Get Guilty

Carl Newman's music, whether with New Pornographers or solo, is typically referred to through the deceptive category of "power pop." But concentrating on simplicity and force alone unfairly deflects attention from the nuance of Newman's approach-- in his lyrics, arrangements, and delivery, there's always much more going on than can be viewed at a distance. Because of the power pop tag, the emergence of Newman's "quieter" side-- best represented by 2004 solo album The Slow Wonder and the Pornographers' overlooked 2007 LP Challengers-- led many to question if, absent the effusive energy, his music was still worthwhile. Wonder's follow-up Get Guilty isn't going to satiate those looking for another Twin Cinema, but it helps solidify the fact-- known to fans for a while now-- that Newman's singularity as a songwriter lies in more than histrionics.