Track Listing

1. Mass Romantic
2. Fake Headlines
3. Slow Descent into Alcoholism
4. Mystery Hours
5. Jackie
6. Letter from an Occupant
7. To Wild Homes
8. Body Says No
9. Execution Day
10. Centre for Holy Wars
11. Mary Martin Show
12. Breakin' the Law

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #32109 in Music
• Released on: 2003-10-07
• Number of discs: 1
• Formats: Original recording reissued, Original recording remastered
• Dimensions: .20 pounds

From Amazon.ca
Reigning Vancouver melody masters Carl Newman (of Zumpano) and Daniel Bejar (Destroyer) team up for a great debut full of sharp pop hooks and consistently solid performances. Rounding out this mini-supergroup is Limblifter's Kurt Dahle, the Evaporators's John Collins, cow-punk crooner Neko Case and, interestingly, independent filmmaker Blaine Thurier. Whereas Zumpano have made a name for themselves by updating classic '60s melodic pop, the New Pornographers draw on influences that are less specific, at times coming off as new wave refugees. Standout tracks--and there are many--include the disc's grinding, keyboard-driven title track, the bouncy, rollicking singalong "The Slow Descent into Alcoholism," and "Letter From an Occupant," which may just be one of the greatest Canadian pop singles ever written. --Chuck Molgat

An Amazon.ca Canadian Essential
The debut of this Vancouver indie supergroup led by Zumpano's Carl Newman sent critics scrambling to the early '80s and mid '60s for power-pop forebears, and it sent everyone else bouncing down the street and shouting out car windows. In a happily urgent record full of tight harmonies and cryptic storytelling, the high point undeniably remains the great single "Letter from an Occupant," which rides Neko Case's country-crooner voice nearly off the rails. --Tom Nissley

Customer Reviews

Ear candy
OK, this is like one of your parents reviewing the CD, most likely, but this music triggers memories of a lot of old bands that only us old folks remember. I don't care much for most of the overly-sanitized pop-rock of the last few years, but none of it sounds very much like this CD to me. The New Pornographers bring back the pseudo-psychedelic vocal harmonies of late 1960's AM pop music and use it in as original a way as one can when borrowing old ideas and mixing them with 21st century instrumentation and production. If you're old enough that the Vines or Hives evoke the early Kinks or Who, then you're old enough that the New Pornographers may evoke something more similar to a mad blend of the Cowsills, the Mamas and Papas, the Strawberry Alarm Clock, the Beach Boys, the Monkees, and a dozen one-hit wonders.

This CD does remind me of others who have invented new music with skills reminiscent of and perhaps superior to that of the Beatles, but who wound up on the ash heap of music history having gone from a year of respect to being jokes. Does anyone remember The Knack being compared to the Beatles way back when? Hearing this CD reminds me of hearing the early Bangles on a college radio station, back when they were an indie group with the 80's version, to many, of Beatle-esque skill in songwriting, playing, and singing. All that's left now may be "My Sharona" and "Walk Like an Egyptian" and bad VH1 specials, but there's something great about truly skilled pop musicians getting together and recording, whether they're ever appreciated for it or not. So those two bands reminded people of the Beatles at one time. The B-52's and Go-Go's reminded some of mid-1960's surf music, mutated in the new wave years. I can't name a band this CD sounds like - they manage to create their own unique sound even as they shamelessly appropriate sounds from my childhood.

What strikes me about "Mass Romantic" isn't Neko Case's voice, which I find unremarkable, or the lyrics, which are forgettable, but the brilliant use of harmony. The New Pornographers may be in the wrong time and place, but they deserve to be heard as remarkably talented musicians who have created at least one CD of some of the most original derivative music imaginable. Every song is worth listening to here; the music is perfectly and, I imagine, lovingly crafted. They may not be lyricists, but the sounds are as sweet as can be. I'd say it's worth the purchase price, even for a geezer.

Great album from a very underated band.
I first heard The New Pornographers on a Matador compilation and was imediately taken by their pop aesthetic. I guess it can be summed as traditional 3 minute upbeat power pop - but it is mixed with a sense of freedom and experimentation and can be quite exclectic at times without being contrived or self indulgent. This makes it quite unique. I would recomened this album to anyone who loves clever catchy guitar pop and is looking for something new to sink their ears into.

Pure goodness from the Pornographers
First,you'll be captivated by Neko's vocals in "Mass Romantic" and "Letter from an Occupant." Then you'll fall for other high energy songs like "The Body says no" and "The Slow descent into Alcoholism." Eventually you'll realize that the relatively unorthodox tunes like "Execution day" and "The Mary Martin Show" are your favorites.
With over-the-top layering the Mass Romantic Album will remind you of some old perky Brit-pop, but at the same time it is so original and flavorful that your musical palate will be tickled. If you ever enjoyed pop rock, you will be dazzled by this joyous romp from the New Pornographers. Easily one of the best albums of the past few years.