The New Pornographers may have run out of ideas, but at least they had a great idea to start with. “Sweet Talk, Sweet Talk” is the kind of rollicking power pop song that made them famous, and they performed a nicely muscular version of it on Letterman last night. (via)
I think Frightened Rabbit have a unique sound. Even though they’re working within a framework, it doesn’t seem that unusual. Some bands can do that. They just reinvent the wheel. Then they make old things seem new.
A.C. Newman, of the New Pornographers, on his new favorite band. Can Frightened Rabbit please guest on the next Pornos record?
We laid down all the guitars shortly afterward and I did not think about it for a long time. Was this song too rock? Did it sound like something that we would do? We pretty much finished the entire album before we came back to it. I had nearly forgotten about it. When I listened to an early rough mix, I was shocked at how much I liked it. I had that perspective or objectivity that you get when you step away from a song and forget that you wrote it. It’s not like I thought it was “Like a Rolling Stone” or anything, but it really did rock. Full marks for rocking. It was enough for me. It made the cut.
New Pornographers front man Carl Newman, on the creation of Together standout “Your Hands (Together),” in Rolling Stone.
I have a few songs that people have tried to figure out and I have to tell them, ‘Actually, I just thought it sounded cool— there’s no such thing as a letter from an occupant.’
New Pornographers front man Carl Newman on his songwriting process, and why he admires Frightened Rabbit for their lyrics.
“Your Hands (Together),” the New Pornographers. As the lead single off the forthcoming Together, “Your Hands” is not, as Perpetua notes, another “Letter from an Occupant” or “The Laws Have Changed.” But it is a fun slice of power pop, with sharp boy-girl harmonies and a chorus you can sing along to. I’ll take it. (download) (track via perpetua)
I remember, we would take smoke breaks from practicing, and then I remember somebody playing Belle and Sebastian—’If You’re Feeling Sinister’ or ‘The Boy with the Arab Strap’—and thinking, God, these guys are so good, and we fucking suck. I remember thinking it was so demoralizing, and I was like, Why do we even try?
New Pornographers frontman A.C. Newman, on recording Mass Romantic, in Paste. See what I mean about great albums bringing bands to the breaking point? The Pornos were thinking that they sucked while they were recording “Letter from an Occupant” and “Mass Romantic,” for the love of God!
Joseph, Who Understood
by The New Pornographersfrom Spirit Of Giving EP
“Joseph, Who Understood,” the New Pornographers. I’m not sure this is quite a Christmas song — but it is about Joseph and Mary and the baby Jesus, so I’m posting it anyway. “Joseph, Who Understood” is a kind of wounded lament from the dude who thought he was J.C.’s father, only to learn rather late in the game that he would merely be His caretaker. That plaintive chorus, sung to his wife, gets me every time — ‘You’re asking me to believe in so many things.’ Which is pretty much my feeling about religious belief in general. That said: Merry Christmas! (download)
