[this week's music monday features a favorite band of ours along with a goodly slice of my husband's sense of humor. i mean, really. that first sentence is one of the best grabbers i've read in a long while. enjoy! xoxo - jennifer]
After watching some UFC and doing some killer reps on the weight bench, I was looking through the wife's latest copy of Country Living Magazine. I was pleasantly surprised to see they had a multi-page spread on Neko Case, solo artist and member of the awesome New Pornographers. But, after watching Steven Tyler gushing on his living room couch with the Oprah, I guess I should not be surprised by too much these days.
The New Pornographers are an awesome power pop band out of Vancouver, BC. A true collective of talented cool musicians who do a lot of solo work, but come together to make The New Pornographers something that is truly special, and greater than the sum its parts. This is true to form on their most recent album Together (Matador Records, 2010). Maybe it is the guy/girl dynamic, maybe it is the casual-dress/clean look, or maybe it is just Carl Newman’s red hair; but I always kind of thought of The New Pornographers as an indie rock version of the Archies (which is always welcome in my world). Check out the band rocking through their ultra catchy “Sweet Talk, Sweet Talk” on Letterman and just imagine Riverdale’s Finest -
And just so you don’t think that it is all sugar sugar, they bring out the ninjas and the power chords on “Your Hands (Together)” -
Sure, they may be Canadian dancing ninja’s, but let’s not split hairs. Besides the plethora of hooks, I really love the way that The New Pornographers put together songs. They flesh out the production with plenty of acoustics, horns, organs, percussion, killer backup harmonies, and whistling. And their use of strings as a percussion element beyond the typical ballad is the mark of a true craftsman. The New Pornographers are a great band that you want to see do well. And do well they do.
- PLC
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be sure to check out Pat's other awesome music monday reviews:
- last week - Bash & Pop
- last month - Wild Flag
- full archive of Music Monday with PLC - HERE
