Challengers
by The New Pornographers

Album details

US: 21 August 2007 on Matador
UK: 20 August 2007 on Matador

The fourth album for the Canadian indie-rock supergroup–that includes Destroyer’s Dan Bejar, Zumpano’s Carl "A.C." Newman and Neko Case–has been billed as their most "mature" album to date, and also features expanded instrumentation (including a string section).

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The critical consensus

Previous albums have made the New Pornographers a favorite of critics, and Challengers does little to disturb that trend, even if it is as "mature" as its early buzz made it out to be (and the critics seem to agree that, yes, that label applies). Amazon has no problem with a more developed New Pornographers: "Grown up? Sure. Matured? OK. Still pop perfect? Utterly." Glide finds Challengers "richer, fuller and ultimately more satisfying" than the band’s previous efforts, while Slant labels it "their most diverse collection" and Filter, their "prettiest record yet." Under The Radar feels that "the most apparent difference … is a warmer tinge to these predicatbly ear-seizing tunes." Drowned In Sound prefers the term "more polished" to "more mature," and lauds the disc for being the first Pornographers album that "doesn’t sound like a AC Newman solo record," although they hesitate to recommend the album to non-fans. Gigwise dispenses with talk of maturity and just hears an album that is "warm," "organic," and "wonderful," while NME cites tunes "boasting spellbinding melodies and a harmonic complexity to die for" and The Stranger hears "nary a misstep." PopMatters? They declare, "Undoubtedly the best record of 2007."

Rolling Stone seems to like the disc but notes that "the tunes feel a little disposable," while Entertainment Weekly uses the term "sluggish" and Uncut finds it good, but a little short on hooks. The Guardian indicates that the songs lack "bite," and "sound preppy and studied when they should be full of fire and hot blood." Dusted, on the other hand, says Challengers simply doesn’t stack up to the solo work of the band’s members, and is instead nothing more than "perfectly pleasant, mildly intelligent pop." Pitchfork actually thinks it is too much like the solo work of one member in particular–AC Newman–and suggests that "the spark of creative collaboration may be gone from the New Pornographers." The Boston Globe agrees, faulting Newman’s songs for being "a bit anemic, and occasionally forced, and worst of all, disposable." And Stylus notes a "sense of something missing," adding, "For once, a clutch of New Pornographers songs, however well-constructed, just isn’t enough."

There’s something to delight and perplex in almost every track on Challengers, an elegant and daring album that deserves to push The New Pornographers from cult favourites to mainstream success.

- Andy Gill, The Independent

Review roundup

Tracklisting and media

1. My Rights Versus Yours
   
2. All the Old Showstoppers
3. Challengers
4. Myriad Harbour
   
5. All the Things That Go to Make Heaven and Earth
6. Failsafe
7. Unguided
8. Entering White Cecilia
9. Go Places
10. Mutiny, I Promise You
11. Adventures in Solitude
12. The Spirit of Giving

Also on the web

• Official Artist Site
• New Pornographers @ Matador
• New Pornographers @ MySpace