Two albums inspired by darkness and turmoil this week. Courtney Marie Andrews reports that she wrote Valentine during “a dark period of the world”, while The New Pornographers’ music is also inspired by global chaos.
The New Pornographers
The Former Site Of
2026, 7.5/10
Canada’s The New Pornographers peaked with their early albums. Led by Carl Newman, they blended power-pop energy with art-rock sophistication. Neko Case and Kathryn Calder’s vocals and Todd Fancey’s lead guitar are the icing on their sophisticated sound. They haven’t been as compelling since Dan Bejar left to focus on Destroyer. They’re still worthwhile, although their previous record, 2023’s Continue as a Guest, was disappointing.
The band have also undergone some trauma. Longtime drummer Joe Seiders was arrested in 2025 on child pornography charges. The band replaced Seiders’ parts on The Former Site Of, utilising veteran studio drummer Charley Drayton.
Continue as a Guest felt tired and sterile, so Newman sensibly changes tack for The Former Site Of. The early New Pornographers albums used lyrics as meaningless placeholders, choosing words for their sound and focusing on hooks and tunes. Here, there’s an introspective narrative about societal collapse.
I think to make life more interesting for myself, I decided that this record would be a little more narrative-driven, which has really made me annoyed at people who listen to it and can’t figure out the narratives. I’m just like, “How much simpler do I have to be? Do I have to write ‘Glory Days’?”
Carl Newman, Rolling Stone
It’s more subdued, but there are still great tunes. Songs like ‘Ballad of the Last Payphone’ and ‘Votive’ echo the band’s energetic power-pop.
On the other end of the spectrum, the concluding title track ties the album’s lyrical threads together over 13 verses. Newman’s much more political than usual, using religious imagery like “Not a sailor, not a shepherd/Just a lighthouse in rough weather” to make his point.
I normally think of high-energy, ornate music with The New Pornographers. The Former Site Of is different but still satisfying.
Courtney Marie Andrews
Valentine
2026, 7.5/10
Courtney Marie Andrews was born in Phoenix, Arizona. She released her debut album in 2008, but broke through with 2016’s Honest Life. Her folk/country is stripped-back and heartfelt.
Valentine could have come from any time in the last fifty years. Andrews’ vibrato gives it a slightly old-timey feel, while the three musicians recorded live on 16-track tape. The imperfect vocal that opens ‘Pendulum Swing’ is surprisingly raw in the perfectly manicured world of 2026.
I was an only child and I had imaginary friends. I thought, “What was the hardest thing for me as a kid?” And it was the loneliness I felt. I spent a lot of time alone. I was a latchkey kid. My mom worked two jobs, so I felt profoundly alone. I read some old journals at some point, and that’s where the song came from.
Courtney Marie Andrews, The Creative Independent
The most memorable songs delve into her psyche. She wrote ‘Best Friend’ from a journal she wrote as a childs, and it’s lowkey devastating. ‘Outsider’ delves into similar territory, Andrews confessing that “I wanna be an outsider/It’s too painful looking in.”
Andrews’ anxious-outsider persona is endearing on Valentine, and it’s a lovely record.
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Our fellow blogger Robert Horvat also wrote about Courtney Marie Andrews’ album a few months ago, and I was really impressed with her vocals and songwriting.
Hard not to like her when she’s so heart on sleeve.
I like the The New Pornographers song a lot…I won’t even mention the irony of the drummer…how terrible. I like how it’s mixed as well…everything pops out.
Courtney Marie Andrews…love both songs. I really like her voice… you know I like imperfections…it sounds grounded and real…and when she broke into that high note…loved it. I’m also a sucker for that kind of piano intro. I don’t know if it’s a syle with a name…but Baba O’Riley type of piano notes like that…that sustain….it’s really powerful.
It’s a pretty nasty combination of band name and bad event for sure.
We’ve probably had this conversation before, but I think some genres like pop or progressive rock can benefit from a perfected sound. But others like blues and country need some dirt in the sound.
Yes I agree. They do it the right way and it fits the song. It can make some songs sound too overproduced or slick…this style not as much. It fits this.