Challengers | 
| Manufacturer: Matador
Category: Digital Music Album
Buy New: $6.99
Rating:  48 reviews
Sales Rank: 577
Genre: pop-music
Media: MP3 Download
Running Time: 0
ASIN: B000UUBLOE
Release Date: August 21, 2007
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Customer Reviews: Read 43 more reviews...
 Erratic, but truly stellar in places September 26, 2008
I was introduced to NPs by someone who was way more into indie music than me, but since I was way more into her than she was into me, I tried hard to like them, but I just couldn't stand most of their earlier work. Now, a couple of years later, Challengers falls into my lap, and I can't get enough of it.
That's not true. I can't stand what I consider the more manic stuff on here, like Myriad Harbour, All The Things, Entering White Cecilia, and Mutiny. They scream at me as I rush to turn the sound down.
However...
My Rights Versus Yours, Challengers, Go Places, and particularly Unguided have poignant and rich lyrics that gain more meaning to me after continued listening. They're wrapped in nicely layered sound that just reverberates around my car when I'm listening to them. I listened to a preview of the title track before I bought it and was really sucked in, ended up buying the entire album. Now all four of these tracks are in my top 25 most played on my iPod in the last three years, and I've only owned them for one!
I hope I don't offend the diehards - not my intention! This is just an opinion of a curious listener. I continue to be intrigued by this album that has four of my favorite songs and four of my least favorite in one place. And regardless, it was WELL worth the purchase.
 Eclectic and Creative September 15, 2008
This was my first New Pornographers CD purchase. I bought it for my husband, and was looking for new and interesting music. We both love this CD and listen to it over and over. Each song sounds so different as they utilize 4 different lead singers and many different styles. I enjoy all the songs, but I think my 2 favorite are "Go Places" and "Myriad Harbor"---which are completely opposite songs! What a creative CD! With songs that are both fun, upbeat, slow, and beautiful. Nothing is boring!
Loved it the first time through! June 20, 2008
I learned about this group/CD in an NPR interview, of all things. I liked what I heard and ordered the CD - A great impulse decision! I fell in love with the songs the first time I played through the CD. I'm not a music snob or anything, so I can't think of anything clever to say about it - I just like it!
 Pornographic? Hardly! April 19, 2008
0 out of 2 found this review helpful
These musicians are pretty good and the songs on CHALLENGERS are simple but extremely melodic. There's a fair amount of variation between them, as a few of them rock out a bit while others are more subdued and stately. The emphasis here is on vocal melody and voices singing in harmony. Overall, the music is a bit too twee and sing-songy for my tastes, but listening with an objective ear, I can tell why people like it. If you like, say, the Beach Boys PET SOUNDS (which I don't), you'll probably go for this.
What I don't get is why this band would call themselves The New Pornographers. There's nothing pornographic, raunchy or even "racey" about them. It's a very misleading name. the only thing I can think of is that they wanted a name well off the beaten path that will ensure their status as an "underground" band in order to maintain their "indie" cred. In the meantime, their name probably turns off a lot of people who would ordinarily like their music but would prefer not to hear anything having to do with "pornography." More astute music fans won't be so easiliy put off - in fact, one of my favorite albums, The Cure's PORNOGRAPHY, has virtually nothing to do with x-rated films. Robert Smith, the Cure's mastermind, gave that album its title to reflect the album's turmoil and depressive aspects - he in fact abhored pornography. Still, I can't help thinking that this other wise decent band chose a monumentally stupid name to call themselves.
 I just didn't get it.........recomend the new Poi Dog Pondering "7" CD April 16, 2008
0 out of 3 found this review helpful
Too be honest....I just don't get it....a blend of numerous influences and styles, but they just never seem to quite blend...hard to describe and it's a worthwile listen....however if you want to hear a band blend various influences from Jam, to Jazz, to Grunge, to Americana Folk...check out the '7' CD from Poi Dog Pondering......truly amazing
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