 | ||||||||||||||
|
A.C. Newman (of the New Pornographers)
with guests:Harriet 
|
|
|||||||||||||
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. 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.
|
||||||||||||||
