The New Pornographers
– Twin Cinema
Everything on Twin Cinema feels like it’s bursting at the seams—hooks crammed into hooks, harmonies piled on top of more harmonies, and melodies that elbow you in the ribs. It’s pop music in a baroque frame, built with the precision of a watchmaker and the soul of a band that clearly doesn’t care if they’re too clever for the room. And somehow, it all lands.
Best of…
This is where the New Pornographers stopped being just a charming indie supergroup and became something stranger and stickier. Carl Newman’s off-kilter songwriting fidgets through unexpected turns, while Neko Case floats above it all like a voice from another radio station entirely. Dan Bejar, meanwhile, parachutes in every few songs to throw a wrench into the whole machine—in the best way possible. No track here coasts. Every moment is wound tight with ideas.
There’s so much going on it can almost feel overwhelming, like trying to read six neon signs at once. But underneath all the movement is a deep understanding of songcraft. They know how to make you wait for the big release and then hit it sideways instead. The whole album is a sideways grin, too smart to be obvious, too catchy to ignore.
Choice Tracks
Twin Cinema
The title track is all pulse and stutter, a bright burst of sound that sets the pace with jagged chords and sneaky hooks. Newman’s delivery is clipped, urgent, and tangled in its own breath—like he’s racing his own guitar line.
The Bleeding Heart Show
If there’s a showstopper, this is it. Starts like a ghost story, ends like a church revival. The final group chant (“We have arrived too late to play the bleeding heart show”) feels less like a lyric and more like a mission statement.
Use It
One of their tightest pop punches—chewy guitar lines, keyboard wiggles, and a chorus that sticks in your teeth. It’s energetic but weird, like someone tried to write a hit single in a dream and woke up remembering just enough.
Jackie, Dressed in Cobras
Dan Bejar doing his Bejar thing—enigmatic, sneering, elusive. The rhythm bounces like a broken elevator, and the lyrics sound like overheard conversations at a too-cool party you never wanted to be at in the first place.
Sing Me Spanish Techno
Maybe the most accessible track here, with its breezy melody and relentless momentum. But even this song doesn’t color inside the lines—its sugar comes with just enough static to make it feel earned.
Twin Cinema is a maximalist indie pop rush—frenetic, sharp, and overflowing with ideas. The New Pornographers juggle voices, styles, and chaos with ease, delivering songs that dazzle without ever losing their heart or sense of joy.