The New Pornographers, Challengers

by Lauren Baggett
04/03/2008

It just takes one listen to The New Pornographer’s latest album Challengers and you are hooked. Song after song delivers overlapping vocals backed by a mélange of instruments that give real depth to this quirky album.

Challengers is The New Pornographer’s fourth full-length album release. The group formed in 1997, and its first album earned a lot of praise from critics and music lovers alike. This album is sure to be another success.

From the first song, the group’s multiple harmonies are intriguing and the guitar melodies are good. Still, it isn’t anything too special. Then the tambourine and the French horn kick in, more vocals come into the picture, and suddenly a flood of music is flowing through the speakers. In other words, by the end of “My Rights Versus Yours,” you will be bobbing your head to the beat.

The album features various instruments, including the glockenspiel, mandolin, piano and banjo, plus the usual rock band line up. It’s easy to imagine the band playing in a mini orchestra. The songs are still perfectly balanced. No crowded, overbearing sound here.

As the album goes on, the group starts to play with throwbacks to earlier music. “All Things That You Need To Make Heaven And Earth” has a late 80's edge to it, probably due to the prominent use of keyboard in the song. “Failsafe” and a few others mimic the alternative sound from the 90's. Yet, the group puts its own sound into each song.

The group’s vocals give their songs their power. The vocals are raw and are never buried under instruments. This frames each song in an emotion, whether it is upbeat and fun or a bit melancholy. With its great vocals and myriad of instruments, the group shows off a great range of musical prowess. Sometimes you hear a rock song, then a folk ballad, and then end with an indie pop song.

Overall, this album is pure fun, without sacrificing quality. The lyrics can be melancholy, but the sound is more overtly spirited. From love songs to adventure stories, every song adds a piece to the puzzle of cataloguing life. The album does lose a bit of its dynamic as it goes on. The strength of its appeal comes from the first six songs.

Then again, you’ll be hooked by the time you get to the seventh.

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