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by Karin Bubas |
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You
might know A.C. Newman as Carl Newman, the spry redheaded leader
of The New Pornographers. That band puts Newman’s brilliant
songs in the hands of a varied crew of insanely talented pals;
with 'The Slow Wonder,' Newman’s own talents take center
stage, showcasing him as a classic, if eccentric, songwriter,
part of a lineage that includes Ray Davies, Johnny Rivers, Harry
Nilsson, Colin Blunstone, Dave Edmunds, Andy Partridge, Wayne
Coyne, Ben Folds, Britt Daniel, or any other number of guys
he doesn’t exactly sound like but with whom Carl could
readily match wits.
A.C. Newman had a thrilling and prosperous life prior to 1992,
but felt he needed more when he joined the Vancouver BC pop/rock
act Zumpano. They recorded two albums for Sub Pop in 1995 and
1996 before essentially dropping out of music circles, though
no official breakup was ever announced. Neither grunge, post-rock,
“orch pop” nor any of the other flavors of the day,
Zumpano were highly regarded but maintained a low profile. This
changed when Newman resurfaced in 2000 with The New Pornographers,
a benevolent dictatorship - not unlike the American government
– though one which seeks to overturn existing social structures.
Their widely-hailed debut album 'Mass Romantic' brought overdue
attention to Newman’s craft, and in 2003, their second
album, 'Electric Version,' became an indie smash and topped
the year-end critics’ lists.
Now, for the first time, Newman’s out on his own, and
the results are predictably stunning. 'The Slow Wonder' has
a beautifully open and uplifting feel, even as its lyrics often
subvert the sunny vibe. Musically, too, the melodies and arrangements
take unexpected detours which give the songs more depth with
each listen. In contrast to the nonstop anthemic steamroll of
The New Pornographers, 'The Slow Wonder' is full of space and
surprise. There’s a sentimental streak in the soaring
epic “Secretarial” and gorgeous ballad “Cloud
Prayer” (complete with trumpet solo). Elsewhere, “Miracle
Drug” is a wickedly frisky guitar number, and “The
Battle For Straight Time” could be the next New Pornos
hit, while “Better Than Most” dials the clock back
to Graham Parker’s late-70s quirks.
Though we can't change the past, we'll settle for changing the
future. 'The Slow Wonder' is 34 minutes of the best power pop
you’ve heard, an incredible breath of fresh air in a hostile
era for genuine hand-crafted music. |
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THE
SLOW WONDER
MATADOR RECORDS
2004 |
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