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The New Pornographers|The Former Site Of

The Former Site Of by The New Pornographers

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Nearly 30 years in, you pretty much know what you're getting with a new New Pornographers album: smart lyrics, stunning harmonies, deceptively simple melodies, big hooks and a variety of reliable influences (the Velvet Underground, Fleetwood Mac, the Kinks, glam Bowie). Which isn't to say the Canadian collective's 10th album feels stale. In fact, quite the opposite. Opener "Great Princess Story" is as bracing as crisp, lung-clearing air on a cold spring morning. Charley Drayton's drums rumble with excited anticipation, then the chorus bursts forth—with the voices of Neko Case, keyboardist Kathryn Calder and guitarist Nora O'Connor ringing out like perfect bells alongside A.C. Newman's humble, raspy tenor. "The reflections of/ Blinking stars," they sing, sustaining the last word of each line like a tug at your heartstrings. "Pure Sticker Shock" is a thrill—as memorable as some of the band's canonical greats, like "Myriad Harbor" or "Mass Romantic." All those gorgeous voices fit together like the satisfying click of a last puzzle piece, while the bubbly keyboards slip and slide. It feels like Newman is telling you an off-the-cuff story ("The thing about fortune … See, the problem I have …"), which he has said is about 'What has worth? Who is deciding?' Your market value is not always your value." His slight lisp is appealingly at the forefront of "Ballad of the Last Payphone," a lovelorn ode—with knockout sax from Zach Djanikian and Nora Stanley—to a disappeared way of life: "I had to see it with my very eyes/ At the Museum of the City of New York/ It had the offhand grace, you will find/ In the last ones left alive … Well, they took it from Times Square in May/ Little fanfare or paid respect/ Yeah, first comes love, then comes pity/ Then it's terminal velocity." Put those last two songs together and it could look like an existential question about aging. There's Gen X nostalgia, too, within "Bonus Mai Tais" ("We love this song/ It's a classic hit/ Yeah Thompson Twins/ They rarely missed"), which features snap-crackle-pop drums and blasts of "ohh!" like the singers are behind a door that keeps opening and shutting. Terrific "Calligraphy" flies an Apples in Stereo-style freak flag, the beep-boop keys percolating and Newman doing a glam strut ("With love! With love! With love!"). "Spooky Action" flaunts a piercing hook and space-odyssey keys, while "Votive" is powered by robust, Peter Buck-esque mandolin; when that song kicks in, it's as punk rock as the New Pornographers have ever been. And the title track sees Newman backed up by a faint echo rather than the usual rich, full-bodied choruses of other songs—at least until the drums and power guitars heroically thunder to the front line, followed by sax, keys, and a feminine siren song. © Shelly Ridenour/Qobuz

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The Former Site Of

The New Pornographers

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1
Great Princess Story
00:04:11

The New Pornographers, MainArtist - John Collins, Bass, Guitar, Keyboards, Engineer - Kathryn Calder, Keyboards, Vocals, Additional Engineer - Neko Case, Vocals - Todd Fancey, Guitar, Engineer - Charley Drayton, Drums - Zach Djanikian, Bass, Guitar, Mandolin, Soprano Saxophone, Tenor Saxophone, Engineer - Macie Stewart, Strings, Engineer - JP Carter, Trumpet, Sound Effects, Engineer - Nora Stanley, Alto Saxophone, Tenor Saxophone, Engineer - Paul Rigby, Pedal Steel Guitar - Nora O'Connor, Vocals - A.C. Newman, Vocals, Guitar, Bass, Keyboards, Engineer, ComposerLyricist - John Pfiffner, Engineer - Jeff Galegher, Engineer - John Raham, Engineer - John Fields, Engineer - Colin Stewart, Engineer, Mixing Engineer - Nora O’Connor, Engineer - Matthew Barnhart, Mastering Engineer - David Carswell, Engineer - Dave Cook, Engineer - Brendan Guy, Assistant Engineer

2026 Merge Records

2
Pure Sticker Shock
00:04:09

The New Pornographers, MainArtist - A.C. Newman, Vocals, Guitar, Bass, Keyboards, Engineer, ComposerLyricist - John Collins, Bass, Guitar, Keyboards, Engineer - Kathryn Calder, Keyboards, Vocals, Additional Engineer - Neko Case, Vocals - Todd Fancey, Guitar, Engineer - Charley Drayton, Drums - Zach Djanikian, Bass, Guitar, Mandolin, Soprano Saxophone, Tenor Saxophone, Engineer - Macie Stewart, Strings, Engineer - JP Carter, Trumpet, Sound Effects, Engineer - Nora Stanley, Alto Saxophone, Tenor Saxophone, Engineer - Paul Rigby, Pedal Steel Guitar - Nora O'Connor, Vocals - Jeff Galegher, Engineer - John Pfiffner, Engineer - John Raham, Engineer - John Fields, Engineer - Colin Stewart, Engineer, Mixing Engineer - Nora O’Connor, Engineer - Matthew Barnhart, Mastering Engineer - David Carswell, Engineer - Dave Cook, Engineer - Brendan Guy, Assistant Engineer

2026 Merge Records

3
Ballad of the Last Payphone
00:03:49

The New Pornographers, MainArtist - A.C. Newman, Vocals, Guitar, Bass, Keyboards, Engineer, ComposerLyricist - John Collins, Bass, Guitar, Keyboards, Engineer - Kathryn Calder, Keyboards, Vocals, Additional Engineer - Neko Case, Vocals - Todd Fancey, Guitar, Engineer - Charley Drayton, Drums - Zach Djanikian, Bass, Guitar, Mandolin, Soprano Saxophone, Tenor Saxophone, Engineer - Macie Stewart, Strings, Engineer - JP Carter, Trumpet, Sound Effects, Engineer - Nora Stanley, Alto Saxophone, Tenor Saxophone, Engineer - Paul Rigby, Pedal Steel Guitar - Nora O'Connor, Vocals - Colin Stewart, Mixing Engineer, Engineer - Matthew Barnhart, Mastering Engineer - John Pfiffner, Engineer - John Raham, Engineer - John Fields, Engineer - Dave Cook, Engineer - Nora O’Connor, Engineer - Jeff Galegher, Engineer - David Carswell, Engineer - Brendan Guy, Assistant Engineer

2026 Merge Records

4
Spooky Action
00:04:53

The New Pornographers, MainArtist - Nora Stanley, Tenor Saxophone, Alto Saxophone, Engineer - Paul Rigby, Pedal Steel Guitar - Nora O'Connor, Vocals - A.C. Newman, Vocals, Guitar, Bass, Keyboards, Engineer, ComposerLyricist - John Collins, Bass, Guitar, Keyboards, Engineer - Kathryn Calder, Keyboards, Vocals, Additional Engineer - Neko Case, Vocals - Todd Fancey, Guitar, Engineer - Charley Drayton, Drums - Zach Djanikian, Bass, Guitar, Mandolin, Soprano Saxophone, Tenor Saxophone, Engineer - Macie Stewart, Strings, Engineer - JP Carter, Trumpet, Sound Effects, Engineer - Jeff Galegher, Engineer - John Pfiffner, Engineer - John Raham, Engineer - John Fields, Engineer - Colin Stewart, Engineer, Mixing Engineer - Nora O’Connor, Engineer - Matthew Barnhart, Mastering Engineer - David Carswell, Engineer - Dave Cook, Engineer - Brendan Guy, Assistant Engineer

2026 Merge Records

5
Wish You Could See Me I’m Killing It
00:03:39

The New Pornographers, MainArtist - A.C. Newman, Vocals, Guitar, Bass, Keyboards, Engineer, Mixing Engineer, ComposerLyricist - John Collins, Bass, Guitar, Keyboards, Engineer - Kathryn Calder, Keyboards, Vocals, Additional Engineer - Neko Case, Vocals - Todd Fancey, Guitar, Engineer - Charley Drayton, Drums - Zach Djanikian, Bass, Guitar, Mandolin, Soprano Saxophone, Tenor Saxophone, Engineer - Macie Stewart, Strings, Engineer - JP Carter, Trumpet, Sound Effects, Engineer - Nora Stanley, Alto Saxophone, Tenor Saxophone, Engineer - Paul Rigby, Pedal Steel Guitar - Nora O'Connor, Vocals - John Pfiffner, Engineer - John Raham, Engineer - John Fields, Engineer - Nora O’Connor, Engineer - Matthew Barnhart, Mastering Engineer - Colin Stewart, Engineer - Jeff Galegher, Engineer - David Carswell, Engineer - Dave Cook, Engineer - Brendan Guy, Assistant Engineer

2026 Merge Records

6
Votive
00:03:45

The New Pornographers, MainArtist - John Collins, Keyboards, Bass, Guitar, Engineer - Kathryn Calder, Keyboards, Vocals, Additional Engineer - Neko Case, Vocals - Todd Fancey, Guitar, Engineer - Charley Drayton, Drums - Zach Djanikian, Bass, Guitar, Mandolin, Soprano Saxophone, Tenor Saxophone, Engineer - Macie Stewart, Strings, Engineer - JP Carter, Trumpet, Sound Effects, Engineer - Nora Stanley, Alto Saxophone, Tenor Saxophone, Engineer - Paul Rigby, Pedal Steel Guitar - A.C. Newman, Vocals, Guitar, Bass, Keyboards, Engineer, ComposerLyricist - Nora O'Connor, Vocals - Jeff Galegher, Engineer - John Pfiffner, Engineer - John Raham, Engineer - John Fields, Engineer - Colin Stewart, Engineer, Mixing Engineer - Nora O’Connor, Engineer - Matthew Barnhart, Mastering Engineer - David Carswell, Engineer - Dave Cook, Engineer - Brendan Guy, Assistant Engineer

2026 Merge Records

7
Wine Remembers the Water
00:01:48

The New Pornographers, MainArtist - A.C. Newman, Vocals, Guitar, Bass, Keyboards, Engineer, ComposerLyricist - John Collins, Bass, Guitar, Keyboards, Engineer - Kathryn Calder, Keyboards, Vocals, Additional Engineer - Neko Case, Vocals - Todd Fancey, Guitar, Engineer - Charley Drayton, Drums - Zach Djanikian, Bass, Guitar, Mandolin, Soprano Saxophone, Tenor Saxophone, Engineer - Macie Stewart, Strings, Engineer - JP Carter, Trumpet, Sound Effects, Engineer - Nora Stanley, Alto Saxophone, Tenor Saxophone, Engineer - Paul Rigby, Pedal Steel Guitar - Nora O'Connor, Vocals - Jeff Galegher, Engineer - John Pfiffner, Engineer - John Raham, Engineer - John Fields, Engineer - Nora O’Connor, Engineer - Colin Stewart, Mixing Engineer, Engineer - Matthew Barnhart, Mastering Engineer - David Carswell, Engineer - Dave Cook, Engineer - Brendan Guy, Assistant Engineer

2026 Merge Records

8
Calligraphy
00:03:47

The New Pornographers, MainArtist - John Collins, Bass, Guitar, Keyboards, Engineer - Kathryn Calder, Keyboards, Vocals, Additional Engineer - Neko Case, Vocals - Todd Fancey, Guitar, Engineer - Charley Drayton, Drums - Zach Djanikian, Bass, Guitar, Mandolin, Soprano Saxophone, Tenor Saxophone, Engineer - Macie Stewart, Strings, Engineer - JP Carter, Trumpet, Sound Effects, Engineer - Nora Stanley, Alto Saxophone, Tenor Saxophone, Engineer - Paul Rigby, Pedal Steel Guitar - A.C. Newman, Vocals, Guitar, Bass, Keyboards, Engineer, ComposerLyricist - Nora O'Connor, Vocals - Jeff Galegher, Engineer - John Pfiffner, Engineer - John Raham, Engineer - John Fields, Engineer - Colin Stewart, Engineer, Mixing Engineer - Nora O’Connor, Engineer - Matthew Barnhart, Mastering Engineer - David Carswell, Engineer - Dave Cook, Engineer - Brendan Guy, Assistant Engineer

2026 Merge Records

9
Bonus Mai Tais
00:04:34

The New Pornographers, MainArtist - A.C. Newman, Vocals, Guitar, Bass, Keyboards, Engineer, ComposerLyricist - John Collins, Bass, Guitar, Keyboards, Engineer, Mixing Engineer - Kathryn Calder, Keyboards, Vocals, Additional Engineer - Neko Case, Vocals - Todd Fancey, Guitar, Engineer - Charley Drayton, Drums - Zach Djanikian, Bass, Guitar, Mandolin, Soprano Saxophone, Tenor Saxophone, Engineer - Macie Stewart, Strings, Engineer - JP Carter, Trumpet, Sound Effects, Engineer - Nora Stanley, Alto Saxophone, Tenor Saxophone, Engineer - Paul Rigby, Pedal Steel Guitar - Nora O'Connor, Vocals - Matthew Barnhart, Mastering Engineer - John Fields, Engineer - Dave Cook, Engineer - Nora O’Connor, Engineer - Colin Stewart, Engineer - Jeff Galegher, Engineer - David Carswell, Engineer - John Pfiffner, Engineer - John Raham, Engineer - Brendan Guy, Assistant Engineer

2026 Merge Records

10
The Former Site Of
00:06:38

The New Pornographers, MainArtist - A.C. Newman, Vocals, Guitar, Bass, Keyboards, Engineer, ComposerLyricist - John Collins, Bass, Guitar, Keyboards, Engineer - Kathryn Calder, Keyboards, Vocals, Additional Engineer - Neko Case, Vocals - Todd Fancey, Guitar, Engineer - Charley Drayton, Drums - Zach Djanikian, Bass, Guitar, Mandolin, Soprano Saxophone, Tenor Saxophone, Engineer - Macie Stewart, Strings, Engineer - JP Carter, Trumpet, Sound Effects, Engineer - Nora Stanley, Alto Saxophone, Tenor Saxophone, Engineer - Paul Rigby, Pedal Steel Guitar - Nora O'Connor, Vocals - Jeff Galegher, Engineer - John Pfiffner, Engineer - John Raham, Engineer - John Fields, Engineer - Nora O’Connor, Engineer - Colin Stewart, Mixing Engineer, Engineer - Matthew Barnhart, Mastering Engineer - David Carswell, Engineer - Dave Cook, Engineer - Brendan Guy, Assistant Engineer

2026 Merge Records

Review: The New Pornographers - The Former Site Of

Nearly 30 years in, you pretty much know what you're getting with a new New Pornographers album: smart lyrics, stunning harmonies, deceptively simple melodies, big hooks and a variety of reliable influences (the Velvet Underground, Fleetwood Mac, the Kinks, glam Bowie). Which isn't to say the Canadian collective's 10th album feels stale. In fact, quite the opposite. Opener "Great Princess Story" is as bracing as crisp, lung-clearing air on a cold spring morning. Charley Drayton's drums rumble with excited anticipation, then the chorus bursts forth—with the voices of Neko Case, keyboardist Kathryn Calder and guitarist Nora O'Connor ringing out like perfect bells alongside A.C. Newman's humble, raspy tenor. "The reflections of/ Blinking stars," they sing, sustaining the last word of each line like a tug at your heartstrings. "Pure Sticker Shock" is a thrill—as memorable as some of the band's canonical greats, like "Myriad Harbor" or "Mass Romantic." All those gorgeous voices fit together like the satisfying click of a last puzzle piece, while the bubbly keyboards slip and slide. It feels like Newman is telling you an off-the-cuff story ("The thing about fortune … See, the problem I have …"), which he has said is about 'What has worth? Who is deciding?' Your market value is not always your value." His slight lisp is appealingly at the forefront of "Ballad of the Last Payphone," a lovelorn ode—with knockout sax from Zach Djanikian and Nora Stanley—to a disappeared way of life: "I had to see it with my very eyes/ At the Museum of the City of New York/ It had the offhand grace, you will find/ In the last ones left alive … Well, they took it from Times Square in May/ Little fanfare or paid respect/ Yeah, first comes love, then comes pity/ Then it's terminal velocity." Put those last two songs together and it could look like an existential question about aging. There's Gen X nostalgia, too, within "Bonus Mai Tais" ("We love this song/ It's a classic hit/ Yeah Thompson Twins/ They rarely missed"), which features snap-crackle-pop drums and blasts of "ohh!" like the singers are behind a door that keeps opening and shutting. Terrific "Calligraphy" flies an Apples in Stereo-style freak flag, the beep-boop keys percolating and Newman doing a glam strut ("With love! With love! With love!"). "Spooky Action" flaunts a piercing hook and space-odyssey keys, while "Votive" is powered by robust, Peter Buck-esque mandolin; when that song kicks in, it's as punk rock as the New Pornographers have ever been. And the title track sees Newman backed up by a faint echo rather than the usual rich, full-bodied choruses of other songs—at least until the drums and power guitars heroically thunder to the front line, followed by sax, keys, and a feminine siren song. © Shelly Ridenour/Qobuz

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2026 Merge Records 2026 Merge Records

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