Review
The New Pornographers
Twin Cinema

Matador (2005) Pat

The New Pornographers – Twin Cinema cover artwork
The New Pornographers – Twin Cinema — Matador, 2005

Have an empty space between your copies of Hearts of Oak and Chutes Too Narrow? Need a sparkling new addition to your collection of great bands with horrible names? Feel like cleansing your palette of the countless cred-thriving indie bands that couldn't write a decent, memorable tune to save their collective lives? If you answered yes to any of the previous questions, not only are you guilty of reading and responding to the cheesiest review intro ever, you're also in luck, because The New Pornographers are only too ready to remedy your concerns with the year's best power-pop album.

Fresh, infectious, versatile, dynamic, energetic, wide-eyed, nearly epic, and catchier than a case of herpes, expect Twin Cinema to become one of your favorite records of the year if you enjoy music. Songs like the building, majestic "The Bleeding Heart Show" and the rollicking title track juxtapose nicely with more understated outings such as "Bones of an Idol" and "These are the Fables." Highlights here are non-existent; with an album this solid and thoroughly enjoyable, picking a favorite is an exercise in futility.

This is one of those records that is just so delectable upon first hearing, deeper analysis could hardly feel any less necessary. Remember finally getting to read a book you liked in high school, only to end up hating it because all the related assignments, essays, and at-length discourses in class killed it for you? Reviewing this feels like trying to explain your favorite color. A.C., Neko, and company have created a pop masterpiece that is completely of the moment, and isn't that the ultimate goal of any pop songwriting team?

8.5 / 10Pat • December 14, 2005

The New Pornographers – Twin Cinema cover artwork
The New Pornographers – Twin Cinema — Matador, 2005

Recently-posted album reviews

Painkiller

The Great God Pan
Tzadik (2025)

Painkiller, the trio of John Zorn, Bill Laswell, and Mick Harris shows no signs of slowing down. The Great God Pan is their third full-length, since their reunion in 2024, and in many ways it is an unexpected offering. In keeping with their interests in the metaphysical realm, Painkiller find inspiration from the famed Arthur Machen horror novella. Here, the … Read more

Painkiller

The Equinox
Tzadik (2025)

Painkiller sees three absolute masters of extreme music join forces. John Zorn of Naked City and a billion other projects, Mick Harris who transcended from Napalm Death drummer to illbient guru with Scorn, and producer extraordinaire Bill Laswell. Their first two records, Guts of a Virgin and Buried Secrets are strange meditations traversing between free-jazz, grindcore and dub. Still hungry … Read more

Dauber

Falling Down
Dromedary Records, Recess (2025)

The lazy approach would be to call Dauber "ex-Screaming Females," but that barely scratches the surface. If I had to pick one band to namedrop a comparison to, it would be labelmates Night Court. They play a familiar style but with a lot of quirks that set it apart from the genre standard-bearers. It's driving and energetic -- more importantly, … Read more