The New Music

The New Pornographers Together [Last Gang]

The New Pornographers have always been that other Canadian indie rock supergroup, a status that has been completely magnified this of all weeks thanks to the simultaneous release of our nation’s “premiere” indie rock supergroup, Broken Social Scene. But as the New York Times failed to prove, there’s nothing between the two bands other than the fact that they both contain a number of musicians from many other bands.

While a band like BSS has the capacity to expand their sound to go just about anywhere (see the rapping cameo by K-OS on their 2005 self-titled album), the allure of The New Pornographers is in the songwriting craft (primarily the yin and yang styles of Carl Newman and Dan Bejar), the melodic prowess and, of course, the company involved. They’re a sophisticated power pop group not meant for reinvention or any real type of sonic evolution. But despite a few hiccups on 2008’s lacklustre effort, Challengers, they’ve bounced back with Together.

The title seems fitting, especially considering even more bodies are present: Beirut’s Zach Condon, St. Vincent’s Annie Clark, Okkervil River’s Will Sheff and the horn section of the Daptones all play a role. The expansion really pays off for the Pornos. “Moves” comes out stringing, with an orchestra matching the sweet, crunching guitars and plucking piano, while “A Bite Out of My Bed” drops some horn tracks into the mix ever so slightly.

But resorting to orchestral arrangements, horn players and filling up the guest list isn’t what sells this fifth album by the band. In the end it’s those subtle staples of theirs, like the whistling hooks on the Neko Case-led “Crash Years,” the placidity of the ridiculously named “Valkyrie in the Roller Disco,” and the purist harmonies on Dan Bejar’s “Silver Jenny Dollar,” that demonstrate The New Pornographers’ reign as the elder statesmen and women of modern day power pop is still very much intact.

Rating: B+

-Cam Lindsay