A.C. Newman - Slow Wonder
List Price:
Our Price: $8.47
You Save: $3.51 (29%)
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Buy Used: from $0.25 (click here)
Category: Music CD
See more new music releases
Buy this Music CD at online store in your country
Canadian Music Store
Canadian Music Store
Music CD Cover
Artist: A.C. NewmanEdition: Music CD
Audio: English (Original Language)
Published: 2004
CD Release Date: 2004-06-08
Music Label: Matador Records
Soundtracks:
- Miracle Drug
- Drink To Me, Babe, Then
- On The Table
- Most Of Us Prizefighters
- The Battle For The Straight Time
- Secretarial
- Come Crash
- Better Than Most
- The Cloud Prayer
- The Town Halo
- 35 In The Shade
Free Music Notes for Slow Wonder
Free Music Review: About 95% as good as a New Porgraphers album, which is saying a lot
Hit: 5 Stars
Carl Newman has been the creative core of two truly great bands, the late, great Zumpano and his current band, The New Pornographers. The latter is one of the most amazing acts of recent years, a band whose members were active in other bands but were recruited to be in what could be considered an indie rock super group. There is simply not another alternative band in the world with the instrumental chops and overall professionalism that grace The New Pornographers. While the writing credits for the Pornographers is left somewhat vague, everyone pretty much knows that Carl Newman is the main songwriter, as well as guitarist and co-lead singer (though there is no question The New Pornographers would be even better if Newman gave the full time singing duties to Neko Case, one of the truly great voices around).
Is this solo project as good as a New Pornographer project? By no conceivable means. On the one hand Newman has saved most of his best material for those albums and on the other THE SLOW WONDER, while performed with extreme competency, does not possess the level of musicianship that make the Pornographer albums so musically astonishing. If you listen to any of the three Pornographer albums and then this one, you will instantly be struck by how much simpler and less complex THE SLOW WONDER is. Not that it is simple compared to other performers. It is just that his band already has about the best group of musicians around, capable of astonishing virtuosity, and the people playing here aren't quite as sharp.
Nonetheless, THE SLOW WONDER pretty much proves who the heart of The New Pornographers is, if there had been any doubt. The album radiates with the great pop songs and amazing hooks that permeates the three Pornographer albums. "On the Table" has very nearly the wall-of-sound aura that graces most Pornographer songs and possesses all of the hooks. Same with "The Battle for Straight Time," which seems incapable of progressing more than a few measures without injecting fresh hooks. And I really love the weirdly unexpected guitar line that comes after Newman offers Christine a floor to crash on in "Come Crash."
One thing this album certainly does is make clear that Carl Newman is one of the truly great pop songwriters working today. In fact, the only person I would definitely rate above him would be Stuart Murdoch of Belle and Sebastian, and even then I'm not sure that Murdoch today is better than Newman today (6 years ago is a different matter). It also whets one's appetite for anything Newman does, whether with the Pornographers or on a solo project. He has in his various bands and now on this album produced as strong a body of work as anyone in music. The man is a force.
Alternative Rock Music CDs
Music Genres
Top music charts in Alternative Rock Music CDs
Bouncing Souls - Maniacal LaughterRelease date: 1996-01-26; Music CD
Best price: $30.00
Blondie - Parallel LinesRelease date: 1994-07-29; Music CD
Best price: $397.77
Doors - L.A. WomanRelease date: 1993-04-09; Music CD
Best price: $199.99
Amon Duul - Phallus DeiRelease date: 1997-04-08; Music CD
Price in other shops:
Tangerine Dream - MelroseRelease date: 1990-10-02; Music CD
Best price: $74.98
Tangerine Dream - Private Music of Tangerine DreamRelease date: 1992-11-10; Music CD
Best price: $8.00
Price in other shops:
![Ska Explosion [VHS] Image](/images/Ska-Explosion-VHS-6303381014-X.jpg){kind=small}
Ska Explosion [VHS]Cleopatra; Release date: 1995-02-28; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Best price: $14.99
Price in other shops:
![Little Earthquakes [VHS] Image](/images/Little-Earthquakes-VHS-6302488664-X.jpg){kind=small}
Little Earthquakes [VHS]Atlantic / Wea; Release date: 1992-11-10; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Best price: $7.00
Price in other shops:
Exileby Geoffrey Oryema
Music CD
Best price: $4.95
![Louder Than Live [VHS] Image](/images/Louder-Than-Live-VHS-6301627865-X.jpg){kind=small}
Soundgarden - Louder Than Live [VHS]A&M Video; Release date: 1991-07-01; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Price in other shops:
Top Rated Albums
New Pornographers - Electric VersionRelease date: 2003-05-06; Music CD
Best price: $6.59
Price in other shops:
Bon Iver - Bon IverRelease date: 2011-06-21; Music CD
Best price: $8.62
Price in other shops:
New Pornographers - Mass RomanticRelease date: 2003-10-07; Music CD
Best price: $6.79
Price in other shops:
Sebadoh - Bakesale (Deluxe Edition)Release date: 2011-06-14; Music CD
Best price: $10.04
Price in other shops:
Real Estate - DaysRelease date: 2011-10-18; Music CD
Best price: $8.97
Price in other shops:
Destroyer - KaputtRelease date: 2011-01-25; Music CD
Best price: $9.47
Price in other shops:
The Decemberists - PicaresqueRelease date: 2005-03-22; Music CD
Best price: $11.24
Price in other shops:
New Pornographers - ChallengersRelease date: 2007-08-21; Music CD
Best price: $6.34
Price in other shops:
A.C. Newman - Get GuiltyRelease date: 2009-01-20; Music CD
Best price: $5.50
Price in other shops:
New Pornographers, The New Pornographers - Twin CinemaBaker & Taylor; Release date: 2005-08-23; Music CD
Best price: $6.62
Price in other shops: