Pornographers build on new sound

By Joey Vergara

Published Nov. 2, 2007

In indie rock, there are the bands that stick to formulas and are incapable of shedding their baby teeth, and then there are bands like The New Pornographers who, while comfortable with recognizing and utilizing their abilities, take steps to move away from their past.

It has been 10 years since The New Pornographers came together under the leadership of Carl Newman. Since then, the group has released four full-length albums and gone on to join part of the modern indie-rock pantheon.

The strengths of previous records — instantly memorable hooks, beautiful harmonies and unique pop aesthetics, among others — make Challengers another exceptional step forward in The New Pornographers' path. On the title track, Newman, Neko Case and Kathryn Calder's voices come together for brilliant dramatic effect, while Dan Bejar's spontaneous appearances throughout the record add a certain quirkiness.

"To me, it just sounds like the direction we've been moving in," Newman said. "You listen to Twin Cinema. We were moving away from the sound of Electric Version. Even on Electric Version, we were trying to move slightly away from Mass Romantic. I just consider it another link on the chain."

Still, it is the experimentation with previous unheard elements that makes Challengers that much more engaging. Horns and strings add a new depth to songs such as "Go Places" and "My Rights Versus Yours." Calder takes lead vocals for the first time on the moody "Failsafe." "Unguided," which is reminiscent of Twin Cinema's "The Bleeding Heart Show" in its scope, is the longest song in The New Pornographers' catalogue and a lush tribute to New York, Newman's new home and a city that takes its time to gradually unwind.

Although Newman moved to New York almost two years ago, when the time came for The New Pornographers to write and record a new album, they stuck to their standard formula. Newman directed the efforts between all the members — including drummer Kurt Dahle, guitarist Todd Fancey, bassist John Collins and multi-instrumentalist Blaine Thurier — who live in different cities and are all rarely in the studio together.

"(Challengers) was a little more scattered in that it was recorded in different places, but we've always been like that," Newman said. "It's just been the nature of our band. We've never been a band that's like four people in a city and we practice three times a week."

In celebration of the release of Challengers, the band set up a YouTube.com contest in which fans were asked to partake in several challenges, including singing a song in the style of Michael McDonald. While stranger things have happened in The New Pornographers' past, a collaboration with the former Doobie Brother might be in the works.

"It's looking like he might actually do something with us," Newman said. "I don't know what it'll be. I'd hate to speak out of turn, maybe he won't, but he seems to be into the idea of the whole thing."

The New Pornographers have taken their time crafting a matchless brand of pop, and although things have certainly worked out for the band, Newman understands the challenges that the band must deal with as they continue on.

"You always have to remember to stay the same band and just make music for the sake of music," he said. "But there is this part of it where the band becomes this business. That's a strange thing to balance."