New Pornographers
Mass Romantic
(Mint Records)
By: Sean Slone - ModernRock.com
The New Pornographers are a “super-group” of Vancouver musicians taking a break from their day job bands for this cool collection that combines late ‘70s/early ‘80s new wave and ‘90s lo-fi indie pop in fun and interesting ways.
I put “Super-group” in quotes because it’s unlikely you’ve heard of their main gigs, but based on this record, they may be worth seeking out. Singer/Arranger Carl Newman is a veteran of the bands Zumpano, The Crusaders and Superconductor. Singer/Guitarist Dan Bejar is from the Canadian pop band Destroyer. Bassist John Collins is a member of The Evaporators and Thee Goblins. Drummer Kurt Dahle comes from the band Limblifter. And keyboard player Blaine Thurrier is primarily a filmmaker.
The ringer in the bunch is alt-country diva Neko Case, who sings lead on two tracks and backing vocals on several more. Case is coming off a year of acclaim for her excellent second album Furnace Room Lullaby and constant touring, often with simpatico Bloodshot Records label-mate Kelly Hogan. Here she turns in her “honky-tonk hiccup” vocal style for an equally energetic and charismatic pop sound.
The opening title track introduces the band’s distinctive mix of sharp, brittle guitars, vintage keyboards and off-kilter harmonies. Sounding a bit like something off the first Elastica album, the track manages to be both densely layered and lo-fi at the same time. The terrific “Letter From An Occupant” finds Case reaching for the top of her vocal range as the band takes fascinating melodic turns behind her.
Elsewhere Case provides background vocals on the deceptively titled “The Slow Descent Into Alcoholism,” a bouncy, happy pop song. And she participates in a harmonized lead vocal on “To Wild Homes,” a Guided By Voices-like number that sounds like lots of musical ideas going on all at once.
“Jackie” on the other hand sounds like Robyn Hitchcock fronting the Buzzcocks with a section of warped Beach Boys harmonies. On “The Fake Headlines” the band sounds more like another Canadian pop band, Sloan. “Mystery Hours” features more staccato guitar chords, a buzzing mini-Korg keyboard and vocals that threaten to go over the edge but never quite do. “The Body Says No” is one of the more straight-ahead pop songs here, albeit one with substantially more going on than the average pop song. “Execution Day” is more experimental with intricately overlapping falsetto harmonies. “Centre for Holy Wars” features more vintage keyboard sounds, “The Mary Martin Show” a saxophone. And “Breakin’ the Law” wraps up the record with shouted, harmonized vocals by a kids’ choir.
All of it adds up to baroque pop perfection. It’s likely to appeal equally to fans of lo-fi pop-psychedelia like GBV, Pavement or the Elephant Six collective, fans of the arrangement-obsessed works of Phil Spector and Brian Wilson, and fans of a whole host of the cheesy synth/punchy guitar bands from the ‘80s.
The record was recorded over quite a long time as the band members took time out from their other gigs. Four songs were completed in 1998 and the rest during 2000. Even if the individual Pornographers never find the time to come together again, this record will serve as an excellent snapshot of a very talented bunch who combined their abilities to produce something really special.
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