CD Review

Is there anything that A.C. Newman touches that doesn’t turn to gold? While his 2004 debut Slow Wonder, wondered critics alike, his side project – indie supergroup The New Pornographers – continue to set the standard for ”retro-indie pop” on their third album, Twin Cinema. By throwing together pop rock's greatest moments in history through a blender. Newman along with three songs by Dan Bejar, embrace clever hooks with very little predictability.

Redhead Pornographer –In-Chief Newman, has enlisted another redhead, alt-county siren Neko Case, to once again ad a surprise element of mysticism to the mix of retro-pop indie. Two other woman add vocal duties on this version of TNP – Nora O’Connor and Kathryn Calder – making you guess how many people really are in this “supergroup.”

If the title of Twin Cimema is used to tie in with the band’s adulterated name, or perhaps a coy way of viewing the world through two different screens, it’s rather hard to decipher. With lyrics – “two sips from the cup of human kindness and I’m shitfaced,” the dark words mish-mash with the multi-hook, keyboard groove jamboree.

The album’s standout track, “The Bleeding Heart Show,” journeys from a placid folky opening, before bursting into a choral jubilee. Case, provides earnest vocals to “These Are The Fables,” with an acoustic guitar/piano feel that comes off as a tender meets jaded Joe Jackson compositon. Bejar contributes three songs including the psychedelic stomper “Jackie, Dressed in Cobras” and the folk rock sing-along anthem “Streets of Fire.” “Falling Through Your Clothes” shows the band can mix up simple straight ahead rockers alongside more busy multi-vocal compositions like “Star Bodies."

The fourteen tracks on Twin Cimema provide a little of everything including pump organ, harmonica, synthesizers, trumpet, mandolin, cello and even an ebow. If Twin Cinema suffers at all, it’s from sensory overload, but coming from a band called The New Pornographers, that’s not necessarily a bad thing. Count up another gold strike for A.C. Newman and Co.