Mass Romantic

New Pornographers - Mass Romantic

Mass Romantic
List Price: $11.98
Our Price: $6.79
You Save: $5.19 (43%)
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Buy Used: from $2.53 (click here)
Category: Music CD
See more new music releases
Listen soundtracks from this album



(Click here)
Buy this Music CD at online store in your country
Canadian Music Store

Music CD Cover

Artist: New Pornographers
Edition: Music CD
Audio: English (Original Language)
Format: Original recording reissued, Original recording remastered
CD Release Date: 2003-10-07
Music Label: Matador Records
Soundtracks:
  1. Mass Romantic
  2. The Fake Headlines
  3. The Slow Descent into Alcoholism
  4. Mystery Hours
  5. Jackie
  6. Letter from an Occupant
  7. To Wild Homes
  8. The Body Says No
  9. Execution Day
  10. Centre for Holy Wars
  11. The Mary Martin Show
  12. Breakin' the Law

Free Music Notes for Mass Romantic

Free Music Review: Ear candy
Hit: 5 Stars

OK, this is like one of your parents reviewing the CD, most likely, but this music triggers memories of a lot of old bands that only us old folks remember. I don't care much for most of the overly-sanitized pop-rock of the last few years, but none of it sounds very much like this CD to me. The New Pornographers bring back the pseudo-psychedelic vocal harmonies of late 1960's AM pop music and use it in as original a way as one can when borrowing old ideas and mixing them with 21st century instrumentation and production. If you're old enough that the Vines or Hives evoke the early Kinks or Who, then you're old enough that the New Pornographers may evoke something more similar to a mad blend of the Cowsills, the Mamas and Papas, the Strawberry Alarm Clock, the Beach Boys, the Monkees, and a dozen one-hit wonders.

This CD does remind me of others who have invented new music with skills reminiscent of and perhaps superior to that of the Beatles, but who wound up on the ash heap of music history having gone from a year of respect to being jokes. Does anyone remember The Knack being compared to the Beatles way back when? Hearing this CD reminds me of hearing the early Bangles on a college radio station, back when they were an indie group with the 80's version, to many, of Beatle-esque skill in songwriting, playing, and singing. All that's left now may be "My Sharona" and "Walk Like an Egyptian" and bad VH1 specials, but there's something great about truly skilled pop musicians getting together and recording, whether they're ever appreciated for it or not. So those two bands reminded people of the Beatles at one time. The B-52's and Go-Go's reminded some of mid-1960's surf music, mutated in the new wave years. I can't name a band this CD sounds like - they manage to create their own unique sound even as they shamelessly appropriate sounds from my childhood.

What strikes me about "Mass Romantic" isn't Neko Case's voice, which I find unremarkable, or the lyrics, which are forgettable, but the brilliant use of harmony. The New Pornographers may be in the wrong time and place, but they deserve to be heard as remarkably talented musicians who have created at least one CD of some of the most original derivative music imaginable. Every song is worth listening to here; the music is perfectly and, I imagine, lovingly crafted. They may not be lyricists, but the sounds are as sweet as can be. I'd say it's worth the purchase price, even for a geezer.

Mass Romantic Poster

The debut of this Vancouver indie supergroup led by Zumpano's Carl Newman sent critics scrambling to the early '80s and mid '60s for power-pop forebears, and it sent everyone else bouncing down the street and shouting out car windows. In a happily urgent record full of tight harmonies and cryptic storytelling, the high point undeniably remains the great single "Letter from an Occupant," which rides Neko Case's country-crooner voice nearly off the rails. --Tom Nissley

Alternative Rock Music CDs

Music Genres
Top music charts in Alternative Rock Music CDs
Maniacal Laughter ImageBouncing Souls - Maniacal Laughter
Release date: 1996-01-26; Music CD
Best price: $30.00
Parallel Lines ImageBlondie - Parallel Lines
Release date: 1994-07-29; Music CD
Best price: $397.77
L.A. Woman ImageDoors - L.A. Woman
Release date: 1993-04-09; Music CD
Best price: $199.99
Phallus Dei ImageAmon Duul - Phallus Dei
Release date: 1997-04-08; Music CD
Price in other shops: $18.98
Melrose ImageTangerine Dream - Melrose
Release date: 1990-10-02; Music CD
Best price: $74.98
Private Music of Tangerine Dream ImageTangerine Dream - Private Music of Tangerine Dream
Release date: 1992-11-10; Music CD
Best price: $9.50
Price in other shops: $11.98
Ska Explosion [VHS] ImageSka Explosion [VHS]
Cleopatra; Release date: 1995-02-28; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Best price: $14.99
Price in other shops: $16.98
Little Earthquakes [VHS] ImageLittle Earthquakes [VHS]
Atlantic / Wea; Release date: 1992-11-10; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Best price: $7.00
Price in other shops: $16.98
Exile ImageExile
by Geoffrey Oryema
Music CD
Best price: $4.95
Louder Than Live [VHS] ImageSoundgarden - Louder Than Live [VHS]
A&M Video; Release date: 1991-07-01; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Price in other shops: $14.98
Top Rated Albums
High Violet ImageThe National - High Violet
Release date: 2010-05-11; Music CD
Best price: $9.66
Price in other shops: $14.98
The Tigers Have Spoken ImageNeko Case - The Tigers Have Spoken
CASE,NEKO; Release date: 2004-11-09; Music CD
Best price: $9.27
Price in other shops: $13.98
Rain Dogs ImageTom Waits - Rain Dogs
WAITS,TOM; Release date: 1990-06-15; Music CD
Best price: $4.07
Price in other shops: $11.98
Boxer ImageThe National - Boxer
Baker Drivetrain; Release date: 2007-05-22; Music CD
Best price: $7.86
Price in other shops: $9.98
Blacklisted (Original Recording Remastered) ImageNeko Case - Blacklisted (Original Recording Remastered)
CASE,NEKO; Release date: 2007-11-06; Music CD
Best price: $8.60
Price in other shops: $13.98
Fox Confessor Brings the Flood ImageNeko Case - Fox Confessor Brings the Flood
CASE,NEKO; Release date: 2006-03-07; Music CD
Best price: $6.90
Price in other shops: $16.98
Challengers ImageNew Pornographers - Challengers
Release date: 2007-08-21; Music CD
Best price: $6.30
Price in other shops: $11.98
Together ImageNew Pornographers - Together
Baker & Taylor; Release date: 2010-05-04; Music CD
Best price: $7.00
Price in other shops: $14.98
Twin Cinema ImageNew Pornographers, The New Pornographers - Twin Cinema
Baker & Taylor; Release date: 2005-08-23; Music CD
Best price: $6.62
Price in other shops: $11.98
Electric Version ImageNew Pornographers - Electric Version
Release date: 2003-05-06; Music CD
Best price: $6.59
Price in other shops: $11.98
Compare prices and find music notes for more than one million Music CD titles