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[Tom]

Forgot about this thread.

I was really (REALLY) disappointed with Challengers. I did end up waiting til the release date like I said I would, trucked myself down to the music shop, got it on glorious compact disc (ha) and sat myself down to listen. So so whelmed. Not overwhelmed like I wanted to be, like I thought I would be. Not underwhelmed, either; the tail end of the album picked things up a little. Just.....whelmed.

It isn't a terrible album. But it's a disappointment because it's boring. And after claiming this band as 'my all-time favourite' for most of high school....it bums me out.

kinda what i think of the dears and gang of losers.

[kablaaamo]

kinda what i think of the dears and gang of losers.

Aw, man, that one was a bummer too. NOTHING compared to No Cities Left.

[Tom]

kinda what i think of the dears and gang of losers.

Aw, man, that one was a bummer too. NOTHING compared to No Cities Left.

then u probably haven't heard:
Protest
Orchestral Pop Noir Romantique
End of a Hollywood Bedtime Story

I'm a big fan.

Also, it's kinda understandable that they release a whelming pop record after recording all that other stuff. lower the standard and beat within an inch of its life on the third. Well, at least I hope that's what's going on.

Gang of losers is a glossy Nor The Dahlias.

[Johnny C]

Hey! I've heard those other records but No Cities Left is their finest work by far.

[ScrambledGregs]

While I still haven't heard their debut, Challengers is easily my least favorite New Pornographers album. It's fairly unmemorable, and even the Dan Bejar songs--which were arguably some of the strongest they've done--are weak.

It's nice that they tried to change up their style, but ultimately the album is just an interesting failure.

[Johnny C]

Mass Romantic is a must-own album.

[Tom]

Unguided, now there was a mistake.

But seriously, the 3 B-sides that I've downloaded so far - Silent Systems, Fortune and Speed of Luxury - are actually pretty fukken good. Why one of these didn't replace Unguided, I will never know.

[Hat]

I dont know what you people are talking about with the B-sides. Challengers is certainly not a hugely energetic album as a whole, but these b-sides are far more tepid than anything on the album itself. Fortune might have sat nicely at the end of Twin Cinema maybe, but I'm just fucking bored listening to these songs, and I loved the laid back sound of Challengers.

[corwinzor]

You can't go wrong with a New Pornos record, even if from what you people are saying it's a change in direction. I tend to think this is a good thing. For what it's worth, I think Twin Cinema is my favorite, if only because the Bejar songs are so fucking good. 'Jackie, Dressed In Cobras' and 'Streets of Fire' are addictive power-pop so good they outdo all the AC Newman tracks, aside from maybe 'Sing Me Spanish Techno.'

I agree, Bejar's songs really make that record. 'Jackie, Dressed in Cobras' is such a brilliant song! The New Pornographers are also possibly the best live band I've ever seen. I love '70s and '80s power pop with a passion, so  I think it's pretty special that there is still a band out there who are playing in that style and making really solid albums.