solace Posted May 30, 2007 Author Share Posted May 30, 2007 What puzzles me is those of you who are saying Twin Cinema was unimpressive except for a few songs because this song would have fit right in there as the laid back arrangement does not fit with either Mass Romantic or Electric Version.it's got a lot more enjoyable melody than most of TC for me... like even though it's catchy, i don't really dig on "Sing Me Spanish Techno" that much. it's not a bad song, just a bit annoying. i prefer NP's super power poppy stuff (ie: my fave songs are From Blown Speakers, The Laws Have Changed, Slow Descent, etc.) Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Scalzunfield Posted May 30, 2007 Share Posted May 30, 2007 (ie: my fave songs are From Blown Speakers, The Laws Have Changed, Slow Descent, etc.) Those're my top 3 right there. But I loved most of Twin Cinema, maybe 'cause it was my introduction to the band. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
OOO Posted May 30, 2007 Share Posted May 30, 2007 i don't really dig on "Sing Me Spanish Techno" that much. it's not a bad song, just a bit annoying. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
solace Posted May 30, 2007 Author Share Posted May 30, 2007 the music is great, i just hate how Carl sings "Siiiing meee spanish technooo" mostly the last part... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
TCP Posted May 30, 2007 Share Posted May 30, 2007 Spanish Techno took me a few listens but now I really dig it. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
OOO Posted May 30, 2007 Share Posted May 30, 2007 the music is great, i just hate how Carl sings "Siiiing meee spanish technooo" mostly the last part... It's ok I was mostly joking; my favorite part is "...Listening too long to one song" and as far as NP albums, I lean towards Mass Romantic, although I have been listening to Slow Wonder a lot recently. Not that that is a New Pornographer's album... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
solace Posted May 30, 2007 Author Share Posted May 30, 2007 It's ok I was mostly joking; my favorite part is "...Listening too long to one song"yah, i like that part too Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Littlebear Posted June 1, 2007 Share Posted June 1, 2007 To me, Mass Romantic (punchy and colorful, it rocks) and Twin Cinema (refined and mind-blowing) are both close to masterpieces, whereas Electric Version is pretty weak (like a milky version of Mass Romantic). Quote Link to post Share on other sites
trevor Posted June 6, 2007 Share Posted June 6, 2007 I think they've improved with every album. Mass Romantic is great powerpop, but almost a little too indulgent at times. Actually, MR and EV are pretty much neck-in-neck for me. Twin Cinema was a huge leap forward, I felt. It was the first disc by them where I liked every song, probably because there was a bit more variety. Songwriting got stronger, too. It was my fave disc of 05, and Challengers is one of my most anticipated CD's remaining this year. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Dr. Steve Brule Posted June 9, 2007 Share Posted June 9, 2007 Whoa, this is pretty sweet, the bonus stuff is available for the vinyl buyers too, you get a dummy disc for the box: We haven't figured out the drum roll sound effects (sorry), and presenting the upcoming 4th album from the New Pornographers, 'Challengers' surely requires special effects that would make Michael Bay dizzy. So if you wanna hear a strong candidate for 2007's Album Of The Year more than 2 months before street date, here's your big chance : TWO VERSIONS TO CHOOSE FROM: "EXECUTIVE EDITION" AND "STANDARD EDITION". As usual, this Buy Early, Get Now preorder is available from a select group of physical and online retailers, listed here Or, you can order direct from Matador.When you preorder the album with one of them, not only do you reserve a copy of "Challengers," for release date, there's mo' mo' mo'. Challengers: Executive Edition (list price $19.99) Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Welsh Rich Posted June 11, 2007 Share Posted June 11, 2007 I got a promo through for this on the weekend - I'm not a massive NP's fan, but I like it. The only problem is, they've split the 12 tracks over 99 indexes which makes it an odd listen! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
trevor Posted June 12, 2007 Share Posted June 12, 2007 this has leaked. i don't have the link in front of me cause i'm at work, but i snagged it last nite and had a listen. very enjoyable, although much more mellow. i really like it. just saying, it's out there to be had. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
jhh4321 Posted June 12, 2007 Share Posted June 12, 2007 i got the executive box set preorder and just recieved my code im stuck at work for a few more hours but am definetely listening first thing when i get home Quote Link to post Share on other sites
solace Posted June 12, 2007 Author Share Posted June 12, 2007 this has leaked. i don't have the link in front of me cause i'm at work, but i snagged it last nite and had a listen. very enjoyable, although much more mellow. i really like it. just saying, it's out there to be had.that's what i hear... i'm gonna wait until my promo comes (hopefully this week) though, because i hate webrips Quote Link to post Share on other sites
OOO Posted June 12, 2007 Share Posted June 12, 2007 I'm going to sit in my cubicle and meditate on the letters "PM". ... ... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
PigSooie Posted June 13, 2007 Share Posted June 13, 2007 So, the leak is a webrip? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
jhh4321 Posted June 13, 2007 Share Posted June 13, 2007 listened to this (got the preorder, sorry just the stream) and hate to say that im disappointed but its just okay in my opinion, though i can see it as a grower. dan bejars three songs are all excellent though (i think id prefer a new destroyer album at this point). Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Chendizzle Posted June 13, 2007 Share Posted June 13, 2007 So, the leak is a webrip? Yeah, ripped from the stream that Matador gave to people who pre-ordered. Stream is a funny word. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Welsh Rich Posted June 13, 2007 Share Posted June 13, 2007 I'm really enjoying this, IMO it's better than Twin Cinema... if only my promo didn't have odd cut outs at the end of the tracks. Track 3, is really lovely. that's what i hear... i'm gonna wait until my promo comes (hopefully this week) though, because i hate webrips I'm quite surprised us UK lot have had our promos through already - this one really took me by surprise... keeping my fingers crossed for Spoon shortly... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
solace Posted June 13, 2007 Author Share Posted June 13, 2007 i like it more than Twin Cinema so far as well, but i too am not bowled over by it either (although i'm far from disappointed by it too however) it's a very enjoyable & pleasant record though, perfect for the summer Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Welsh Rich Posted June 13, 2007 Share Posted June 13, 2007 i like it more than Twin Cinema so far as well, but i too am not bowled over by it either (although i'm far from disappointed by it too however) it's a very enjoyable & pleasant record though, perfect for the summer It's not quite as power-pop as the others and that's, possibly, why I like it so much! Title track is really good though... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
solace Posted June 13, 2007 Author Share Posted June 13, 2007 It's not quite as power-pop as the others and that's, possibly, why I like it so much! Title track is really good though...ah... yeah see their power pop is what got me into them in the first place years ago i do dig a lot of the melodies a ton, it's just a much more mellow affair Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Modified Bear Posted June 13, 2007 Share Posted June 13, 2007 On first listen the album kind of blew right past me. It's not as "hooky" as previous NP's stuff, and certainly much more mellow -- a couple tracks almost sound like Sufjan Stevens. The immediate standouts are the Dan Bejar songs, which sound very much like they were written at the same time as Destroyer's Rubies. A couple more spins, however -- and I really recommend a full-attention headphones listen if you have the time -- and Challengers starts to reveal itself. Newman's rhythms and harmonies are insanely involved on this record, and once I started to follow what he was doing more closely I discovered it's all pretty brilliant. Challengers is also more of an "album" than anything else the NP's have done -- pace and sequencing really affects the whole in a big way, unlike the "alternate dimension greatest hits collections" that were Mass Romantic and Electric Version. I think you just have to go in prepared for a different kind of record. I still think the big centerpiece song, the epic "Unguided," might be deeply flawed. But I enjoy listening to it anyway, because Newman seems to be having so much fun experimenting in a new, bombastic, epic format. Not every experiment can work out. Point is, don't give up on this one too quickly, it's gorgeous but it requires something of the listener. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
trevor Posted June 13, 2007 Share Posted June 13, 2007 i agree--"unguided" definitely does not need to be 6+ min. it seems like newman just wrote it to prove that he could write something that long. it could've been half that length and just fine. having said that, it's still good. i listened to this again last nite after i got back from the bar and liked it even more. and yeah, i think the reason that i've enjoyed twin cinema so much, and this one as well, is that it actually feels like an album with some flow and pace. mass romantic and electric version are great as well, but i hear ya on the greatest hits collection... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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