Vancouver indie group The New Pornographers have been helping propagate musical camaraderie for decades. The band helped spearhead the concept of “music collectives” in the 2000s, where members aren’t exclusive to one musical project. Prior to the band’s formation in 1997, each member was already an active musician and accomplished in their own right. Together, however, members A.C. Newman, Neko Case, Dan Bejar and others let their personalities coalesce into a guitar-driven, power pop force supported by thoughtful lyricism and bright hooks.
The New Pornographers embrace their fluid nature and have experienced a lot of amicable comings and goings over the years. 2017’s Whiteout Conditions finds the band playing without key member Bejar as well as losing a drummer, but they don’t miss a beat in continuing to grow their sound.
Ahead of tonight’s Live on King Street appearance, we’ve put together a primer on The New Pornographers’ 20-year career.
“Mass Romantic”
There is no better way to be introduced to The New Pornographers than the first (and title) track from Mass Romantic, their 2000 debut album. Crashing in with brisk guitars and up-tempo trebly fullness, and carried effortlessly by Case’s distinctive voice, the song serves to summarize the band’s attitude and aim. In just over four minutes, Canada’s newest indie rock royalty was coronated.
“Letters from an Occupant”
Another cut from the band’s debut, “Letters from an Occupant” was the song that helped TNP earn their supergroup status six tracks into their career. It’s quintessential A.C. Newman pop sensibility; his hooks and his lyrics (channeled through a powerhouse vocal performance by Case) propel the song up and onwards into the anthemic crescendo of Mass Romantic, creating arguably the best individual moment in their catalogue.
“Testament to Youth in Verse”
Dan Bejar’s self-referential salute to youth is a great example of the wry, tongue-in-cheek theme present throughout his work with his project Destroyer in addition to The New Pornographers. On this track from 2003’s Electric Version, he manages to write a song that explains how it is not the anthem you’re looking for — essentially an “anti-anthem.” But it’s when the closing chorus kicks in (and “the bells ring no, no, no…”) that you realize that perhaps the song is an anthem and has self-fulfilled in spite of itself. You’ll just have to listen to see what I mean.
“The Bleeding Heart Show”
2005’s Twin Cinema saw the band moving towards a tighter and more produced feel, including very neatly laid harmonies like those found in “The Bleeding Heart Show.” The intense ballad tells of desperation in love lost and a clamoring to fill the void with something like it. Playing out into another skillfully crafted singalong by Newman and Case, the track draws you in and demands that you empathize.
“Champions of Red Wine”
Over the next few years, TNP introduced some electronic elements into their catalogue, exemplified by “Champions” from 2014’s Brill Bruisers. The leading synth tones create an anxious, sharp environment befitting the song’s theme of addiction. Newman’s often obscure lyrics are grim in their simplicity here. Intentional or not, the song calls back to Mass Romantic’s cynical-yet-cheery “My Slow Decent Into Alcoholism” and responds as a wake-up call: It’s not really funny anymore.
“Whiteout Conditions”
The title track from the group’s 2017 release finds them turning the departure of their drummer into something positive. Leaning heavily on the use of a drum machine, the terse rhythm and electronic tinkling enhances another tightly-wound story of substance abuse and depression, with Newman’s power pop prowess still present despite the continually dark subject matter. With both the song and album, Whiteout Conditions sees The New Pornographers continuing to evolve.
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