The New Pornographers emerged in 2000, a conglomerate of talent from nationally successful Canadian bands like Zumpano, Destroyer, and Limblifter. While A.C. Newman is the group’s main creative force, the band spotlighted Neko Case’s warm, sumptuous voice and Dan Bejar’s offbeat songs on a handful of tracks on each album.
The group had their winning formula in place right off the bat – upbeat songs with complex chord changes, ornate harmonies, and clever arrangements. You could categorise them as indie pop, power pop, or pop/rock, but if you’re a fan of intelligent, studio-crafted guitar pop, The New Pornographers are one of the leading exponents in the 21st century.
Here are The New Pornographers’ nine studio albums ranked from worst to best – bear in mind that they’ve never made a weak album, and all of their work is recommended:
The New Pornographers Albums: Ranked from Worst to Best
#9 Continue as a Guest
2023
I saw The New Pornographers live just as the Covid-19 pandemic was spreading over the globe in early March 2020. The pandemic affected the band just live everyone else – they created their ninth album working remotely. The change seems to have sucked some of the joy and energy out of the band – it’s their least consistent and least joyful album. The record has its moments – ‘Pontius Pilate’s Home Movies’ moves along on a strong groove and a memorable hook, while ‘Firework in the Falling Snow’ is pretty. But it’s the least essential New Pornographers album to date.
#8 Whiteout Conditions
2017
Whiteout Conditions was The New Pornographers’ first album not to feature Destroyer (aka Dan Bejar). It feels incomplete without the three quirky songs he usually contributes. But even their weakest album is worthwhile, updating their sound with more electronics, but not departing from their core strengths of melodic, harmony-filled songs. Tracks like ‘High-Ticket Attractions’ are still thrilling bursts of adrenaline.
#7 Together
2010
The New Pornographers persisted with the mellower sound of Challengers for their fifth album. Songs like ‘Valkyrie in the Roller Disco’ and ‘If You Can’t See My Mirrors’ are gentle and low key. Together is notable for the high number of guest appearances, including St. Vincent, Will Sheff, and Zach Condon, although the guest appearances are subdued enough not to overly influence the sound of the record.
#6 Mass Romantic
2000
I’m aware that this is the most controversial placement on this list, relegating the band’s popular debut to the bottom half of this list. Mass Romantic is full of creative songs that are much more sophisticated than the usual I IV V chord progressions of power pop. Compared to The New Pornographers’ later work it lacks stylistic variation – it’s relentlessly uptempo – and it’s bare without a lead guitarist. Songs like Case’s ‘Letter From An Occupant’ were enough to establish a successful career.
#5 Brill Bruisers
2014
I enjoyed the more mellow New Pornographers albums that preceded Brill Bruisers, but the return to a high energy approach is welcome here. The opening track is irresistibly upbeat and energetic, and Newman stated that “I am at a place where nothing in my life is dragging me down and the music reflects that.” Bejar’s ‘War on the East Coast’ provides a sardonic contrast with upbeat pop/rock songs like ‘Dancehall Domine’ and the title track.
#4 In The Morse Code of Brake Lights
2019
On 2017’s Whiteout Conditions the band embraced more electronic sounds, and In The Morse Code of Brake Lights continues this direction. Songs like ‘Colossus of Rhodes’ and ‘Leather on the Seat’ are drenched in strings and synths that complement Newman’s intricate songs. Songs like ‘Higher Beams’ and ‘Falling Down the Stairs of Your Smile’ showcase a band as sharp as ever on their eighth studio album.
#3 Challengers
2007
A.C. Newman’s niece Kathryn Calder joined the band for their fourth album, adding a second female voice. While there’s upbeat power-pop like ‘All The Old Showstoppers’, the meat of Challengers is in the mellow tunes like ‘Go Places’ and the title track. Challengers features one of Bejar’s strongest sets of songs for The New Pornographers, with ‘Myriad Harbour’ and ‘Entering White Cecilia’.
#2 Electric Version
2003
The New Pornographers added more punch to their intricate song-craft on their second album, adding lead guitarist Todd Fancey to beef up their sound. The best-known song is ‘The Laws Have Changed’, where Case, as she often does, steals the show, but I’ve always been partial to the tension build and release of ‘From Blown Speakers’.
#1 Twin Cinema
2005
The New Pornographers’ first couple of albums are energetic and high velocity, while their later albums are more ornate and subdued. Their third album, Twin Cinema, captures them at the perfect place in their evolution between youthful enthusiasm and adult sophistication. And it’s full of great songs like ‘The Bleeding Heart Show’, ‘Sing Me Spanish Techno’, ‘The Bones of an Idol’, and ‘Jackie Dressed in Cobras’.
Did I underrate your favourite New Pornographers album? Should they have chosen a more family-friendly name? Let me know!
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I think Challengers is my favourite, though likely not the popular choice. Twin Cinema is also quite fantastic, but as you say, you can’t really go wrong with the New Pornos.
Yes, I remember commenting on your Challengers post.
Canadian Content!
Though admittedly, I’m woefully under-educated when it comes to these folks. Encouraging to read there aren’t any misses!
Hopefully they make the 1001 book one day – although really their prime era was in time for inclusion in the original edition.
Good stuff. This is a band high on my list to give some time to. Your take will help make a start. I’ve been living with Case’s music for a while.
I like Case’s solo stuff too. This is much poppier – her solo stuff is kind of gothic country – but she sounds great singing it.
I really like her solo stuff. Pretty prolific. I like the stuff she does with the Giant Sand guys. You are going to turn CB into a pop guy.
What’s the Giant Sand stuff? Is it on her solo albums, or under a different name?
On her solo albums ‘Blacklisted’ and ‘Fox Confessor’ . I just did a single’s take on a Calexico song recently. I love their sound and Giant Sands.
Cool, I have those two, just don’t know enough Giant Sand to make the connection. Will spin some Neko as I cook dinner.
Try Calexico’s ‘Crystal Frontier’ and see what you think if not familiar. It’s on my takes. Giant Sand I have coming up. I have a hard time categorizing certain music. Hotfox is also a big fan. They certainly do their own thing with Howe Gelb being the creative center.
Have a good dinner and set out another plate in case I drop by.
I would put Mass Romantic at number one, and Twin Cinema at two. The bronze would go to Electric Version. After that I jumped ship and moved on to Destroyer, but still gave each one of their albums a listen. Nice read this, I should try a few others.
Yeah, I know I’m in the minority with Mass Romantic. It’s never connected for some reason.