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A.C. Newman
Get Guilty
Campus Correspondent CD review by Alyssa Vincent,
North Central College
As the front man for Canadian super group The New Pornographers, A.C. Newman is no stranger to crafting clever indie pop songs. However, Newman has since found a new kind of creativity with his solo efforts. His first album, The Slow Wonder, was well-received by critics and fans alike, and his sophomore release Get Guilty, is bound to garner him more followers. “Like a Hitman, Like a Dancer,” is easily the catchiest song of the album. Newman is at his best with tracks that focus heavily on strumming guitar, choruses with multi-voiced harmonies and simple percussion. With that arrangement, his lyrics can shine through instead of being bogged down by too many instruments.
Newman isn’t afraid to demonstrate his versatility though—“The Heartbreak Rides” takes a break from the up-tempo sound that dominates most of the album. As he croons “the heartbreak rides for free,” listeners can’t help but want to join him on this beautiful, but melancholy journey through the ups and downs of relationships. The song picks up its pace—perhaps as the characters of this track continue to travel—but Newman never lets it get too out of hand. Though he’s fantastic at inhabiting the indie pop genre, he writes very controlled songs. He never takes anything too far, which makes Get Guilty a delightfully honest album, free of any gimmicky songs.
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