for the one's who can't wait for Get Guilty - the new A.C. Newman record...

...that will be released 20/1/09...

...here is a song from it:

http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/download/147034-new-music-ac-newman-there-are-maybe-ten-or-twelve-mp3-stream

sounds like a song from Challengers and thats a bad sign i have to say

But as a Carl solo song, it's fine. When he did that on Challengers, it felt like a bunch of wasted opportunities.

man, i miss zumpano.

I listened to the song once and it sounds pretty good I guess- I'll buy it when it comes out. "Slow Wonder" pales in comparison to all four NP albums, the songs just aren't as strong.

"Challengers" seems underrated by fans of the NP's- it's the album of theirs I can listen to the most, it's more subdued and melancholy than their first three and not as hyper-poppy. Don't get me wrong, I dig the first three a lot but I gotta be in a certain mood to put them on. (I guess parts of "Twin Cinema" aren't total power pop, the songs on "Challengers" just resonate more with me- the title track, "My Rights Vs. Yours," "Adventures in Solitude," "Go Places," etc.)

I have the second Zumpano album and it's pretty great even if the arrangements are a bit too fussy at times. Is the first on just as good?

Btw all of the Bejar contributions to the NP albums are better than any of the Destroyer I've heard, except for maybe "Spirit of Giving" which is a kinda weak way to close out "Challengers."

good show yerterday. the songs from the new record sounds quite good.(relief..)
maybe it won't be a masterpiece as "slow wonder" was, but it wont be bad either.
also, a nice acoustic cover of The Go Betweens' "love goes on" at the end.

01 There Are Maybe Ten or Twelve
02 The Heartbreak Rides
03 Like a Hitman, Like a Dancer
04 Submarines of Stockholm
05 Prophets
06 Thunderbolts
07 The Palace at 4 AM
08 The Changeling (Get Guilty)
09 Elemental
10 Young Atlantis
11 The Collected Works
12 All of My Days and All of My Days Off

the last song is especially awesome (recalling the live set)

Btw all of the Bejar contributions to the NP albums are better than any of the Destroyer I've heard

http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i134/dgoobl/hom98-sciencesaysyourewrong.jpg

I have the second Zumpano album and it's pretty great even if the arrangements are a bit too fussy at times. Is the first on just as good?

The first one is MUCH better imo; it's the only one I listen to.

leaked.
first impression:
it's ok. no more no less.
but i'm starting to think wheather Newman will ever make a really GREAT record again,with or without the Pornos, or are those heydays over.

growing thoughts:

1.the production is surprisingly blurry for a Newman project. (maybe cause Colling isnt in charge of it).some of it sounds as if it was recorded live.
2.Newman doesnt try to show-off anymore, and it has it's faults and advanteges too.(some may call call it "mature")
2.it's more folky and mid-tempo than ever.
3.it's a grower, and it's very good.Prophets,for example, is one of his best songs ever.
4.i think it's better than Challengers

but i'm starting to think wheather Newman will ever make a really GREAT record again,with or without the Pornos, or are those heydays over.

I think you're underrating Challengers.

i know that that are some minority fans who think Challengers is underrated.
i'm not one of them.

anyway, as i thought , the last track (...days off) is one of the best things in here.

Better than "Challengers", but can't show any of the brilliance of "The Slow Wonder".

i thought the reviews for this will be worse ,i have to say.
as a matter of fact, they are even good in general.

most of this sounds like discarded NP demos, which i don't really have a problem with. and it has the first actual bad song on a newman/NPs record (submarines of stockholm or whatever). however the last quarter of it is really really great.

the only problem with it is that it doesnt break new ground and the tricks are starting to get kinda abvious and boring sometimes.
otherwise, it's good.

jesus after it sat on my shelf since january this was like the only record i listened to this week.

Still can't get into this one, all the songs sound so mid-tempo and similar...

I don't know, sometimes I feel like the NP records are the best thing ever but then I go months without wanting to hear them. Guess I can only take all that sweetness in small doses...

i love the new one

i'm still letting it sink in. a couple of immediate grabbers and great sound throughout.