Albums I Enjoyed in 2007 — 9

09. The New Pornographers Challengers Matador Mutiny, I Promise You

“Challengers” was this total dark horse that beat everything else to the finish line one day when I was watching Youtube videos. For some reason I clicked on the video of “My Rights vs Yours” from Letterman, and AC Newman started doing that ascending scale: under your wheels the hope of spring / mirage of loss, a few more things / you left your sorrow dangling / it hangs in the air like a school cheer. Nothing I had heard this year sounded like that, and watching him hit those notes and segueing into that fabulous chorus, I gained a new respect for the New Pornographers.

I’ll admit I’m the kind of fan that Newman & co. probably hate. I loved “Mass Romantic” (the song) and then was disappointed to find out that their body of work was nothing like it, so I never tried much more. Therefore, I have no idea how this album compares to previous ones; I’m coming to it with no prior experience. So this album feels less like a simple collection of songs than the soundtrack to the Broadway version of my life. It’s got this Big Broadway Feeling, like it all ought to be choreographed and have a set and backup dancers. A lot of times the lyrics are dippy in that musicale way, overblown and overdone, as in “The Spirit of Giving”: Overcome with the holiday spirit / Mark says the herald angels won’t hear it / And remember the wolves that you run with are wolves / Don’t forget . Uh … okay? Cue the spotlight! Our hero has a monologue in song form!

But I used to love Broadway shows, and I love the expansive, theatrical feel of “Challengers.” Every song is different, but not enough to ruin the flow. The orchestration is lovely, and every band member contributes — Case shines beautifully in “Challengers” and “Go Places,” Bejar contributes typically dense lyrics, and I’m sure if this were a Broadway show, Newman would win his true love and live happily ever after.