The new pornography, you say? I’m game.
February 5th, 2007 by Matt
Let’s take a flashback to June 1, 1986, when everyone’s not-so-favorite, disgraced ex-televangelist (or should we say ex, ex, ex), Jimmy Swaggart, declared, sweat dripping off his brow, his fist pounding imaginary devils in the air, that rock and roll was “the new pornography.”
Little did he know, that in a backwards way, he was right.
One of our favorite bands, and maybe the one that most captures what we think is the contemporary spirit of rock, took their name from the Reverend. Behold, The New Pornographers:
This is a music video for “Letter from an Occupant” from their 2000 release, Mass Romantic. So why this song? Well, besides having the classic, poppy riffs I’ve come to love from TNP, it also prominently features the zealous-meets-angelic pipes of Neko Case. Case is well-known for her own solo work, most recently the highly regarded (and rightfully so) Fox Confessor Brings the Flood. But I wouldn’t care if her album was named 3.14 or &^&^& or Little Miss Potato Head: her voice cuts through speakers and cuts through air and, as science will confirm lest you think I’m histrionic, alters the rhythms of my blood. And this happens best when she’s belting it out for The New Pornographers. If you’re new to TNP, I’d recommend taking a gander at Twin Cinema, their newest release on Matador Records, an independent label.
And how is this music progressive? It’s beautiful rock recorded and presented in the face of the repressives. Rock’s rebellion didn’t die off with MTV, Wham, Parental Advisory stickers, and suburban tongue piercings, daddy-o. It’s alive and living (though apparently in Canada).
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