Challengers (album)

Challengers
Studio album by The New Pornographers
Released	August 21, 2007
Recorded	2006–2007, The Seaside Lounge, Brooklyn, U.S.
Genre	Indie rock, power pop
Length	48:17
Label	Matador (U.S.) Last Gang Records (Canada)
Producer	Phil Palazzolo, John Collins, A. C. Newman
The New Pornographers chronology
Twin Cinema (2005) Challengers (2007) Together (2010)

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic	[1]
The A.V. Club	(A-)[2]
Blender	[3]
NME	(8/10)[4]
Pitchfork Media	(6.0/10)[5]
Robert Christgau	(B+)[6]
Rocklouder	[7]
Rolling Stone	[8]
Twisted Ear	[9]

Challengers is the fourth album by Canadian indie rock band The New Pornographers, released on August 21, 2007.^[10] The track listing for the album was revealed June 1, 2007.^[11] A box set containing three blank CD-Rs, named "Executive Edition", was released August 7, 2007, two weeks before the album, with the promise of future multimedia to be downloaded at the band's website for fans to compile and burn their own CDs. The first disc included B-sides, demos and alternate versions; the second, titled "Live from the Future", featured live performances of songs related to the album; the third disc includes videos, photos and album artwork. The bonus material was available for download with the pre-orders of Challengers.^[12] The song "My Rights Versus Yours" is currently available for download on Matador Records website.^[13] "Failsafe" is an A.C. Newman song first recorded commercially by the Canadian indie pop band The Choir Practice, and appeared on their debut album several months before the release of Challengers.^[14]

Challengers debuted at number 34 on the U.S. Billboard 200, selling about 20,000 copies in its first week.^[15] "Myriad Harbour" was #79 on Rolling Stone's list of the 100 Best Songs of 2007.^[16]

Track listing

All songs were written by A. C. Newman, except where noted.

1. "My Rights Versus Yours" – 4:14
2. "All the Old Showstoppers" – 4:07
3. "Challengers" – 3:29
4. "Myriad Harbour" (Bejar) – 3:55
5. "All the Things That Go to Make Heaven and Earth" – 3:06
6. "Failsafe" – 2:36
7. "Unguided" – 6:30
8. "Entering White Cecilia" (Bejar) – 3:26
9. "Go Places" – 4:27
10. "Mutiny, I Promise You" – 4:09
11. "Adventures in Solitude" – 4:14
12. "The Spirit of Giving" (Bejar) – 4:00
13. "Silent Systems" (Japanese release)
14. "Fortune" (Japanese release)

Vinyl edition

The vinyl release adjusts the running order slightly, swapping the positions of two tracks so that "Unguided" closes side one and "Failsafe" starts side two rather than the other way around.

Side one

1. "My Rights Versus Yours" – 4:14
2. "All the Old Showstoppers" – 4:07
3. "Challengers" – 3:29
4. "Myriad Harbour" (Bejar) – 3:55
5. "All the Things That Go to Make Heaven and Earth" – 3:06
6. "Unguided" – 6:30

Side two

1. "Failsafe" – 2:36
2. "Entering White Cecilia" (Bejar) – 3:26
3. "Go Places" – 4:27
4. "Mutiny, I Promise You" – 4:09
5. "Adventures in Solitude" – 4:14
6. "The Spirit of Giving" (Bejar) – 4:00

Executive edition

Disc two

The second disc contains b-sides, demos and alternate mixes.

1. "The Speed of Luxury" – 3:28 (Released July 6, 2007)
2. "Silent Systems" – 4:06 (Released August 3, 2007)
3. "Fortune" – 4:20 (Released August 28, 2007)
4. "Failsafe" (Demo) – 2:31 (Released September 11, 2007)
5. "Showstoppers" (Demo)- 4:07 (Released September 11, 2007)
6. "Myriad Harbour" (Demo) – 3:47 (Released September 11, 2007)
7. "Go Places" (Lite Mix) – 4:28 (Released September 25, 2007)
8. "Fugue State" – 3:55 (Released November 21, 2007)
9. "Arms of Mary/Looking at a Baby" – 3:53 (Released November 28, 2007)
10. "Joseph, Who Understood" – 2:58 (Released November 28, 2007)

Disc three

The third disc, titled Live from the Future, was released on January 10, 2008.

1. "My Rights versus Yours" – 4:06
2. "Use It" – 3:23
3. "Myriad Harbour" – 3:56
4. "Challengers" – 3:47
5. "All the Old Showstoppers" – 4:12
6. "Mass Romantic" – 3:54
7. "Failsafe" – 2:37
8. "Electric Version" – 2:52
9. "Unguided" – 6:22
10. "Adventures in Solitude" – 4:33
11. "Jackie" (mislabeled as "Jackie, Dressed in Cobras") – 2:42
12. "Go Places" – 4:53

Disc four

The fourth disc contains Challengers videos and photos; it was released in October and November 2007.

1. "Challengers" music video (Released October 12, 2007)
2. "Myriad Harbour" music video

Personnel

• A. C. Newman – vocals, guitar, piano, Wurlitzer, Casio, mandolin, percussion, bass, bass melodion
• Blaine Thurier – Fender Rhodes, sampler
• Danny Bejar – vocals, shakers, guitar, piano
• John Collins – bass, baritone guitar, glockenspiel, mandolin, guitars, Casio, tambourine
• Kathryn Calder – vocals, piano, Wurlitzer
• Kurt Dahle – drums, vocals, percussion
• Neko Case – vocals
• Todd Fancey – guitars, banjo, mandolin

Guest musicians

• Alan Hampton – double bass
• Benjamin D. Calb – cello
• Brendan Ryan – accordion, French horn, trumpet
• Eileen Gannon – harp
• Leslie Kubicka – flute, piccolo
• Marla Hansen – viola
• Olivier Manchon – violin
• Phil Palazzolo – guitar
• Tara Szczygielski – violin

Production

• Phil Palazzolo - Producer
• John Collins - Producer
• A. C. Newman - Producer
• Howard Redekopp - Mixer

References

1. ^ Allmusic review
2. ^ The A.V. Club review
3. ^ Blender review
4. ^ NME review
5. ^ Pitchfork Media review
6. ^ Robert Christgau review
7. ^ Rocklouder review
8. ^ Rolling Stone review
9. ^ Twisted Ear review
10. ^ Carl Newman Reveals New Pornographers LP Details
11. ^ New Pornographers Reveal Challengers Tracklist
12. ^ Pitchfork: New Pornographers Trick Out LP, Announce Fall Tour
13. ^ Matador Records | Matablog
14. ^ New Pornographers Forum; Failsafe: history of a song- cbc radio3 podcast #125http://www.thenewpornographers.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=863
15. ^ Katie Hasty, "'High School Musical 2' Hangs On Atop Billboard 200", Billboard.com, August 29, 2007.
16. ^ No byline (December 11, 2007). "The 100 Best Songs of 2007" Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2007-12-21

External links

• Carl Newman reveals New Pornographers LP details
• New Pornographers Tease With Shows, Album Details
• Challengers at Metacritic