Get Guilty highlights Newman's clever lyrics, pop sound

He transcribes his New Pornographers experience in the album.

By Tom Carbone

Published Jan. 26, 2009

It's rare for bands to be so revolutionary that they garner a solid fan base that fuels them to produce more and more records. It's even more rare for these bands to breed side projects that have steam like the way the New Pornographers have had in the last few years.

Carl Newman, who goes by the recording moniker A.C. Newman, has continued this trend by releasing his second full-length solo album Get Guilty Jan. 20 with Matador Records. Between his solo and his New Pornographers work, Newman has put out five full-length records in the last six years, an album count that many aspiring songwriters never dream of reaching.

The album starts out with "There Are Maybe Ten or Twelve," a song that a Newman virgin might attribute to the Shins if they didn't know better. Pianos, female harmonies and harps are all included on the track, along with some of Newman's notoriously clever lyrics, such as "and the eyes, they were a color I can't remember, which says more than the first two verses." His first song is literally about the first song on the record.

As the album progresses, it's very evident that Newman's Pornographers experience is bleeding into his solo work. The straightforward pop sound Newman creates on this record is phenomenal.

"Submarines Of Stockholm", the fifth song on the album, is a clear example of this influence. Again, the harmonies are intact in the song, along with another Shins-esque ringing chorus and of course some "na na na na"s for good measure.

"The Palace At 4 a.m." is definitely the most bubbly song on the album and coincidentally is also the first single. Three minutes of pure pop bliss is held in this track and perhaps is the climax of the record. Again, Newman enlisted the help of Nicole Atkins and Mates of State to provide backing vocals for the song, an essential recruitment for the general vibe of this record. There are not really any slower songs on the record, so the upbeat vibe is held in full-force throughout.

As far as side projects go -- and full band projects for that matter -- A.C. Newman has created a definitive pop record that gives hope for 2009's pop releases. Every essential element for a great pop album is found on Get Guilty, a definite upgrade from his 2004 The Slow Wonder. If you are a New Pornographers fan, definitely give this record a shot. By taking his experiences with his full-time band and honing in on his specialties, A.C. Newman is a unique project worth all the critical praise it will receive this year.