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Zero 7
Stars indicate the most critically-acclaimed albums.
Electric Version
EMAILPRINTby The New Pornographers
Universal acclaim
Based on 22 critic reviews
How did we calculate this?
Based on 20 votes
Read user comments
Rate this album >
Album Info
Label: Matador / Mint
Release Date: 06 May 2003
Discs: 1 disc
Genre(s): Indie, Rock, Pop
Summary
The Vancouver, Canada indie supergroup attempts to duplicate the success of 2000's 'Mass Romantic' with this sophomore release. Neko Case returns to handle vocal duties.
Also By This Artist: Challengers Mass Romantic Twin Cinema
Also On Metacritic
MUSIC: A.C. Newman: The Slow Wonder
Also On The Web: New Pornographers @ Matador New Pornographers @ Mint
What The Critics Said
All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...
Entertainment Weekly
Electric Version may be a bit less delirious at times, but it's still christened with that same sort of mystical, pop-hook abracadabra that results in happily ingratiating tunes. [9 May 2003, p.76]
Nude As The News
This is fun, fun, fun stuff -- one of the year’s best albums, no doubt.
Read Full Review >The Onion (A.V. Club)
What's the point in complaining that Electric Version doesn't offer enough of one of its countless good things? The only thrill missing here is the enviable joy of hearing New Pornographers for the first time.
Read Full Review >PopMatters
The lyrics might not make much sense, and there's nothing groundbreaking here, but with songs as ridiculously catchy and fun as these, who cares?
Read Full Review >Billboard
Power pop just doesn't get any more powerful or poppy than this, with all three singers in fine form and the band -- all high-strung keyboards and frenetic drums -- blazing away at the speed of sound.
Read Full Review >Almost Cool
It feels more like a band effort, allowing itself to breathe a little more in places.
Read Full Review >Pitchfork
Those expecting the dense, powerful, and insistently upbeat onslaught of Mass Romantic will no doubt react to Electric Version with some degree of initial disappointment. Repeated listens, however, reveal that Electric Version not only displays Carl Newman's brilliant and unique pop sensibility, but allows it enough space to reveal previously obstructed layers of emotional depth.
Read Full Review >ShakingThrough.net
Nothing here approaches the pop perfection of Romantic's "Letter From An Occupant," but songs like Newman's "The Laws Have Changed" and Bejar's spirited "Testament to Youth in Verse" nonetheless add weight to one of the year's strongest and unabashed pure-pop releases.
Read Full Review >All Music Guide
Electric Version is an enjoyable and easy listen, chock-full of hungry hooks and brimming with indie rock's classic humility.
Read Full Review >Dusted Magazine
At their best, the New Pornographers effortlessly dress down emotional defenses and bestow, for at least a moment, simple joy.
Read Full Review >Blender
New Porn songs gush eagerness and surge like the front car of a roller coaster. [May 2003, p.122]
Splendid
Electric Version does little to alter the successful New Pornographers formula. It's a longer, louder and (most importantly) more assured album than its predecessor, but if you liked Mass Romantic, you won't be disappointed. And if you disliked Mass Romantic, you may have a difficult time telling the two albums apart.
Read Full Review >Alternative Press
The kind of album that functions as both background BBQ beat and windows-down sing-along. [Jul 2003, p.112]
Flak Magazine
It's an album's worth of smart, solid pop music that lingers in the memory.
Read Full Review >Filter
Though not perfect, the New Pornographers are getting closer. [#5, p.87]
Uncut
There's nothing profound about Electric Version. But classic pop has seldom sounded so much fun. [Jun 2003, p.98]
Rolling Stone
Despite their hookiness, the thirteen uniformly upbeat tracks do sound a little too samey at times.
Read Full Review >Austin Chronicle
The album has textures that make the group's 2000 debut, Mass Romantic, sound medieval by comparison.
Read Full Review >Mojo
The awe fades quickly as this album progresses. [Jun 2003, p.100]
Stylus Magazine
The main, fundamental problem with this album is that as good as the melodies are, it really does fall flat in trying to get you to feel anything.
Read Full Review >What Our Users Said
The average user rating for this album is 8.3 (out of 10) based on 20 User Votes
Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.
Gina P gave it a10:
Beyond amazing album. Althogh it has their usual sound, you don't hear what you would expect to. They put more "umph" into this album. Carl Newman has never sounded better.
Jared gave it a10:
Maybe not so Duh! that it's a 10 but this band to me is perfection.
Ben D gave it a9:
With song after song of bouncy pop goodness, Electirc Version will brighten up anyone's day.
Ian G gave it a 9:
As good as Mass Romantic IMO, with 'All For Swinging You Around' the highlight, one of the best feel-good songs I've ever heard. 'Miss Teen Wordpower' and 'The Laws Have Changed' aren't far behind, while 'Testament To Youth In Verse' is this album's Execution Day (i.e. skip-fodder).
Troy P. gave it a 10:
A plethora of amazing tracks, a wealth of hooks, and more energy than anything else you will hear this year. "Miss Teen Wordpower" and "All for Swinging You Around" are both high points on an album with no valleys.
Milo M gave it a 9:
If this doesn't reach you, you really *are* dead to the world. The Bejar stuff is ok, particularly "Chump Change", but I'm humming the Newman powerpop pieces incessantly -- can't get enough.
a w gave it a 9:
The New Pornographers capture what it truly means to be a supergroup. The hooks on Electric Version straight up impale your skin and reel you in. I couldn't ask for a better album to kick start a summer.
