Indie rockers New Pornographers stuck in a rut, but an enjoyable one
Published 11:16 pm Saturday, May 1, 2010
Indie rock supergroup the New Pornographers releases its fifth album, “Together,” on Tuesday.
TRIVIA: The group includes Neko Case, a former Tacoma resident whose alt-country solo career found her last album, “Middle Cyclone,” debuting at No. 3 on the Billboard 200.
STANDOUTS: Case takes the lead on the album’s first single, “Crash Years,” an upbeat take on a downbeat topic.
FANS DIG: Canada.
ANDY SAYS: Are the New Pornographers growing a bit stale? It’s hard not to ask the question listening to the group’s latest album. The group follows its usual pattern on “Together,” divvying up songwriter chores among Carl Newman and Dan Bejar, with Case stepping in to sing lead on occasion. The album, with its esoteric lyrics and charming hooks, is entirely enjoyable but also a little too familiar.
GRADE: B-minus
Andy Rathbun: 425-339-3455, arathbun@heraldnet.com
