ALBUM REVIEW: Continue As A Guest – The New Pornographers
Coming up to four years since their last album, Canadian indie rock band THE NEW PORNOGRAPHERS are back with their latest exploration of life: Continue As A Guest. Freshly signed to Merge Records, the main goal for their ninth album was to take their time, with the whole thing recorded in frontman A.C Newman’s house in Woodstock NY. Recording themselves is new for the band, making Continue As A Guest a learning experience alongside everything else. Like everybody, the band were shaken up by the current state of the world, and used the writing of this album to examine everything they were feeling at the time. Collaborating with various other songwriters, this latest album is hopefully a circular representation of everything THE NEW PORNOGRAPHERS are in this moment.
Opening with Really Really Light, we are instantly hit with chaotic but deliberate instrumentals, with a mixture of guitars and tambourine bringing a classic folk-pop sound. The vocals are quickly introduced, with a seamless combination of Newman’s voice and harmonies from band members Neko Case and Kathryn Calder. As a light-hearted introduction to the album, this track is optimistic and hopeful, a small glimpse of the songs to come.
Changing up the sound a bit is Pontius Pilate’s Home Movies, a theatrical sounding song with a strong, underlying bassline. With an almost ominous undertone and suspenseful drums, the verses build up to an electric feeling, sounding almost gothic in the vocals. While a big chorus might be expected with the way the guitars and drums build, this never seems to come, but what does is a harmonised outro, projecting the focus on the immersive story told in the lyrics. On a more light-hearted note is Cat And Mouse With The Light, where a whimsical soundsphere is created, with natural instrumentals contrasting with synths, bringing in a kind of futuristic sound. Forever fusing genres, Last And Beautiful is almost 90s pop, a catchy track sure to be remembered.
One thing this album clearly demonstrates is the band’s ability to write really good lyrics, specifically on the title track and Bottle Episodes, and Firework In The Falling Snow. Often cheeky and not taking themselves too seriously, they easily capture all the relatable feelings that life can bring up, with a natural command of attention when needed. Marie And The Undersea specifically discusses the pandemic and the current state of the world, and for a subject that is difficult to comment on without sounding preachy or too on the nose, they’ve managed it really well. While the track is undoubtedly bleak, the chorus offers a glimmer of hope, with undeniably unique vocals. Closing the album is Wish Automatic Suite, which has the undertones of a single rather than a closing track. With an upbeat chorus and an interesting bridge, a whole different world is created through the imagery.
As is often the case with this band, it’s their lyrics that stand out and elevate the album. What is especially rare, but is achieved on Continue As A Guest, is that it can be both an album to listen to while thinking about life, or it can be put on to enjoy for the various different sounds. While experimenting in different genres and styles, it isn’t too out there, and is easily listenable. THE NEW PORNOGRAPHERS aren’t for everybody, and while this record is no exception, they’ve proved even their ninth album can still make an impact.
Rating: 8/10
Continue As A Guest is set for release on March 31st via Merge Records.
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