In today's ridiculously distracted music industry, where yesterday's Strokes, Hives, and Vines are today's Vampire Weekend or XX, a band that is able to sustain momentum beyond their flash point to create a catalogue of albums is rare. True talent emerges after the comets of the moment have flared and burned out.
Cue the New Pornographers.
Armed with the dexterity and density of songwriting genius Carl "AC" Newman as their leader, the New Pornographers soundtracked the summer of 2005 with Twin Cinema, their third chapter of 100% pop brilliance to be released by Mint. As was the case with the first two New Pornographers records, Mass Romantic and Electric Version, AC Newman's unique enigmatic sustain was backed with the irresistible charm and raw lung power of quite frankly the best female singer in North America: Neko Case.
AC's other ace returned for more. "Secret member" Dan Bejar of Destroyer weighed in with three wry slices of acerbic pop. Also in the studio was drummer/studio whiz Kurt Dahle, keyboardist/film director Blaine Thurier, keyboardist/guitarist Todd Fancey, and bassist/NPs production wizard John "JC/DC" Collins. AC's long-lost niece Kathryn Calder (a founding member of the Mint act Immaculate Machine) contributed some fantastic vocals to the mix.
Moving forward into new forays of fidelity, this genuine Vancouver supergroup's career-defining blockbuster Twin Cinema was deep with orchestration and heavy with personal, and, some say, somewhat cryptic and undecipherable hits. Sadly, it would be their last release for Mint.