Porn Star
Margaret Bauer
A.C. Newman
The Slow Wonder
Matador
For fans of: The New Pornographers, The Shins
Grade: A-
Final Word: New Pornographers front man reveals his solo skills
Download this song: “The Town Halo
While the name may look unfamiliar, A.C. Newman is a driving force behind some of today’s best pop music. He’s penned some of the best tunes by his “supergroup,” the New Pornographers, alongside Neko Case and Dan Bejar of Destroyer, and his old band Zumpano still enjoys a reputation as a power-pop powerhouse. His first solo release, “The Slow Wonder,” is another badge on the uniform of this indie rock eagle scout.
Don’t let the opening guitar riff of “Miracle Drug” fool you-Newman is more a careful craftsman than an all-out rocker. He’s all about the quirky instruments, “la la la” choruses, and whistled bridges, as the slow, sweet “Drink To Me Babe, Then” confirms. “On The Table” sounds most like his New Pornographers material, with an unbeatable refrain that Newman pounds out on piano, Ben Folds-style. The album slows down a bit in its final moments, but not before hitting the incredible “Town Halo,” the most rockin’ tune ever based around a cello riff. When Newman builds up to the chorus, singing, “Tell us the story again / Of how you became the TOWN HALO,” you can almost hear a choir of pop cherubim descending in shiny, sing-along glory.
Newman’s sense of melody is obviously not at fault, but his witty, nonsensical lyrics sometimes make the songs too fluffy. “Come Crash” stands as the most lyrically poignant track, with Newman describing conversations with a lady friend: “That’s life, she said / We could be dead / We could be stars, and perfect 10’s / And that’s just off the top of my head.” With an album as strong as “The Slow Wonder,” stars and perfect 10s can’t be far off for A.C. Newman.
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