On the Record: New Music from the New Pornographers and Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros are Still Great

Last Tuesday brought us “Together,” the fifth album by Canadian powerpop supergroup, The New Pornographers, and I scooted out to the record store to grab my copy just before the hail and freezing rain hit over the weekend.

After listen four: it’s good. Really good. Besides a few more noticeable R&B references (the just-behind-the-beat pizzacato strings that open the album on “Moves,” for example) it doesn’t really push into any new territory. And its doubtful that any fans will really care. The formula is great – super catchy, soaring melodies mixed with the odd dissonant chord or change, and arrangements that provide both ear candy and plenty of subtle-ty. Give it a listen at the Matador Records site.

And though its been out for almost a year, it seems that the fantastic, psychadelic debut from Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros is still popping up over blogs and “Home” is all over radio stations and movie trailers. I gotta admit, I still put it on once a week. It’s great to play whilst working on creative projects.

Know some new music to which you think the ManMade audience would love to get crafty? Send an email to Chris@manmadediy.com.