Michael Patrick Brady

Another sneak peak at a review that'll be in print in September: my review of Immaculate Machine's Fables for ALARM Magazine. I tend to pick what I cover a little more liberally for ALARM, so I end up writing a lot more negative reviews (like the one for City of Echoes) than typical.

Fables is some minor league copycatting of the New Pornographers sound by Carl Newman's niece, who'll also be featured on their new album, Challengers. Her enlistment is just another sign of the group's dwindling creativity.

I covered The Electric Version and Twin Cinema when they came out, but I'm taking a pass on Challengers. I've had enough of Carl Newman's rambling songwriting and am starting to see the New Pornographers as an obstacle between Neko Case solo records instead of an entertaining diversion. The optimism for the future I displayed in those reviews was not satisfied.

Took them three records, but the New Pornographers are now in that class of bands whom I still enjoy, but have no desire to hear any more from. Each album has been about half as good as the previous, and Challengers is where the returns become so diminished and the sound becomes so familiar (and repetitive), it's no longer essential to keep up with the group. Please disband.