Customer Reviews

Slow Wonder

5 star:		(17)
4 star:		(10)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I wish this album wasn't so good, you see I have a bet with some of my friends, I say that Bejar is the great Genius of the New Pornographers, they all say Newman is. Well, I was hoping this album would be just pleasent, maybe hook filled, but in the end not as good as the New Pornographers records because it lacked the Bejar songs. But then I was wrong, this album is better than either Mass Romantic or Electric Version. The hooks are better the lyrics are better, heck even the singing is better. Gone are some of Carl's overproduction tactics (It is still layered, but it seems, added are trumpets, recorders, cellos, and people whistling.) These songs are darker, sharper and are more rock than pop. Slow Wonder starts with a driving drum beat and the first great hook of the record in the song Miracle Drug (Performed on The McEnroe Show Sept 1.). "Drink to Me Babe Then" slows it all down a notch, adding Whistles, a light keyboard, and organ. On the Table is the first Perfect song on the record, Piano that brings to mind something on Destroyer's "Streethawk a Seduction", but added are female backup vocals and subtle guitar hook. I'm not going to go through every song, because it is all more of the same (not repeated, but fantastic), I will say that my fav on the record is Come Crash, with it's constant crashing cymbols, slow sad hook, and trumpet solo.

If you love the New Pornographers (Newman is their unannounced band leader) but would occassionally like something a bit more introspective and chilled out then this could very well be what you're after.

Carl Newman has a way with a melodic hook and a pop reference that is utterly unique.

Without fail, my response to his work goes something like this: First listen - everything seems pleasantly hard to grasp, but there are one or two songs (always different for each listener) that instantly hooks you. For me, on this album it was - 'The Battle for Straight Time'.

Next step - play that song to death. While drilling this track, you accidently hear other tracks from the album again - "damn, that's catchy, why didn't I notice that before? - possibly better than my favorite track". And so it goes on, and on, and on... Eventually, you're in raptures and you've even learnt how to hear music a little differently.

This album has a variety of laid back, edgy, insanely catchy riffs and progressions.

Although he draws on a subconscious library of pop music references that are detailed and eclectic, he is able to turn the songs into personal statements.

They're always ever so slightly twisted to make them unique to Newman's particular style of presentation. He also has a great way of processing and altering his vocals to fit each song perfectly.

At the moment, I can't stop listening to 'The Town Halo' (a new millenium take on T-Rex), and the beautiful, dispassionately powerful 'Come Crash' but I'm sure tomorrow I'll be rotating two different tunes from this album.

It is an altogether more personal and soul baring outing than anything he does with the New Porno's. In that sense it's a legitimate exercise as a solo album.

Music this literate and melodic doesn't come along often. I hope Newman continues to grow and explore. There's no limit to what he might discover.

Where this one fits: The Slow Wonder follows the New Pornographers' Mass Romantic and Electric Version, but precedes Twin Cinema. It is the transition from the frenetic power-pop of the first two NP albums and the deeper, more timeless quality of their latest. Without the burden of the NP "sound" to live up to, Newman stretches, writes ballads and Pink Floyd-y space out songs (though always concise), and if anything gets more Pet Sounds-like in his musical arrangements (the gorgeous trumpet on "Come Crash," the driving, rhythmic cello on "Town Halo").

Newman is, quite obviously, very prolific and his batting average is stunningly high. It's okay with me if he mixes in solo albums with his NP output, using them as places to experiment with new kinds of songs that he thinks maybe his NP fans won't cotton to.

But this album is full of hits, just as melodic and with just as many "how does he do that?" high-wire assemblages of melody, rhythm and arrangement as the NP delivers. If you like the New Pornographers, you'll be joyous at hearing "On the Table," "Mystery Drug," "Secretarial" and my favorite "The Town Halo." A.C. Newman is rapidly becoming the most valuable pop artist on the planet, a keeper of the great tradition of pop/rock songwriters that has nearly died out.

With 'The Slow Wonder,' Carl Newman effortlessly trumps all of his prior work. It's a brilliant pop album that will have you singing along after just one listen and will stay with you for years to come. If you've enjoyed either of the two New Pornographers albums, don't hesitate to pick this up.

Pop music needs more songwriters like Carl Newman.

I love power pop...but not "lo-fi"...it all sounds "unfinished" to me. So it was with some trepidation that I borrowed this album on the Matador label...previously known to me as a "lo-fi" label enamoured with the "less is more" aesthetic. Luckily, this one does not suffer that fate.

There's bite to the guitars, the hooks are big and full, and it just ends up sounding pretty fabulous. I'll admit I've not heard the New Pornographers, but knowing that Newman was from that band (as "Carl Newman") I'll now have to try and dig up some of their stuff as well.

HIGHLIGHTS:
"Miracle Drug" is a soaring 2 minute blast whose sunniness belies its tale of an aspiring author who turns to drug dealing when he can't get published. Legal indictment "On the Table" is another crisp power pop anthem. ("On the table/the deal between the thieves and exits/Common and breathless/shrugging at what they've become/number one...") "Come Crash" is a winsome number apparently about a man and woman involved in a serious car wreck that decide kismet has destined their survival. ("'That's luck', she said,'we should be dead.'/We eyed the wreck. 'Good god', we said/She plants one kiss/for the road/on my chest/Sirens came after we left") "The Town Halo" uses a brisk cello to underlay its verses and bridges. That, coupled along with high doubled "aaaaahhhh" vocals, make it seem almost like brand new E.L.O. (think early period rather than the more Bee Gees inflected later period stuff). It's the saga of a "hometown girl" become celeb. ("Up through the crystal/raised on mythology/She winds her way from truth to apology...")

LOWS:
"Battle for Straight Time" is decent musically but there's no real hook. (the title repeated four times doesn't qualify)

BOTTOM LINE:
Power pop fans, don't let the fact this is on Matador scare you off. This isn't thin angsty "college rock"...it's blissful slices of 3 minute pop heaven. If you have some Raspberries, Big Star, and Jellyfish albums on your shelf and you're looking for something new, definitely give this one a try.

3 1/2 stars

When I picked this up, I was excited because I thought that it would be a departure from the New Pornagraphers, and I was excited to hear what Carl Newman had up his sleeve. Upon the first listen I was disappointed, it sounded like a rehash of the New Pornagraphers without Neko Case's fabulous voice, or Dan Bejar's experimentation. It did not listen to it again for some time.

Then something magical happened. I put it into rotation on my ipod and gave the songs a second listen. The slowly infected my conciousness and I gave the entire album another listen. I was not disappointed, but I still wasn't overly thrilled. However, the more I listened, the more it became something I had to listen to. Now, it may have become a 'desert island' album for me. (Although, given that scenario I hope I have my ipod and my solar charger!)

This album lives up to its name. It is a 'Slow Wonder'. Slow to appreciate, but a wonder to behold.

Except for the lovely ballad "Come Crash", A.C. Newman's solo album could easily pass for a New Pornographers album. John Collins and Dave Carswell are on board, and Sarah Wheeler fills the Neko Case role on backup vocals. The guitars are not turned up to their maximum legal crunchiness here, and there's less keyboard, but otherwise the sound is very similar. Some of the rhythms have been done before--for example, "On the Table" sounds a lot like "The Electric Version". But overall, the songs are still catchier than they have any right to be. My favorites are "Miracle Drug", "Drink to Me, Babe, Then", "Come Crash", and "The Town Halo". Yours may be different, because there isn't a bad cut on the album.

(1=poor 2=mediocre 3=pretty good 4=very good 5=phenomenal)

Carl Newman, the frontman for The New Pornographers, follows up the huge success of "Electric Version" and "Mass Romantic" with his debut solo album "The Slow Wonder." Newman shows that he is not only a talented rock artist, but has great singer/songwriter talent too. All the hooks and pop melodies of his group work are here, but toned down and more personal. The result is a fantastic album that proves to be one of the year's best solo efforts.

Carl Newman is a pop genius. Every album from Zumpano, New Pornographers, to this solo album has been nothing less than remarkable. One has to wonder when he is going to run out of gas and fortunately this solo album is not the time. The Slow Wonder could possibly be Newman's best work, which is saying an awful lot. The album has more of a Zumpano feel than New Porn feel, although the work stands out as unique from anything he has ever done. The tempos on the songs are slower pace than what were used to hearing from him, which is interesting to hear how Newman handles ballads. Thankfully, it's pulled off marvelously. 'Drink To Me, Babe, Then', 'Come Crash', and 'The Cloud Prayer' are absolutely gorgeous pop ballads. The uptempo songs are among the best he's written. 'Miracle Drug', 'On the Table', and 'The Town Halo' are the stand out toe tappers and the only three tracks that might remind you of The New Pornographers. The album is very cohesive and flows together effortlessly. When the album is over you'll have to resist from wanting to press play again for the twentith time. Very addicting pop music that does not get old, just like everything else Newman has been involved with. My only complaint, the album is too damn short. Clocking in at 33 minutes, it leaves you craving for more. Sure, the album could have used one or two more songs but this is a very minor complaint given how awesome this album is. I eagerly await the next New Pornographer album that is rumored to be released by the end of the year and I very much hope that Newman continues his solo career as well.

Carl Newman has been the creative core of two truly great bands, the late, great Zumpano and his current band, The New Pornographers. The latter is one of the most amazing acts of recent years, a band whose members were active in other bands but were recruited to be in what could be considered an indie rock super group. There is simply not another alternative band in the world with the instrumental chops and overall professionalism that grace The New Pornographers. While the writing credits for the Pornographers is left somewhat vague, everyone pretty much knows that Carl Newman is the main songwriter, as well as guitarist and co-lead singer (though there is no question The New Pornographers would be even better if Newman gave the full time singing duties to Neko Case, one of the truly great voices around).

Is this solo project as good as a New Pornographer project? By no conceivable means. On the one hand Newman has saved most of his best material for those albums and on the other THE SLOW WONDER, while performed with extreme competency, does not possess the level of musicianship that make the Pornographer albums so musically astonishing. If you listen to any of the three Pornographer albums and then this one, you will instantly be struck by how much simpler and less complex THE SLOW WONDER is. Not that it is simple compared to other performers. It is just that his band already has about the best group of musicians around, capable of astonishing virtuosity, and the people playing here aren't quite as sharp.

Nonetheless, THE SLOW WONDER pretty much proves who the heart of The New Pornographers is, if there had been any doubt. The album radiates with the great pop songs and amazing hooks that permeates the three Pornographer albums. "On the Table" has very nearly the wall-of-sound aura that graces most Pornographer songs and possesses all of the hooks. Same with "The Battle for Straight Time," which seems incapable of progressing more than a few measures without injecting fresh hooks. And I really love the weirdly unexpected guitar line that comes after Newman offers Christine a floor to crash on in "Come Crash."

One thing this album certainly does is make clear that Carl Newman is one of the truly great pop songwriters working today. In fact, the only person I would definitely rate above him would be Stuart Murdoch of Belle and Sebastian, and even then I'm not sure that Murdoch today is better than Newman today (6 years ago is a different matter). It also whets one's appetite for anything Newman does, whether with the Pornographers or on a solo project. He has in his various bands and now on this album produced as strong a body of work as anyone in music. The man is a force.