The New Pornographers aren’t really so new these days . . . after being around since 1997, perhaps the band should just think about being “The Pornographers”.  No matter though . . . after four albums of complete indie-pop bliss, the Pornographers have settled comfortably into their stride; a race of epic pop rock that follows the hook guide properly.  Every bit of Together reeks of the Pornographers simple, yet broad sound, and is a 90′s rock joy to listen to.

From the very outset, you can all but feel the campfire futures of songs like “Crash Years”, where the acoustic guitar settles nicely into a groove with female vocals leading the charge.  Bright and bouncy, songs like “Moves” and “Up In The Dark” are where The New Pornographers have really honed this whole dreamy-pop thing that we all love so much.  Take a second and step back from the record for just a second, though, and you’ll find there’s more than meets the ear . . . the vast orchestration of the leading single “Your Hands (Together)” give a vast, open-room feel to the pop music that makes it oh so epic.  Honestly, at times, I feel like either George Lucas or Rocky Balboa could be lurking behind the grins of the Pornographers.

All in all, Together is a record that settles as a summer classic for me.  Despite all of the horns and harmonizing, there’s nothing that grandiose, but at the same time, Together is a relaxing record for your summer lounging.  It’s not without its noticeable catchiness, yet it’s not without its complete cheesiness.  I suppose this is what the nineties were made of, though, and from a decade that spawned college rock in all of its glory, I could ask no more.  The New Pornographers have created a guilty pleasure for anyone with a decent car stereo and rolled-down windows . . . I’m proud to say that I’m among them.

“Your Hands (Together)” – The New Pornographers

Buy “Together” on