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[unpopularblargh]

It's pretty damn good. The title track is easily the stand-out so far. Anyone else listen to it yet? Also how cool is it that all three major Canadian indie staples (the other two being Arcade Fire and Broken Social Scene) have new albums out this year so soon one after the other?

Edit: The album did come out in April so this is sort of a LTTP thread.



Pitchfork:

So it’s notable that, as the New Pornographers inch ever-closer to the sound of a John Hughes soundtrack, they prove to be almost apologetically devoid of vanity themselves. (They still shrug off that they’re a “supergroup” despite A.C. Newman, Neko Case, and Dan Bejar’s considerable individual fame.) Whiteout Conditions packs the most blanket pep of the power-pop group’s seven albums, dense with that particular new wave brand of electronic two-for-one—insistent, tinny arpeggio synths pinpricking rich, sweeping base chords.

Consequence of Sound:

For many, their previous effort, Brill Bruisers, marked a strong return to power-pop form after a mellower turn on a few albums (Challengers and Together) that some found underwhelming after the technicolor triumph of 2005’s Twin Cinema. Whiteout Conditions shares much of the sonic palette of its predecessor, with most of the songs having a kind of taut sound that resembles recent work by The Strokes and Phoenix more than the NPs of yore. But the closest analog might be Electric Light Orchestra, with peppermint swirls of synth, crunchy guitars, vocal effects, and occasional bursts of faux-orchestral strings and horns,

NOW Toronto:

There was a moment after the New Pornographers released their third album, 2005’s Twin Cinema, when it felt like the Vancouver supergroup would spend the rest of their days making album after album of near-perfect power-pop.

But the band lost some spark by the time they got to 2007’s lifeless Challengers. It didn’t fully return for 2010’s Together either. Had this funk occurred early on in their career, they might've folded and gone their separate ways, but the New Pornos were lucky enough to reach a third act.

With the release of 2014’s Brill Bruisers, they regained their mojo by going “sparklier and faster,” while utilizing synthesizers as more of a songwriting tool. Now their seventh album, Whiteout Conditions, finds the band exploring synths even further, as well as non-traditional rock drumming. Lead Porno Carl Newman has described the new sound as “bubblegum Krautrock” and it’s an accurate tag.

The Guardian:

Since 2014’s acclaimed Brill Bruisers, the Vancouver collective have lost founding drummer Kurt Dahle and (at least for now) songwriter Dan Bejar (also of Destroyer) and set up their own label, but the upheaval has simply changed their course slightly, rather than knocking them off it. Now, Carl Newman and Neko Case are singing together at least as much as separately, while new sticksman Joe Seiders brings his own motorik groove and drum machines. Newman has said that they were aiming to be the “Krautrock 5th Dimension”, and there’s definitely more of the latter in Whiteout Conditions’ exuberant pile-up of harmonies, hooks and powerpop.

The New Pornographers - Whiteout Conditions (Late Show w/Stephen Colbert Live Performance)

Broken Social Scene Thread
Arcade Fire Thread

A quick primer for the new arrivals:

Um, there are three Canadian supergroups (BSS, Arcade Fire, New Pornographers) to go with the three Canadian provinces (Ontario, Quebec, B.C., respectively). This is just science.

 

[Bernbaum]

More TNP! Awesome band.

 

[Gazunta]

Thanks for the heads up! Devouring now!

 

[Shaanyboi]

Oh shit!

 

[PingPongvonLaserstein]

I'm definitely in, but I kinda didn't love Brill Bruisers as much as everyone else seemed to. Certainly not as much as the rest of their catalogue.

 

[unpopularblargh]

I'm definitely in, but I kinda didn't love Brill Bruisers as much as everyone else seemed to. Certainly not as much as the rest of their catalogue.

This is a better album as a whole I feel. The first two tracks and the closing track especially.

 

[PingPongvonLaserstein]

This is a better album as a whole I feel. The first two tracks and the closing track especially.

Wow, this released a little while ago I guess. Damn, my schedule has me way out of the loop.

That's good to hear though, I'll try to give it a listen later today. Thanks for bringing it to my attention.

 

[unpopularblargh]

Wow, this released a little while ago I guess. Damn, my schedule has me way out of the loop.

That's good to hear though, I'll try to give it a listen later today. Thanks for bringing it to my attention.

No problem. I only found out about the album myself when a track from it randomly popped up on a Google Play stream a couple of weeks ago.

 

[Cymbal Head]

It's pretty good, but the lack of Bejar hurts the pacing, and I miss the Sonic variety + 1 or 2 standout numbers he usually contributes.

 

[EverythingShiny]

They're on tour right now, too. Just missed them when they came to town, but I've already seen them 5 times in concert so I wasn't too heartbroken. The new album is pretty great; not as good as some of the earlier ones but I like it more than Brill Bruisers for sure!

 

[CHC]

Didn't know they had a new one. I've always like their music, it's just pure and light and fun.

 

[espher]

I'll have to check it out. I enjoyed Together and Brill Bruisers was a miss for me so I guess I'm a bit of an anomaly.