THE NEW PORNOGRAPHERS ANNOUNCE NEW ALBUM
THE FORMER SITE OF OUT MARCH 27TH ON MERGE RECORDS
ACCLAIMED SUPERGROUP SHARES NEW SINGLE “VOTIVE” WITH VIDEO
WATCH HERE
The New Pornographers
The New Pornographers’ highly anticipated new album The Former Site Of is due 27th March on Merge Records; in celebration of the upcoming release, the band is debuting the album track “Votive” alongside a new video; watch/share the video HERE.
The record is available for pre-order now via both the Merge and the band’s webstore; find the exclusive “Mai Tai” LP variant HERE and the exclusive “Spilled Ink” LP variant HERE.
Built around the sound of frontperson A.C. Newman’s mandolin, “Votive” builds from an atmospheric synth and keyboard opening into a wide-open jam. The video, animated by Michael Arthur, draws on the imagery of Newman’s lyrics alongside his and keyboardist/vocalist Kathryn Calder’s hooky refrain, “I didn’t see you there.”
On The Former Site Of, the tenth studio album from the acclaimed supergroup, ten short stories of people at personal and societal extremes are collected as meticulously crafted pop songs. The record was first crafted by Newman in his home studio before being brought to the band, composed of A.C. Newman, Kathryn Calder, Neko Case, John Collins and Todd Fancey. The band is joined for the first time by storied session drummer Charley Drayton (Divinyls, The Rolling Stones, Fiona Apple). Josh Wells (Destroyer, Black Mountain) will join as the touring drummer for the band’s upcoming dates in the Spring.
Of the making of the album, Newman shares, “Having time in my studio really opened things up. I don’t like wasting my bandmates’ time, and always felt guilty when I’d give them a song, ask them to do something, then completely change the song and ask them to do it again. Now I can get the skeleton of a song together first – just a couple of elements, the key feeling, really as little as possible – before bringing it to the band and running from there.”
In addition to “Votive”, the album features the group’s most recent single, “Ballad Of The Last Payphone”, which is available as a limited 7-inch vinyl first release and is the subject of acclaim from Pitchfork, Brooklyn Vegan, Stereogum and more. Paste named it one of their Best New Songs, raving that “‘Ballad Of The Last Payphone’ hits a different kind of nerve. Less giddy power-pop, more slow-burn meditation, the track leans into melancholy with acoustic strums, ghostly pedal steel, and vocals that swirl like a memory you can’t quite shake.” Listen to/share the single HERE.
Further critical acclaim for The New Pornographers:
“Over the course of their 20-plus-year career, the New Pornographers have often specialized in catchy ambiguity. If leader Carl Newman was just a machine cranking out power-pop tunes, it would get boring. But there’s also a lot of mixed emotions going on under the surface of their studiously nuanced pop-rock formalism—like if Cheap Trick was as quick-witted as Steely Dan, or the Romantics were as thoughtful as R.E.M.” – Rolling Stone
“pure, blissfully irresistible power pop” – NPR Music
“[The New Pornographers] make catchy, sophisticated alternate-universe hits.” – Stereogum
The New Pornographers have released nine studio albums, including their classic debut, Mass Romantic, reissued in 2021 to celebrate its 21st anniversary. Their latest, 2023’s Continue as a Guest, marked their debut for Merge Records; New York Magazine lauded, “The New Pornographers are a massive unit bursting with unique and intersecting talents…the band’s ninth album serves another helping of their signature dish,” while Brooklyn Vegan named it “one of The New Pornographers’ most lush albums, thick with synthesizers and horns and harmonies…their unique chemistry is as distinct and appealing as ever.”
The New Pornographers
THE FORMER SITE OF
Out March 27th on Merge Records
1. Great Princess Story
2. Pure Sticker Shock
3. Ballad Of The Last Payphone
4. Spooky Action
5. Wish You Could See Me I’m Killing It
6. Votive
7. The Wine Remembers The Water
8. Calligraphy
9. Bonus Mai Tais
10. The Former Site Of
TOUR DATES:
22 April—Boston, MA—The Wilbur*
23 April—New York, NY—Webster Hall*
24 April—Glenside, PA—Keswick Theatre*
25 April—Rochester, NY—Water Street Music Hall*
27 April—Detroit, MI—El Club*
29 April—Millvale, PA—Mr. Smalls Theatre*
30 April—Cleveland, OH—House of Blues*
1 May—Milwaukee, WI—Turner Hall*
2 May—Minneapolis, MN—The Fitzgerald Theater*
3 May—Chicago, IL—The Metro*
5 May—Englewood, CO—Gothic Theatre*
6 May—Salt Lake City, UT—The Commonwealth Room*
8 May—Seattle, WA—The Showbox*
9 May—Portland, OR—Aladdin Theater*
11 May—San Francisco, CA—The Castro Theatre*
12 May—Los Angeles, CA—Teragram Ballroom*
13 May—Phoenix, AZ—Crescent Ballroom*
15 May—Austin, TX—Mohawk Outside*
16 May—Dallas, TX—The Kessler Theater*
17 May—Baton Rouge, LA—Chelsea’s Live*
19 May—Atlanta, GA—Variety Playhouse*
20 May—Saxapahaw, NC—Haw River Ballroom*
21 May—Washington, DC—9:30 Club*
*with Will Sheff (of Okkervil River)