they are interesting. one of the only decent bands other than the amazing Radiohead that I am psyched to see at APW in August.
2003 Mansfield III 2004 Boston I 2006 Boston I 2008 Bonnaroo, Hartford, Mansfield I 2010 Hartford 2013 Worcester I, Worcester II, Hartford 2016 Bonnaroo, Fenway I, Fenway II 2018 Fenway I, Fenway II 2021 Sea.Hear.Now 2022 Camden 2024 MSG I, Fenway I, Fenway II
I love their songs with Neko Case. She's an amazing singer.
“Hello, babies. Welcome to Earth. It’s hot in the summer and cold in the winter. It’s round and wet and crowded. At the outside, babies, you’ve got about a hundred years here. There’s only one rule that I know of, babies — ‘God damn it, you’ve got to be kind.’” - Kurt Vonnegut
I hate Challengers. It doesn't even hold a candle to their previous albums.
hmmmmmm - I think Challengers has actually grown to become my favorite New Pornographers album......All The Old Showstoppers, Myriad Harbor, Challengers, Failsafe, Mutiny I Promise You, My Rights Versus Yours, Adventures in Solitude.....all CLASSICS IMO
In my world everyone is a pony,
and they all eat rainbows and pooh butterflies!
hmmmmmm - I think Challengers has actually grown to become my favorite New Pornographers album......All The Old Showstoppers, Myriad Harbor, Challengers, Failsafe, Mutiny I Promise You, My Rights Versus Yours, Adventures in Solitude.....all CLASSICS IMO
im with you man! challengers grows and grows on you...its superb when it finally hits you....
Van '98, Sea I+II '00, Sea '01, Sea II '02, Van '03, Gorge, Van, Cal, Edm '05, Bos I+II, Phi I+II, DC, SF II+III, Port, Gorge I+II '06, DC, NY I+II '08, Sea I+II, Van, Ridge , LA III+IV' 09, Indy '10, Cal, Van '11, Lond, Van, Sea '13, Memphis '14, RRHOF '17, Sea I+II '18, Van I+II, Vegas I+II '24
I'm having a similar experience with Challangers, I thought it was clearly their worst effort when it came out, but it has grown on my like crazy since. I still put "Mass Romantic" as thier best, that insane level of power-pop is unlike anything I've heard before or since. Then I would put Challangers or Electric Version with Twin Cinema being last, but even that is a very, very quality album.
They're one of my favorite bands out there now. Going to see them next month in St. Louis. Saw them before when they toured for Twin Cinema, Neko and Dan were both there and it was one of the best shows I've seen in a small club.
I agree that Challengers does grow on you, I like most of the songs on there now. Twin Cinema is still my favorite, though.
"As long as the music's loud enough, we won't hear the world falling apart."—Jubilee
"I'm not a very good American because I like to form my own opinions." - George Carlin
I don't hate Challengers but it was certainly a letdown. The title track and Unguided save the album somewhat, but it's not a patch on the previous albums - it lacks the pop and sounds like it's trying to be to mature and often comes across as a tad bland.
8/28/98- Camden, NJ
10/31/09- Philly
5/21/10- NYC
9/2/12- Philly, PA
7/19/13- Wrigley
10/19/13- Brooklyn, NY
10/21/13- Philly, PA
10/22/13- Philly, PA
10/27/13- Baltimore, MD
4/28/16- Philly, PA
4/29/16- Philly, PA
5/1/16- NYC
5/2/16- NYC
9/2/18- Boston, MA
9/4/18- Boston, MA
9/14/22- Camden, NJ
9/7/24- Philly, PA
9/9/24- Philly, PA
Tres Mts.- 3/23/11- Philly. PA
Eddie Vedder- 6/25/11- Philly, PA
RNDM- 3/9/16- Philly, PA
Saw them last night. Wasn't planning on going but our volleyball game got cancelled cause of the rain. They moved this show indoors (was scheduled to be outdoors as well) cause of the inclement weather. Good/fun show.
I only knew a handful of songs though. Only own "Twin Cinema"on cd and I have a handful of their singles on mp3.
8/28/98- Camden, NJ
10/31/09- Philly
5/21/10- NYC
9/2/12- Philly, PA
7/19/13- Wrigley
10/19/13- Brooklyn, NY
10/21/13- Philly, PA
10/22/13- Philly, PA
10/27/13- Baltimore, MD
4/28/16- Philly, PA
4/29/16- Philly, PA
5/1/16- NYC
5/2/16- NYC
9/2/18- Boston, MA
9/4/18- Boston, MA
9/14/22- Camden, NJ
9/7/24- Philly, PA
9/9/24- Philly, PA
Tres Mts.- 3/23/11- Philly. PA
Eddie Vedder- 6/25/11- Philly, PA
RNDM- 3/9/16- Philly, PA
They are one of my favorite bands and I saw them last week in Athens. It was a fantastic show. I was amazed at how good they sounded. Especially the melodies, they are just like no other.
Comments
they just keep getting better.
1Challengers
2Twin Cinema
3Electric Version
4Mass Romantic
I love Neko, Dan Bejar rules, AC Newman can write pop hooks like no tomorrow.
They are a great band indeed.
Chris Cornell
http://www.myspace.com/mrwalkerb
2004 Boston I
2006 Boston I
2008 Bonnaroo, Hartford, Mansfield I
2010 Hartford
2013 Worcester I, Worcester II, Hartford
2016 Bonnaroo, Fenway I, Fenway II
2018 Fenway I, Fenway II
2021 Sea.Hear.Now
2022 Camden
2024 MSG I, Fenway I, Fenway II
and they all eat rainbows and pooh butterflies!
Seeing them play "The Bleeding Heart Show" in a packed crowd with everyone doing the "Hey-ah hey-ah" part is a very incredible experience.
hmmmmmm - I think Challengers has actually grown to become my favorite New Pornographers album......All The Old Showstoppers, Myriad Harbor, Challengers, Failsafe, Mutiny I Promise You, My Rights Versus Yours, Adventures in Solitude.....all CLASSICS IMO
and they all eat rainbows and pooh butterflies!
im with you man! challengers grows and grows on you...its superb when it finally hits you....
Great band.
YES! bejar's voice on that rules.....oh man its good.
I agree that Challengers does grow on you, I like most of the songs on there now. Twin Cinema is still my favorite, though.
"I'm not a very good American because I like to form my own opinions." - George Carlin
CAN'T WAIT to see Okkervil River AND the New Pornographers - amazing double bill !!!!!!!!!
and they all eat rainbows and pooh butterflies!
10/31/09- Philly
5/21/10- NYC
9/2/12- Philly, PA
7/19/13- Wrigley
10/19/13- Brooklyn, NY
10/21/13- Philly, PA
10/22/13- Philly, PA
10/27/13- Baltimore, MD
4/28/16- Philly, PA
4/29/16- Philly, PA
5/1/16- NYC
5/2/16- NYC
9/2/18- Boston, MA
9/4/18- Boston, MA
9/14/22- Camden, NJ
9/7/24- Philly, PA
9/9/24- Philly, PA
Eddie Vedder- 6/25/11- Philly, PA
RNDM- 3/9/16- Philly, PA
10/31/09- Philly
5/21/10- NYC
9/2/12- Philly, PA
7/19/13- Wrigley
10/19/13- Brooklyn, NY
10/21/13- Philly, PA
10/22/13- Philly, PA
10/27/13- Baltimore, MD
4/28/16- Philly, PA
4/29/16- Philly, PA
5/1/16- NYC
5/2/16- NYC
9/2/18- Boston, MA
9/4/18- Boston, MA
9/14/22- Camden, NJ
9/7/24- Philly, PA
9/9/24- Philly, PA
Eddie Vedder- 6/25/11- Philly, PA
RNDM- 3/9/16- Philly, PA