The New Pornographers

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The New Pornographers
The band onstage
The New Pornographers at Prospect Park Bandshell, July 11, 2015
Background information
OriginVancouver, British Columbia, Canada
GenresIndie rock, power pop, post-punk revival
Years active1997–present
Labels
Associated acts
Websitethenewpornographers.com
Members
Past members

The New Pornographers are a Canadian indie rock band, formed in 1997 in Vancouver, British Columbia. Presented as a musical collective of singer-songwriters and musicians from multiple projects, the band has released eight studio albums to critical acclaim for their use of multiple vocalists and elements of power pop incorporated into their music.

History[]

The New Pornographers' name was chosen by Carl Newman, who has said that he came up with it after watching a Japanese film called The Pornographers.[1] The band has released eight albums to date: Mass Romantic (2000), Electric Version (2003), Twin Cinema (2005), Challengers (2007), Together (2010), Brill Bruisers (2014), Whiteout Conditions (2017), and In the Morse Code of Brake Lights (2019). A live album recorded on their 2006 tour is available only at concerts and on the band's website. In 2005, the band was the subject of Reginald Harkema's documentary film Better Off in Bed.[2]

The New Pornographers' first four albums each placed in the top 40 on The Village Voice's Pazz & Jop year-end poll of hundreds of music reviewers. From 2000 to 2006, either a New Pornographers' album or a solo album from one of the band's members ranked in the top 40 on the list each year.[3] In 2007, Blender magazine ranked the New Pornographers' first album, Mass Romantic, the 24th best indie album of all time.[4] In 2009, Rolling Stone magazine ranked the band's second studio album, Electric Version, No. 79 in the "100 Best Albums of the Decade".[5]

All of the New Pornographers' original members were prominent within the Vancouver music scene prior to forming the band. Kathryn Calder, who is also Newman's niece, joined the band in 2005 largely as a live replacement for Neko Case, whose solo career often left her unavailable to perform with the band. Calder's first lead vocals for the band were on 2007's Challengers, singing the lead on "Failsafe" and sharing the lead with Newman on "Adventures in Solitude".[citation needed]

In 2009, the New Pornographers contributed a cover of the Destroyer song "Hey, Snow White" to the AIDS benefit album Dark Was the Night, produced by the Red Hot Organization. The band released their fifth album, Together, on May 4, 2010, on Matador Records. The album includes collaborations from St. Vincent, Beirut's Zach Condon, and Okkervil River's Will Sheff.[6]

In 2012, the New Pornographers contributed a cover of the song "Think About Me" for the Fleetwood Mac tribute CD called Just Tell Me That You Want Me released by Hear Music. The band's sixth album, Brill Bruisers, was released on August 26, 2014.[7] The album was their highest charting to date in the United States, peaking at #13 on the Billboard 200.[8]

On January 26, 2017, the New Pornographers announced their seventh album, Whiteout Conditions, would be released on April 7. The album was preceded by the single "High Ticket Attractions".[9] The album is the first to feature drummer Joe Seiders as a full-time member after replacing drummer Kurt Dahle in mid-2014. It is also the first New Pornographers album to not feature Dan Bejar.[10] Newman, however, went on the record to note that Bejar's absence did not mean he had left the band entirely; telling Stereogum:

he [Bejar] was right in the middle of doing a Destroyer record... [w]hich was something we’d narrowly skirted for our whole career. I’m always amazed that we managed to. Sometimes we avoided Destroyer, sometimes Destroyer avoided us, but eventually we hit at the same time. It wasn’t anything weird.[11]

On November 29, 2018, A.C. Newman announced via Twitter that he had begun work on a future New Pornographers album.[12] On August 2, 2019, the band announced via Twitter that it would release its new album, In the Morse Code of Brake Lights, on September 27, and released its first single from the album, "Falling Down the Stairs of Your Smile".[13] In a press release for the album, Dan Bejar is described as a "former (and possibly future) member" of the band. The new press photos for the band include vocalist/violinist Simi Stone, officially inducting her into the band after being an auxiliary touring member since 2015.

In July 2021, the band announced a North American tour where they would play Mass Romantic and Twin Cinema in full across simultaneous nights, as well as a reissue of Mass Romantic on vinyl. This announcement also confirmed the return of Bejar to the band, as well as the departure of both Thurier and Stone.[14]

Members[]

Current members

Members' other projects in brackets

Former members

Former touring members

  • Lindsay "Coco" Hames – vocals, percussion, acoustic guitar (the Ettes) (2014)

Timeline[]

Discography[]

Studio albums[]

Title Details Peak chart positions
CAN
[8] 		UK
[16] 		US
[17]
Mass Romantic
  • Released: November 21, 2000
  • Label: Mint
  • Formats: CD, LP
 — — —
Electric Version
  • Released: May 6, 2003
  • Label: Mint/Matador
  • Formats: CD, LP
 — — 196
Twin Cinema
  • Released: August 23, 2005
  • Label: Mint/Matador
  • Formats: CD, LP
 — — 44
Challengers
  • Released: August 21, 2007
  • Label: Matador
  • Formats: CD, LP
 — 156 34
Together
  • Released: May 4, 2010
  • Label: Matador
  • Formats: CD, LP
 14 168 18
Brill Bruisers
  • Released: August 26, 2014
  • Label: Matador
  • Formats: CD, LP, Cassette
 14 132 13
Whiteout Conditions 82 — 35
In the Morse Code of Brake Lights
  • Released: September 27, 2019
  • Label: Concord Music Group
  • Formats: CD, LP
 — — 144
"—" denotes a release that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

Live albums[]

  • Live Session (iTunes Exclusive) (2005)
  • Live! (2006)
  • LIVE from SoHo (iTunes Exclusive) (2008)

Singles[]

Title Year Peak chart positions Album
CAN
Rock
[18] 		AUT
[19] 		US
AAA
[20] 		US
Rock
Air
[21] 		MEX
Air
[22] 		UK
[16]
"Letter From an Occupant"[23] 2002 — — — — — 139 Mass Romantic
"High Art, Local News"[24] 2005 — — — — — — Twin Cinema
"Twin Cinema"[25] — — — — — —
"Use It"[24] — — — — — —
"Sing Me Spanish Techno"[24] — — — — — —
"Challengers"[26] 2007 — — — — — — Challengers
"My Rights Versus Yours"[27] — — — — — —
"The Spirit of Giving"[28] — — — — — — Non-album single
"Myriad Harbour"[29] 2008 — — — — — — Challengers
"Mutiny, I Promise You"[30] — — — — — —
"Hey, Snow White"[31] 2009 — 46 — — — — Dark Was The Night
"Your Hands (Together)"[32] 2010 43 — — — 16 — Together
"Crash Years"[33] — — — — — —
"Togetherness"[24] — — — — — — Non-album single
"Moves"[34] 2011 — — — — — — Together
"Up In The Dark"[35] — — — — — —
"Brill Bruisers"[36] 2014 24 — — — — — Brill Bruisers
"War On the East Coast"[37] — — — — — —
"Dancehall Domine"[38] — — — — — —
"Champions of Red Wine"[39] 2015 — — — — — —
"High Ticket Attractions"[40] 2017 27 — 5 49 — — Whiteout Conditions
"This Is The World Of The Theatre"[41] — — — — — —
"Whiteout Conditions"[42] — — 24 — — —
"Falling Down the Stairs of Your Smile"[43] 2019 — — 12 — — — In the Morse Code of Brake Lights
"The Surprise Knock"[44] — — — — — —
"One Kind of Solomon"[45] — — — — — —
"—" denotes a release that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

Contributions with non-LP songs[]

Other Contributions[]

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ Handler, Shane (2005-11-01). "The New Pornographers: Canadian Blockbuster". Glide Magazine. Archived from the original on 2007-10-14. Retrieved 2007-09-27.
  2. ^ "Harkema's road rockumentary inspired by the Rolling Stones". Edmonton Journal, July 22, 2005.
  3. ^ "Pazz & Jop awards from". robertchristgau.com. Retrieved 2009-07-25.
  4. ^ "100 Greatest Indie-Rock Albums of all time, No. 30 – No. 21, from". Blender.com. 2007-11-15. Archived from the original on 2008-04-09. Retrieved 2009-07-25.
  5. ^ "Rolling Stone lists Top 100 of decade". CBC News. 2009-12-10. Retrieved 2 Oct 2010.
  6. ^ Lindsay, Andrew (22 Feb 2010). "The New Pornographers reveal album details". Stereokill.net. Archived from the original on 2010-05-28. Retrieved 1 Oct 2010.
  7. ^ Gordon, Jeremy (June 10, 2014). "The New Pornographers Announce New Album Brill Bruisers, Share Title Track, Tour". Pitchfork Media. Retrieved May 14, 2016.
  8. ^ Jump up to: a b "US Billboard Charts". Billboard. Retrieved 2009-07-14.
  9. ^ Helman, Peter (26 January 2017). "The New Pornographers – "High Ticket Attractions"". Stereogum. Retrieved 27 January 2017.
  10. ^ "New Pornographers Announce 'Whiteout Conditions' LP, Release 'High Ticket Attractions' Single". Spin. 27 January 2017. Retrieved 4 February 2017.
  11. ^ Leas, Ryan (17 March 2017). "Q&A: A.C. Newman On Canadian Healthcare, Dan Bejar, And The New Pornographers' Whiteout Conditions". Stereogum. Retrieved 13 April 2017.
  12. ^ "Carl Newman on Twitter". Twitter. Retrieved 2018-11-30.
  13. ^ "The New Pornographers Announce New Album, Share Lead Single". Rolling Stone, August 2, 2019.
  14. ^ Minsker, Evan. "The New Pornographers Announce Mass Romantic Reissue, Full Album Tour". Pitchfork. Pitchfork Media. Retrieved 14 July 2021.
  15. ^ "AC Newman on the last bit of the New Pornographers' 'Brill Bruisers' tour from". nuvo.net. Retrieved 2015-07-18.
  16. ^ Jump up to: a b "UK Chartlog: Nadanuf – Michael Nyman". zobbel.de. Retrieved 2009-07-14.
  17. ^ "The New Pornographers – Chart History: Billboard 200". Billboard. Retrieved June 3, 2021.
  18. ^ "The New Pornographers – Chart History: Canada Rock". Billboard. Retrieved June 3, 2021.
  19. ^ "The New Pornographers – Austrian Charts". austriancharts.at/. Retrieved June 3, 2021.
  20. ^ "The New Pornographers – Chart History: Triple A Airplay". Billboard. Retrieved June 3, 2021.
  21. ^ "The New Pornographers – Chart History: Rock Airplay". Billboard. Retrieved June 3, 2021.
  22. ^ "The New Pornographers – Chart History: Mexico Ingles Airplay". Billboard. Retrieved June 3, 2021.
  23. ^ "Letter From an Occupant > Overview". Allmusic. Retrieved 2009-04-16.
  24. ^ Jump up to: a b c d "Matador - The New Pornographers". Matador. Retrieved June 3, 2021.
  25. ^ "New New Pornographers: 'Twin Cinema'". Stereogum. Retrieved June 3, 2021.
  26. ^ "Challengers by The New Pornographers on Apple Music". Apple Music. Retrieved June 3, 2021.
  27. ^ "The New Pornographers – "My Rights Versus Yours"". Stereogum. Retrieved June 3, 2021.
  28. ^ "The Spirit of Giving - EP by The New Pornographers on Apple Music". Apple Music. Retrieved June 3, 2021.
  29. ^ "The New Pornographers – "Myriad Harbour"". Stereogum. Retrieved June 3, 2021.
  30. ^ "The New Pornographers – "Mutiny, I Promise You"". Stereogum. Retrieved June 3, 2021.
  31. ^ "The New Pornographers – "Hey, Snow White"". Stereogum. Retrieved June 3, 2021.
  32. ^ "Your Hands (Together) by The New Pornographers on Apple Music". Apple Music. Retrieved June 3, 2021.
  33. ^ "Crash Years - Single by The New Pornographers on Apple Music". Apple Music. Retrieved June 3, 2021.
  34. ^ "The New Pornographers – "Moves"". Stereogum. Retrieved June 3, 2021.
  35. ^ "Up In The Dark by The New Pornographers on Apple Music". Apple Music. Retrieved June 3, 2021.
  36. ^ "Future Releases on Triple A (AAA) Radio Stations". All Access Music Group. Archived from the original on 2014-07-27.
  37. ^ "War On the East Coast by The New Pornographers on Apple Music". Apple Music. Retrieved June 3, 2021.
  38. ^ "The New Pornographers – "Dancehall Domine"". Stereogum. Retrieved June 3, 2021.
  39. ^ "The New Pornographers – "Champions Of Red Wine"". Stereogum. Retrieved June 3, 2021.
  40. ^ "The New Pornographers Announce New Album Whiteout Conditions, Share "High Ticket Attractions"". Spin. 27 January 2017. Retrieved 29 January 2017.
  41. ^ "The New Pornographers – "This Is The World Of The Theater"". Stereogum. Retrieved June 3, 2021.
  42. ^ "Whiteout Conditions by The New Pornographers on Apple Music". Apple Music. Retrieved June 3, 2021.
  43. ^ "Falling Down the Stairs of Your Smile by The New Pornographers on Apple Music". Apple Music. Retrieved June 3, 2021.
  44. ^ "The New Pornographers Share New Song "The Surprise Knock": Listen". Stereogum. Retrieved June 3, 2021.
  45. ^ "The New Pornographers – "One Kind of Solomon"". Stereogum. Retrieved June 3, 2021.

External links[]

Retrieved from ""