Drink to A.C. Newman, then

The New Pornographers are the kind of band I really could have used in high school, when I was a Billy Joel junkie and needing something better and, for lack of a better word, edgier. Weezer came along and did the job, but the New Pornographers have a kind of sick obsession with melody and song structure that has lately been the perfect fix for me. Rather, their lead singer and songwriter just put out an album that's been the perfect fix for me. It sounds remarkably like a New Pornographers album, but a little more intimate, and a welcome change from their reverb-addled sound. The Slow Wonder is a very good disc, and proof that Matador still has what it takes. I figured instead of posting the mp3 through us, I should just direct you to the Matador site, where they've posted two good tracks from The Slow Wonder: lead-off song Miracle Drug and Drink To Me Babe, Then. Pick up The Slow Wonder at the Matador store.