A.C. Newman : Get Guilty :: Review

‘Get Guilty’ is the new album from Allan Carl Newman, front man of The New Pornographers and a myriad of other indie rock bands. ‘Get Guilty’ is a densely layered and aggressively poppy album that finds Newman in an upbeat mood. The record begins promisingly enough with the regal “There Are Maybe Two or Twelve” before swinging into “The Heartbreak Rides” another dose of psychedelic pop. These two tracks set the mood for the remainder of the album as it becomes apparent that Newman touches upon numerous British classic rock influences in his music.

References abound throughout the album, touching upon bands like The Zombies, The Kinks, The Animals, Pink Floyd, and The Beatles. Occasionally, Newman tries to incorporate a multitude of influences on individual tracks. On “Submarines of Stockholm” Newman is successful at incorporating a woozy Beatles and Floyd pastiche.

Other attempts such as “Thunderbolts” and “The Palace at 4 A.M.” come off as obtuse because the production becomes too cluttered and dense. “Elemental” regains the album’s momentum before the “Pictures of Matchstick Men” knockoff  “The Collected Works” arrives and feels like a misstep. Album closer, “All of My Days & All of My Days Off” suitably bookends the album echoing the melody of “There Are Maybe Two or Twelve.”

‘Get Guilty’ is a bright album for the gray times that loom ahead, and shows promise for a songwriter keen on exploring different styles.   ‘Get Guilty’ is available from Matador Records on January 20, 2009.