The Slow Wonder

Today's Music of the Day is The Slow Wonder, by A.C. Newman. Yes, that A.C. Newman, of New Pornographers fame. The music today doesn't really get a snappy title, partially because it's Monday, partially because the music just speaks for itself.

This is Newman's first solo album, recorded in between New Pornographers albums a couple years ago. It's very much an A.C. Newman album, clever semi-poetic energetic pop music that doesn't make a ton of sense but doesn't have to. I don't think you could dance to this, and it doesn't exactly rock, but it's enjoyable at the very least. It's very much a spiritual successor to, say, the Beach Boys records of the sixties, probably owes a little bit to the early R.E.M. records too. Some of the songs are stronger than others, but as a whole the record is very much a triumph. I prefer "Miracle Drug", "Come Crash", and "The Town Halo" in particular, but even the other songs are still worth a listen.

Somewhere there's a 'Newman vs. Bejar' debate, or at least discussion, but that's probably best suited for another day.

In other news:
I succeeded at a few things this weekend but failed at some others. Such is life.