The New Pornographers - "Continue as a Guest"

Repetitive tracks tank scores

Indie Rock/Power Pop supergroup The New Pornographers have been around for a while, having formed in 1997. But this is the first time I’ve listened to them.

This album has its high points, for sure. The opening pair of tracks are great, and the title track, “Continue as a Guest”, speaks to my soul with multiple steel guitar lines running at once. I’ve tried to make it clear multiple times just how much of a weakness the steel guitar is for me, and I’m not sure I’ve succeeded. They also utilize other rare instruments, like the sax, on various tracks throughout.

Their mixed male/female vocals and raw style are charming, to a point, but many tracks, like “Cat and Mouse With the Light” get far too repetitive, which really hinders my enjoyment of them.

The album’s strongest section, though, is the trio of songs at the end, which are enough to claw the album back to barely in the green, IMO. It has no other deeper qualities to raise it higher.

Ultimately it isn’t a bad album. Just not as strong as it feels like it could have been.

Rating: Green