Challengers

A New Direction for The New Pornographers

originally published April 16, 2008

A little less sugar and a little more protein.

That was essentially the approach to Challengers, the latest record from The New Pornographers. And the shift toward a more understated, yet substantial, rock-pop sound is creating some sharp and varied reactions from fans and critics.

“It seems like there are the people who just don’t think it’s upbeat enough or whatever,” says singer/guitarist A.C. “Carl” Newman. “And then there are the people who are like, 'I’ve never been convinced by them before completely, but this record really makes me like them.' That’s about exactly what I expected. That’s the thing when you change as a band; you know you’re going to lose some people along the way.”

The ironic thing about the debate over Challengers is that if you had asked Newman in 2003, after the release of the group’s debut record, Mass Romantic, how The New Pornographers' sound was likely to evolve, he probably would have laughed off the question. At that point, the group seemed as likely as anything to be a one-off project, considering the lineup featured a couple of notable musicians who were just beginning to make names for themselves with their own careers.

One of those members was Dan Bejar, whose own somewhat off-center pop band Destroyer is highly regarded in its own right. Bejar added a somewhat offbeat songwriting voice to balance the material Newman provides as the band’s chief songwriter. Another featured contributor is singer Neko Case, who in 2003, was in the midst of building an acclaimed catalog of country-noir solo records. Even with his central role in the group, Newman, who had plans for his own solo career, wasn’t looking too far ahead with The New Pornographers.

“When we first talked to Mint Records, who put out our records in Canada, they said, ‘So, are you guys going to put out another record?’" Newman recalls. “I honestly sat there and went: I don’t know. They said, ‘Are you guys going to tour this record?’ I don’t know. All we knew is we had this record and we would put it out and maybe a few people would buy it.”

What’s more, Newman’s main goal for The New Pornographers was pretty simple. As he observed in an interview around that time, some bands have great energy, but not great songs, and some bands write great songs that are basically downers. Newman wanted The New Pornographers to write good, upbeat pop songs with great energy. That’s exactly what the group did on Mass Romantic, turning out a first-rate album with some of the year’s catchiest pop-rock songs (such as “Letter from an Occupant” and the title track).

As time has gone on, it’s become apparent that the group’s musical goals have grown more ambitious and multi-faceted. Challengers, obviously, takes The New Pornographers into slightly more measured musical territory. Even if the record is not as buoyantly catchy as some fans would want, it is still another strong effort from the group, which also includes Todd Fancey (guitar), John Collins (bass/guitar), Blaine Thurier (Fender Rhodes electric piano), Kurt Dahle (drums) and Kathryn Calder (vocals/keyboards).

For instance, “My Rights Versus Yours,” may pull back to a comfortable mid-tempo pace, but its downright pretty vocal melody is one of the strongest The New Pornographers have committed to disc. “Failsafe” takes the record into semi-psychedelic territory with a shimmering guitar line that frames a typically graceful vocal melody. The baroque touches on “Unguided” are also an appealing new dimension in the group’s sound.

And fans of the band’s friskier material won’t go home empty-handed with Challengers, either. “All the Old Showstoppers,” with its dynamic instrumental coda and bouncy keyboard-accented melody and bright harmonies, certainly lives up to past pop glories. “Myriad Harbor” is another upbeat tune with plenty of melodic treats (be it in the unique sonic treatment of the vocals or the song’s nifty acoustic guitar lick). And with “All the Things That Go to Make Heaven and Earth,” the group rocks out with frenetic delight.

Newman correctly points out that the band’s excellent third album, the 2005 release Twin Cinema, was already pointing toward a bit deeper kind of pop songcraft.

“I think if you listen to Twin Cinema and then you listen to this record, or even if you listen to all of our records in a row, chronologically, you can see the direction we were heading in. Like, if you took ‘Use It’ and ‘Sing Me Spanish Techno’ off of Twin Cinema," he says pointing out two of the denser pop tracks on the record, "you’d probably have an album not that dissimilar from Challengers. Twin Cinema just has slightly more catchy, upbeat songs.”

For the spring tour, fans will hear the band sounding pretty much the way the band does on record. That’s because Case - who because of her solo career can’t always tour with them - will be on hand for all of the dates. (Bejar, unfortunately, is not on board this time out.)

Newman says the songs from Challengers have been fitting in very well alongside the band’s earlier material in recent live shows, and the band is giving fans a taste of songs from throughout its career.

“We’re trying to dig back and do songs we haven’t played in a few years, like dig out a few Mass Romantic songs that used to be staples in our set, but now we don’t really even play anymore, and even stuff from (the second album) Electric Version," Newman says.

“The majority of the songs, I think, are going to be from the last two records,” he says. “But it also changes. The one time when the set list goes out the window, of course, is when you’re getting into encore material. That’s where we may have only played one Mass Romantic song in the set, but we’ll do four in the encore because people are yelling out for them.”

Alan Sculley

WHO: Okkervil River, The New Pornographers
WHERE: Georgia Theatre
WHEN: Thursday, April 17
HOW MUCH: $22 (adv.), $25 (door)