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Dangerous Levels Of It
The New Pornographers @ Webster Hall 10/24/2007
All The Things That Go To Make Heaven and Earth / Use It / Myriad Harbor / Electric Version / All The Old Showstoppers / Jackie Dressed In Cobras / Challengers / The Laws Have Changed / The Spirit Of Giving / My Rights Versus Yours / Mass Romantic / Adventures In Solitude / Testament To Youth In Verse / Unguided / Twin Cinema / Go Places / Sing Me Spanish Techno / The Bleeding Heart Show // Jackie / From Blown Speakers / Slow Descent Into Alcoholism /// Streets Of Fire / Letter From An Occupant
The New Pornographers "Adventures In Solitude" (MPR Session, 10/17/2007) - My initial reaction to Challengers was something a little bit like this, but within a couple weeks and over the course of the past few months, my estimation of the record has grown considerably. I'm not ever going to love it as much as their first three albums, but I don't think that was ever going to be an option given that the songs on those records are inextricably tied to a lot of happy memories and key moments from the past seven years of my life. I can't expect that group to be frozen in amber, stuck in that moment for me, and if they don't change, I don't think I would have as much use for them beyond nostalgia.
A crucial realization that I had while watching them play last night was that the songs I got the most out of were new favorites like "Myriad Harbor," "All The Old Showstoppers," and "Adventures In Solitude," and not as much the oldies burdened with my sentimental baggage -- "The Laws Have Changed," "Sing Me Spanish Techno," "Twin Cinema," "Letter From An Occupant." Don't get me wrong, I loved the hell out of them, but it more like muscle memory than a direct emotional response. Dan Bejar singing "all I ever wanted help with WAS YOU!" in "Myriad Harbor" and Kathryn Calder's lead vocal on the second half of "Adventures In Solitude" moves me in the 2007s the way "I refused my call, pushing my lazy sails into the blue flame" hit me in 2005, and "form a line to the throne!" was something worth shouting in 2003.
(It's worth noting that just as on Challengers, Bejar and Calder totally stole this show from Carl and Neko. As they become more confident and distinct, the overall quality of the band improves. At this point in time, I think Calder nearly rivals Case as a vocalist, and she's still so young!)
I think that first freak-out moment upon hearing Challengers had little to do with the music, and everything with the perception of what the band, and Carl Newman in particular, seemed to be doing. For one thing, there was a worry that they'd moved away from something they did better than any of their contemporaries -- bombastic super-charged pop rock -- in favor of something softer and limper in an attempt to chase the commercial success enjoyed by the Shins. Also, there was a sense of "oh no, they are trying to be mature!," which often doesn't work out for people, mainly because they, well, aren't actually mature songwriters.
The reality of Challengers is that band actually can pull this stuff off, and it's a fairly organic progression from what they were doing on Twin Cinema. I think that Newman certainly has some healthy ambition and a desire to sell some records, but I think this is sincere music that flows naturally from his current taste and personal life, not to mention the considerable skill level of his band. The music isn't even all that different from what came before it -- even the gentlest, prettiest numbers hit dramatic crescendos, and the group's knack for harmony is never wasted. (Click here to buy Challengers and the other three New Pornographers albums from Matador.)
Elsewhere: For those of you who enjoyed the comments box from yesterday's post, Eric Harvey has written a very intelligent essay about the culture of Oink.
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