They say, Oh, don’t call this group a supergroup! But I disagree, and there’s a distinct reason why. It’s because each member in The New Pornographers is, well, super. A.C. Newman adds his unique songwriting and vocal styling and he backs it with the phenomenal song-craft and vocals of Neko Case and Dan Bejar (Destroyer). Blaine Thurier is a film producer and lends keyboard expertise to the band, while John Collins, Todd Fancey, Kurt Dahle and Kathryn Calder round the songs out on various instruments, many of whom also lend backup vocals. This entourage of greatness is at it again with Together, their fifth proper full-length.

“Your Hands (Together)”, the somewhat title track off Together, picks up where Challengers left off. And it takes the band to the next level. The New Pornographers have always been a band with the immense ability to create a full, cohesive, and all-around outstanding album; with each new release, the excitement begins again. It’s not necessarily relevant whether this song tops the last favorite or comes short, because you can almost liken the group to Radiohead — you know you’re going to like it, no matter what changes.

Together comes out tomorrow on Matador Records Above photo by Jason Creps.

Download: “Your Hands (Together)” by The New Pornographers

Paul Banks was certainly the crowd favorite at the Julian Plenti show at Chop Suey on Monday night. Although there were cheers of “I love you, Paul” throughout the set, the musicians Banks brought in to back his solo project were certainly no slouches (particularly the bassist and cellist, whose names this writer was unfortunately unable to find).

As it was an all-ages show, those of the audience who wanted to imbibe were relegated to the back bar. This did not make for easy listening, as even listeners who vocally proclaimed their love for Paul Banks talked through most of the band’s dreamier songs, particularly “No Hiding Place” and “On the Esplanade”.

Julian Plenti opened with “Fly as You Might”, a hypnotic tune dominated by Banks’ baritone that set the mood for the rest of the show. The band picked up the pace with an extremely tight rendition of “Fun That We Have”. The band was clearly having fun with its fourth song, “Unwind”, as the guitarists and drummer let loose during the chorus. Paul Banks gave his usual deadpan delivery throughout “Girl on the Sporting News”, as he crooned I just want to tell you one thing/you’ve got the kind of sex appeal/that doesn’t get a guy like me down.

The best song of the night was perhaps “Only if You Run,” as guitar, cello, and bass provided layers and layers of sound that filled up the room. This song brought the musicians together as Julian Plenti, rather than as Paul Banks and his backing band.

Julian Plenti did its best to appease the crowd’s hopes for an Interpol-themed encore with “Games for Day”, a fast-paced song that easily could have been on the third Interpol album. The song’s abrupt close was greeted by uproars from the crowd.

Here’s the track “Fun That We Have” off Julian Plenti’s recent album Julian Plenti is… Skyscraper, out now on Matador Records.

Julian Plenti: Fun That We Have [mp3]

The Cave Singers debuted back in 2007 with Invitation Songs, an album packed with power folk tracks like “Dancing On Our Graves” and “Seeds Of Night”. These songs were inundated with an ancient folk sound, tinged with rock. “At The Cut”, the first single off their sophomore release Welcome Joy, maintains selections from that early sound, but the emphasis now is rock tinged with folk.

Despite fairly significant changes in style and perhaps even songwriting, “At The Cut” keeps those core elements that made Invitation Songs so great. Pete Quirk still dishes out vocals that sound as though they’ve recently survived the dust bowl era, downtrodden but still packed with significant soul. Derek Fudesco (ex Pretty Girls Make Graves) charges forward with intricate guitar riffs.

This song is everything Invitation Songs was, but taken up a notch to be in-your-face powerful.

Above photo by Fense at Capitol Hill Block Party in 2007.

The Cave Singers: At The Cut [mp3]

God Help The Girl‘s debut, self-titled LP opens with a female touch on Belle & Sebastian’s “Act Of The Apostle”, one of the champion tracks off The Life Pursuit. In comparison to Murdoch’s other project, God Help The Girl gives it not only a female front but baroque backing vocals and an orchestra background heavy with strings. Title track “God Help The Girl” finds the ladies and Murdoch enveloping the track in the pop melody common in Belle & Sebastian, primarily found in the percussion, yet both the female vocals and up-front orchestra presence reside.

As the album continues, it becomes very apparent that the elements Murdoch injected into the Belle & Sebastian songs are, at best, minimal in God Help The Girl. Sure, select songs may reference the upbeat indie-pop percussion, or feature a vocal pattern common in B&S; what God Help The Girl does is leverage Murdoch’s name and fame while creating a refreshing sound far from the group we all cherish. This sound predates even the influences of Belle & Sebastian.

God Help The Girl also covers “Funny Little Frog” off The Life Pursuit. This song, contrary to many off the album, has a soulful power behind the vocals and instrumentation. Surprises like this pop up frequently throughout God Help The Girl. “Musician Please Take Heed” may open with minimal strings and soft vocals, but near the midpoint it becomes an orchestrated pop gem filled with emotive instrumental crecendos and decrecendos; these musical fluctuations make the song one of the album’s most worthy pinnacles.

But it’s not all surprise. Take “Act Of The Apostle” as prime fodder — while initially a head turner, the baroque jazz of the 50s and 60s heard in the orchestration is telltale. One familiar with the artists may think of a sax master like Paul Desmond. These songs reference the earliest of the girl groups, when orchestrated jazz first met pop music. It was apparent in the various communications Murdoch had with media that this would be the case. Even the true pop songs like “Perfection As A Helper” (which finds the ladies taking on backing vocals while Murdoch leads) and “Come Monday Night” fit these sensibilities.

God Help The Girl may not necessarily be suited for your parents’ parents’ favorite (or even your great grandparents’ favorite), Lawrence Welk, but then again the music they make is not far off. And only a musical genius like Stuart Murdoch would be able to make a Welk-worthy artist cool and hip for today’s youth.

Matador Records [12" LP, 2009]

1. Act Of The Apostle
2. God Help The Girl
3. Pretty Eve In The Tub
4. A United Theory
5. Hiding Neath My Umbrella
6. Funny Little Frog
7. If You Could Speak
8. Musician, Please Take Heed
9. Perfection As A Helper
10. Come Monday Night
11. The Music Room Window
12. I Just Want Your Jeans
13. I’ll Have To Dance With Cassie
14. A Down And Dusky Blonde