to Neko Case to sing, and Dan Bejar shows up with a handful of songs. That's the formula. Perhaps, they'll quit making New Pornographer albums one day, and AC Newman will do more solo stuff, but I don't see them pushing those two out and continuing as the New Pornos.

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Originally posted by Sinister:
It's a fair point, but the way it's playing out, it seems that Neko Case is slowly being phased out (as is Bejar). I foresee both of them leaving and the New Pornographers becoming the Traveling A.C. Newman Show. Honestly, I've always preferred Newman to Bejar anyway, and Kathryn Calder sounds fine.

I don't know, if they got rid of Case and Bejar then they wouldn't be The New Pornographers!

Maybe you think that Calder sounds all right but just because she has more time to contribute to recording and touring doesn't make her as good as Case, there is no comparison. And although she sings all right on "Adventures in Solitude," Case would blow her out of the water.

I also know that you don't really like Bejar but he is just as good as Newman in terms of songwriting--if not better. They are both great and have great solo albums, but coming together is what makes them The New Pornographers. I for one, would be sad if they phased out Case and Bejar, the are too important and way too brilliant.

I think for all intents and purposes, the New Pornographers have been the Carl Newman show since Electric Version. Honestly, I think Case and Bejar are better suited at their doing their own projects. Although, I like that Bejar throws some stylistic curveballs into the NP catalog like "Jackie, Dressed in Cobras" and "Myriad Harbour".

I've listened to Challengers a bit more, and I think the middle section is the best. It gets off to a sketchy start, but "Myriad Harbour" through "Entering White Cecilia" is a pretty good run.

Yeah, it really stumbles through the first batch of songs. Newman's ability to defy gravity has left him, it appears.

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Originally posted by goathouse:
Yeah, it really stumbles through the first batch of songs. Newman's ability to defy gravity has left him, it appears.

Y'all are crazy. My Rights Vs. Yours is stuck, on repeat, in my head. That's gotta be one of the best NP's melodies. 1, 2, 3 & 4 are all stellar, IMO.

That might be the best of the batch, but still, I think it's less about the songs for me -- it's more about the dull patches. The dull patches might be just one small part of a song, but boy are they dull.

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Originally posted by goathouse:
That might be the best of the batch, but still, I think it's less about the songs for me -- it's more about the dull patches. The dull patches might be just one small part of a song, but boy are they dull.

Have you listened with good speakers/headphones? All kinds of different sounds loaded into all the songs.

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Originally posted by Il Mago:
Y'all are crazy. My Rights Vs. Yours is stuck, on repeat, in my head. That's gotta be one of the best NP's melodies. 1, 2, 3 & 4 are all stellar, IMO.

Meh. W'all aren't crazy. Y'all is crazy.

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Originally posted by Il Mago:

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Originally posted by goathouse:
That might be the best of the batch, but still, I think it's less about the songs for me -- it's more about the dull patches. The dull patches might be just one small part of a song, but boy are they dull.

Have you listened with good speakers/headphones? All kinds of different sounds loaded into all the songs.

I bore a sound-conducting bit into my skull every time I listen to music, and I still don't find much to redeem the worst parts of this album. That's not to say there aren't really good parts too, but the bad parts are there... and they glare.

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Originally posted by ericg75:
Meh. W'all aren't crazy. Y'all is crazy.

Hehe "W'all"...

Hey guys.

go to myspace.com and click on music... in the band field type new pornographers without "the" in front of the name. the space at the top looks like an official new pornos myspace and when you click on it the player only has one song... "when I was a baby"... now that song isn't on any of the albums but it seems like it would've been a good fit on challengers. very strange...

When I Was A Baby was back from the Mass Romantic days, I think.