Mass Romantic (studio album)
by The New Pornographers

Letter from an Occupant is absolutely great.. the other songs not as much.

From Brad1770 12/17/2017 00:48 | #203315

I love these guys and this is where it all began.
The DNA for the NP sound is right here on album 1 which is as good as any in their wonderful catalogue

For a band that has been relatively ignored by this website, they have a really super strong early discography. And it's not as if NP is obscure. They are pretty well known. Nevertheless, Mass Romantic is a beautiful album.

From pearljammer13 11/01/2014 20:59 | #125982

Quite the opening statement. Brilliant band.

Fantastic

From junodog4 05/04/2012 21:25 | #41503

The New Pornographers splashed on the scene, creating a Canadian indie-pop super-group. We were terrified it was temporary, as Neko Case hadn't committed full time. Why so scared? Because this is catchy, intelligent and creative pop-rock. It would've been shameful to miss out on more.

From paladisiac 12/12/2011 14:07 | #32735

"mass romantic" is one catchy mutha of indie pop. Entire songs sound like one long catchy chorus with tongue-in-cheek lyrics, like the title track headed by the sultry neko case belting out lines like "Now this romantic duel is into the streets, / bon appetit, you've eaten me alive... " Many songs sound like they have layers-upon-layers of separate-but-equal catchy choruses, like "the slow descent into alcoholism" following repeated catchy verse of "my, my, my, my slow descent into alcoholism / It went something like this song (x3)" with "Salvation holdout central(x3)" (with neko backing) packing it with more fire later (making alcoholism sound like a BLAST). i like dan bejar's dark sass and opening line of "jackie" ("Jackie you yourself said it best when you said: There's been a break in the continuum") and near-closing line ("What's a version of the world without the will to despise it"). But it's the upbeat numbers dat drop da bomb. "letter from an occupant" (another with layered choruses) has a lot of energy, delivered by neko, with some upbeat drums & synths with rhythm, singing "You told me I could order the moon, babe / Just as long as as I shoot what I want." and really letting go throughout ending with some low-key mangled guitar. (AC & Bejar are good'n'all, but my new p*rn highlight's always neko.) i love the ending harmonies of "to wild homes" (& its multiple choruses). More multiple choruses in "the centre for holy wars" eventually trading a chorus of "Exactly where we are, at the center for holy wars, / I hope it never comes down again." with a repeated "Hope grows greener than grass stains.". (This fun just HAS to be heard instead of read to be believed.) The only misstep is "execution day" which lacks replete catchiness of the other songs and has a "stop/start" tempo contrary to the smooth near-constant energy of the rest of mass romantic. Fine debut.