Challengers

The New Pornographers:  Challengers
Rating:  7.5 (out of 10)

Ignore the lukewarm Pitchfork review.  This is a very good album.  We all know Pitchfork's reviewers are nothing but haters now anyway.  I mean, they didn't even mention the beautiful "Adventures in Solitude" in their recap, which is not only the best song on the album, but one of the best songs of the year.  So they suck.  And Carl Newman and Neko Case and Dan Bejar and Kurt Dahle and Kathryn Calder are in excellent form here for their fourth full-length and first since the acclaimed 2005 blast of Canadian goodness, Twin Cinema.  Having been less than overwhelmed by previous albums (with the notable exception of the phenomenal Bejar tracks), I'm not going to compare this album to their earlier efforts, or waste this entire post determining whether or not Newman and Co. are a "supergroup" (as Pitchfork was wont to do).  Instead, let's just cut to the music.

• Download The New Pornographers - "Adventures in Solitude".mp3
• Download The New Pornographers - "Go Places".mp3
• Purchase Challengers at Insound

The album opens with a bang with the high-spirited and catchy twosome of "My Rights Versus Yours" and "All the Old Showstoppers."  They are not pop classics, certainly, but are an enjoyable pair, edging up to anthemic heights before pulling back.  Neko Case makes her first appearance with the equally enjoyable, but again, not exactly wonderful "Challengers," a title track that never really gets going.  Things improve (as they often do) with Bejar's first appearance, the witty "Myriad Harbour." 

The fifth track, "All the Things that Go to Make Heaven and Earth" is more upbeat and catchy and rather beautiful.  "Failsafe" is not a very memorable experience, but I disagree with Pitchfork's description of "Unguided" as a "lumbering" track.  It's not exactly cutting edge, I'll admit, but I think the hooks here are rather irresistible and when Newman hits his falsetto with the chorus, I can hardly resist.  The track is unfortunately followed by "Entering White Cecilia", a forgettable Bejar tune.  In fact, in contrast to previous albums, Bejar's contributions are probably the weakest part of this release.

The closing four tracks really make this a great listening experience, though.  "Go Places" is a pop delight, using Case's formidable vocal talents to perfect results.  "Mutiny, I Promise You" is nothing special, but not bad, and then the gorgeous melody of "Adventures in Solitude" comes forth as just about a perfect ballad.  The song begins with a few spare verses traded between Calder and Newman, followed by the almost silent whisper "We thought we lost you... welcome back."  After a second verse and the repeated "We thought we lost you..." this time with "it will all come back", the song explodes into a series of swelling choruses, backed by strings, and features Case's wonderful lilting voice front and center.  It's just a great song. 

The final track, another Bejar tune, is the very catchy and solid "The Spirit of Giving", which is an excellent summary of the entire album - solid, catchy, very enjoyable.  It's not exactly a breathtaking release and might struggle to reach my top 10 albums of the year list, but it's certain a very good effort. Pick up your copy today.

Balancing on, one wounded wing
Circling the edge, of the neverending
The best of the vanished marvels have gathered inside your door

More than begin, but less than forget
But spirits born, from the not happened yet
Gathering there to pay off a debt brought back from the wars

We thought we lost you
We thought we lost you
We thought we lost you
Welcome back

Sleeping for years, pick through what is left
Through the pieces that fell, and rose from the depth
From the rainwater well, deep as a secret nobody knows

Less than forget, but more than begun
These adventures in solitude never done
To the names of our wounds, we send the same blood back from the wars

We thought we lost you
We thought we lost you
We thought we lost you
It will all come back

I know you want to
Run far away for one more
And now that's comin’ at a bad time
Some cold place
Countless ways
For all we know

I know you need to
Breathe through
Come back
Come to
But it’s comin’ at a bad time
Old scarred face
Survivor's day (?)
For all we know

I know you want to
Run far away for one more
And now that’s comin’ at a bad time
Some cold place
Countless ways
For all we know

I know you want to
Breathe through
Come back
Come to
But it’s comin’ at a bad time
Old scarred face
Survivor’s day (?)
For all we know