The New Pornographers - Twin Cinema - Rock - CD

In less than five seconds, Twin Cinema -- the newest album from The New Pornographers -- establishes itself as yet another delightfully unconventional batch of songs. The off-kilter rhythm and distinctive music is a touchstone to TNP's first two albums, although the band doesn't dwell long in familiar territory.

A.C. Newman, who founded the band in 1997, has added a new component to The New Pornographers' already well layered sound. His niece, Kathryn Calder, joins the talented fray with vocals and piano, blending her voice with two other female vocalists, the fabulously talented Neko Case and Nora O'Connor. Add five male vocal contributors to the mix, and you've got a thick mix of harmonies that blends together for a smooth serving of ear candy.

Opening with its title track, the eclectic band, whose members all are enjoying individual success, manages to meld their plentiful talents into a musical force in which the sum is arguably greater than its parts. "Twin Cinema" is a rhythmically complicated work, which is no surprise from this ensemble, and its jangled power pop is both intriguing and intoxicating. Newman uses the song as a chance to give a shout-out to his part-time adopted home of San Francisco. His lyrics lean toward the cryptic and puzzling side, but musically the cuts are so strong that you don't feel a need to understand them in order to hum along.

"Use It" is a beat-driven number that puts drummer Kurt Dahle at center stage. His rhythms barrel through the song, which is actually a rather introspective essay on failed dreams and the despair of disappointment. By the next song, "The Bleeding Heart Show," the band forsakes any kind of familiar ground that it has already covered and begins opening doors to long-lost musical influences. They pour together a far-reaching range of influences in a musical experiment with amazing results. Dahle's drumming again plays a key role in the sound, and the Zulu-inspired harmonies are absolutely heavenly.

One of the album's stand out tracks is the curiously titled "Jackie, Dressed in Cobras," which has a sort of Jefferson Starship feel to it. Jackie is a recurring character in TNP's work, and this is a sequel of sorts to the song "Jackie", which appeared on the band's 2000 debut album, Mass Romantic. The chorus is nothing short of infectious and if you've got a pulse, this song will quicken it.

Neko Case's ballad "These Are the Fables" is one of the most welcome tracks on the disc. The song looks at following dreams; some of them come true and some of them fail miserably. In the end, each of us has our own story to tell and this is her observation of those assorted tales.

"Sing Me Spanish Techno" is a successful musical experiment in which Newman tried to write a pop song with an asymmetrical structure. It's a tuneful reminder of the bands diverse talent; it's offbeat and quirky, which makes it pleasurably hard to forget.

Each track on Twin Cinema seems to have its own personality, giving this album an incredibly wide range of sounds, styles and moods. The result is an effort that's already picking up "album of the year" buzz and, quite understandably, a bevy of new fans as well.

By Paula Felps