Review - New Porographers: Twin Cinema

by John Mizer
September 19, 2005

I suppose one could call the New Pornographers a "supergroup" although it's fairly safe to say that independently, the project's personnel record and perform in somewhat obscurity with Neko Case probably being the most famous, relatively speaking. The New Pornographers' Twin Cinema just might change their incognito status.

Taking the listener back to the 60s and 70s vocal ensembles such as the Mamas and Papas or the Zombies with a healthy dose of 80s new wave, Twin Cinema could have been a stylistic train wreck. They somehow manage to avoid sounding derivative while sounding likably familiar. During the latter part of this CD, some of the music could've been a 5th side to The Who's Tommy. Great songwriting, tight playing, and wonderful vocal harmonies enable Twin Cinema to be the fun listen that it is.

Rating: 4 out of 5