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 enlarge | Artist: The New Pornographers
Label: Matador Records
Category: Music
List Price: $11.98
Buy Used: $3.90
You Save: $8.08 (67%)
New (49) Used (23) from $3.90
Rating:  116 reviews
Sales Rank: 3819
Media: Audio CD
Discs: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 5.6 x 5 x 0.5
MPN: 621
UPC: 744861062127
EAN: 0744861062127
ASIN: B000A2H880
Release Date: August 23, 2005
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Shipping: International shipping available
Condition: Ships within 2 business days-15% re-stocking fee is charged on all order cancellations and non-defective returns 1/9
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| Customer Reviews:
Showing reviews 6-10 of 116
 Music to make you rejoice April 16, 2006
Mark A. Carter (New York)
9 out of 11 found this review helpful
For a Brit living in the U.S., NY Specifically you would have to forgive me and my fellow countrymen for touting the latest and greatest next big thing to float across the ocean. Listening to this album though I feel that maybe some of us have our blinkers on to just how wonderful some of the U.S. bands can be. 'Twin Cinema' kicks into place many of the pretentious [...] that the U.K. has currently thrown the States way. Music with such great depth and soul, richness and beauty. I suddenly realize why U.S. still has Britain beat in the music stakes, when bands like this still exist. I bought this CD purely based on a single free Download from 'Amazon.com', namely 'The Laws have Changed' which is such a brilliant track that I almost had the thought of buying their entire back-catalogue sight (or rather hearing) unseen. However, I went for their latest effort and I think I hit the jackpot. Somewhere between melodic pop/rock, raging indie college darlings and psychedelic ballads. Check out the track 'The Bleeding Heart Snow' track which you will recognize from some unrecognizable advert on TV purporting to convey the best in music, hey if only all new music sounded this good. Neko Case's vocals are well complimented by the music of the band but are actually used quite sparingly, hey you don't waste a fine wine you savor every drop and make the most of it. The lyrics on some of the songs are ethereal and strangely beautiful. 'These Are the Fables' is a treasure of modern pop-rock. Perfectly sensible and incomprehensible artistic ramblings that make a sense in a mystical world that belongs purely to this group alone. The Albums that always stand out to me are those that sound unlike anything else out there and 'Twin Cinema' has now taken its place with those very few bands whose art is passionately worn on their sleeves. I can't praise this album enough. My favorite album of 2005. 5 Stars absolutely, no doubt about it. If you're stuck in the mind-set that they don't make good music anymore, please check out this modern masterpiece. There is hope after all.
New Pornographers step up! October 15, 2006
Christopher J. Benz (Melbourne, Australia)
9 out of 9 found this review helpful
I've had nearly 6 months with this record now and am convinced that it is the New Pornographer's masterpiece, though I believe (and hope) that the best is still yet to come.
This album departs from the previous album 'Electric Version's overall veneer of hook laden, sunny, formulaic pop (as addictive as it was) and steps up with a startling array of musical shades. The album offers up endlessly exquisite examples of alt-pop, rock, country, underground, prog rock and experimental compositions. Somehow, it also makes sense as a whole.
It's been said many times, but this band has the greatest musical chops currently on offer. Their virtuoso stylings at times show them pushing beyond the limits of expectation. Simple treatments of the songs would be just too boring, given the technical abilities of everyone involved. The important thing is it's joyous in a twisted kind of way, and every part of the production is there because it needs to be there.
On this album you will find a few instant winners (for me it was Use It, The Bones of an Idol and These are the Fables) but after you've played them to death, the other tracks will one by one start to reveal themselves - my current favourites are Jackie, Dressed in Cobras, Streets of Fire, Stacked Crooked and Broken Beads. Honestly, there isn't a dud here.
The innovative production here is so organic to A C Newman and Dan Bajar's brilliant song writing that it almost goes unnoticed. The songs are fully developed and often, cross and counter melodies begin to emerge as you get to know the songs better. Check out the sudden stomping rhythm at the end of Stacked Crooked that develops into a chorus chant. Earlier, a faux-Arabic lilting vocal breaks unexpectedly in the same tune. The most glorious moments could be the sudden time shifts and beautiful piano runs in Jackie, Dressed in Cobras. The lyrics seem equally random and incisive "On a train devouring the land, there's a kid going insane over her man, insane over her man, insane over her...".
`Use It' is a post sixties, darkly decorated shuffle, that takes off like a rocket. Newman's vocal has never sounded cooler than on this track.
On `These are the Fables', Neko Case, just the cream on top of all the other brilliance on this album, sings with perfect composure. Her work on Bones of an Idol is deceptively effortless.
So many things are right about this record - experimental and melodic, enigmatic and confident, it's endlessly enjoyable and fascinating. I can hardly wait to hear what they come up with next.
 I'm missing something... March 9, 2006
Johnny Appleseed (Oregon)
8 out of 22 found this review helpful
I've listened to this record about 8 times all the way through now and I'm simply not understanding why so many people seem to love these songs and claim that is it one of the best albums of 2005. Indeed, the musicianship is strong with the drums, in particular, taking center stage on many songs. These guys know there stuff and have it together, but so do most bands that put out records these days.
For me, the melodies are forgettable ("Bones of an Idol"), a lot of the songs are distantly recorded ("Twin Cinema") taking away from any power they may have had if put down on tape differently, and chord phrasing on many songs are rather insipid ("These are the Fables"). By the end of it, the whole thing feels tight, well-rehearsed, and completely uninspired. It's like the Shins "oh, inverted world," only the songs are slightly longer and you don't even get at least one "New Slang" to make up for all the rampant banality on the rest of the album.
Seriously, someone explain to me what i'm not getting!
 Very Enjoyable August 16, 2006
W. Witten (Dallas)
8 out of 9 found this review helpful
Well Amazon kept recommending me to this album so I decided to try it out. Im not sure if this is actually indie but I generally do not like much music in that genre. I dont think many indie bands have good vocalists but it is easy to see that that The New Pornographers have beautiful harmonizing vocals. Overall this is easy to listen to, and is just good indie pop. They seem to have some kind of chemistry in the band to create such simple enjoyable music. There are not too many memorable songs, except maybe Sing Me Spanish Techno, but overall it is very pleasing to the ears.
8.2/10 - I recommend this album to all indie and alternative fans.
Brian Wilson Needn't Lose Any Sleep August 24, 2005
David N. Dirickson (Tulsa, OK United States)
7 out of 21 found this review helpful
OK, I consider myself something of a pop expert. Most of my favorite bands through the ages have tended to be "critics' darlings." With that said, let me just say that I just don't get the New Pornographers. I've given them multiple tries, and I figured I'd give them one more shot since the advance buzz on TWIN CINEMA was so strong. My verdict? It's merely okay. (You may begin hating me now.) It beats a jab in the ass with a red-hot stick, but that's about all I can say. It certainly SOUNDS good, but where are the songs? It seems like the strategy here is to keep the ear busy with lots of nifty pop-like sounds and textures in order to disguise the utter dearth of substance. I've heard the Pornographers compared to the Zombies and the Kinks. Well, perhaps there are 2 other bands called the Zombies and the Kinks that I don't know about, because the ones I know and love are not to be heard here. Beware of the hype, folks...this band makes competent-SOUNDING records, but it's nothing to cream your jeans over.
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