Gregorian Award Nominee for Best Album 2007
The New Pornographers - Challengers

Riding a wave of three successively improving power-pop albums, Canada's "super group," The New Pornographers had raised the bar of expectations to the point where anything short of an audio version of the Mona Lisa would disappoint.

Frontman and primary songwriter, Carl Newman, clearly didn't feel the weight of expectations with the band's fourth release "Challengers" as he seemlessly moved their sound away from the tightly-constructed hook-laden, delirious power pop of the past to a more mature, wistful, soul-searching approach. A testament to the talent of the rest of the members of The New Pornographers is how easily they adapted with Newman and brought a familiar undercurrent of their sound to the slowed-down and breathable pop universe of Challengers.

The fact that Challengers doesn't attempt to build on the sizzlingly paced and ubertight songwriting approach of their past three albums confused and, sadly, even bored some of their fans and critics who took the change in pacing and energy level to be a sign of a band that was past its peak.

Nothing could be further from the truth.

One of the most notable joys of Challengers is how open and organic the songs are - wishing more to convey a myriad of subtle messages throughout the verses of the songs rather than layering hook over hook on its way to the chorus. The tracks are often tenderly fleshed out and the melody lines within the songs are more human and grounded with real emotions than their past albums.

A highlight for the committee is the title track of the album. Sung by the indomitable Neko Case, the intensity of the song lies not in the hooks but the gentle melodies and spaces in between the words, backed by vocals that highlight but do not overtake the song. There is essentially no chorus and Neko is much more subdued in her singing, which is usually boisteriously (and dazzlingly) sharp. But here she sings intimately to a lover, both of whom are involved with other people.

At the start of the second verse, a beautiful banjo starts plaintively playing in the background - it's one of those beautiful details of layering in a song that very movingly highlights an emotional core being worked toward from the outset. It's a sign of thoughtful and careful songwriting where the payoff isn't as cheap and thrilling but more, with careful listening, resonating and affecting.

This more breathable songwriting is found in the opening track "Your Rights Versus Mine," the epic "Unguided," the more carefree "Go Places, and the poignant "Adventures in Solitude."

Complementing Newman's more earnest and direct approach are the tracks from The New Pornographers other songwriter Dan Bejar. Bejar, who is also the lead singer/songwriter of Canada's sadly underrated Destroyer, is always a bit more eccentric in approach than Newman.

Interestingly enough, his adaptational moves work perfectly with Newman's. Most noticeably and memorable is the song "Myriad Harbor," which is a far more lyrically accessible song from Bejar and equally humorous and off-beat. Again like many of Newman's tracks, Bejar's songs are more compelling in the verses than the chorus which serves more as an afterthought.

In "Myriad Harbor" Bejar sings interactively with Case and Kathryn Caldwell as he describes his feelings of loss and confusion walking around the city of New York. Both humorously endearing and poignant, "Myriad Harbor" shines as Bejar's best contribution to The New Pornographer's canon to date - which is saying a lot.

And while much of the album is a more slowed-down, reflective and mature production, it is not without many of their trademark power pop tracks. Whizz-bang songs like "All the Things That Go To Make Heaven and Earth" and the catchy "Mutiny, I Promise You," are infectiously paced and laced with hooks and memorable rhythms, which reminds the listener that the band can still turn out a butt-kicking tune when they want.

It's just that it appears that Newman and company are wanting to take the time and fill in the details of a richly lived universe of pop and circumstance.

The New Pornographers - "Challengers"