JennJoy's Full Review: Mass Romantic [Remaster] by The New Pornographers
Most people of my friends don’t know it, but I used to be an 80’s pop music junkie. Back then I used to hide my little infatuation behind lots of metal, ska and punk and I rarely told a soul about it. Though my tastes have changed drastically as an adult and I don’t have any of my 80’s albums anymore, I can still remember the words to most 80’s songs that were ever played on the radio and sing along enthusiastically whenever I hear one.
Before anything else I heard the title track from The New Pornographers album “Mass Romantic” and was instantly hooked on it. The big draw for me was that the song sounds like a grown up version of the 80’s pop I loved so much. The second draw was Neko Case, who I had heard so many good things about but had never heard before.
So when I got around to buying the 2000 release a few months ago I was expecting a few things based on this one song: I figured the whole record would be full of infectious pop and that Neko Case would provide the vocals, just like on the title track.
Because of these preconceived notions, I was not prepared for what “Mass Romantic” held in store for me—and my heady glee over the title track nearly dissipated when I listened to the whole album. It is filled with pop and rock music, but some of it hits the mark while some of it just peters out and leaves me rolling my eyes. Neko doesn’t provide lead vocals on all the songs and the band splits up the lead/background vocals up pretty evenly. These things have clearly impacted my overview of “Mass Romantic” and I unfortunately haven’t been able to get past this.
The New Pornographers is essentially one in a long line of side projects for its members. The album was recorded in bits and pieces over a few years due to the members’ commitments elsewhere and in the liner notes they claim to not even entirely remember who played what among the variety of people who contributed to the album in some way. The main members include:
Blaine Thurier on keyboards (writer and director of the film Low Self Esteem Girl)
Carl Newman on guitar and vocals (Also of Zumpano and Superconductor)
Dan Bejar on guitar and vocals (Also of Destroyer)
John Collins on bass (Also of The Evaporators and Thee Goblins)
Kurt Dahle on Drums and vocals (Also of Limblifter)
Neko Case on vocals (Also of Maow, The Corn Sisters, and Neko Case & Her Boyfriends)
There are a few songs on “Mass Romantic” that I absolutely adore. The title track tops the list for me, of course, with it’s upbeat guitars and new-wave sound provided by the twirling keyboards. The “do do’s” and in the background give it an early surf-rock appeal and Neko’s vocals are the perfect accompaniment. The song throws out a few structural spins that keep it from becoming too repetitive like most current pop music. Favorite lyrics: Bon Appetit you’ve eaten me alive you realize this is not the way. In my opinion, this song is pop music in one of its finest moments.
“Slow Descent into Alcoholism” follows in the same pop vein with driving drums and rhythm guitar punctuated by the ever-present keyboards. The whirling guitars and percussion are interrupted throughout in a perfect stop/start form that fuels the progression of the track. Neko only provides backup vocals here, but Carl Newman does a good job of providing the lead.
“Letter From an Occupant” brings Neko Case’s beautiful voice back to the foreground in a vocal hailstorm of a perfect pop siren swagger. The lighthearted back beat and lots of “woo woo’s” thrown in the mix give the song boogie appeal that reminds me of the Go-Go’s plus a little something extra.
I really wish I could gush about how this album is a masterpiece of pop and rock music. Too a lot of people, this is probably exactly what “Mass Romantic” is and The New Pornographers surely deserve it. However, I just can’t get over my thoughts on the band and their music based on the one song I heard before the rest of the album. With this in mind, I can heartily recommend The New Pornographers to fans of pop music, particularly 80’s pop. Those people will surely find this to be a five star album like so many music critics out there, while I can only give it three stars.
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