Challengers
by The New Pornographers
  • Record Label: Matador
  • Release Date: Aug 21, 2007
Metascore
74

Generally favorable reviews - based on 32 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 25 out of 32
  2. Mixed: 7 out of 32
  3. Negative: 0 out of 32
  1. Rolling Stone
    60
    Challengers, the Vancouver group's fourth album, is slower and more thoughtful, but mostly it keeps up the hook-pumped, harmony-chocked power pop modestly tricked out with strings and keyboards.
  2. Pitchfork
    60
    Challengers tracks end with uncharacteristic whimpers instead of bangs.
  3. The Guardian
    60
    Aside from Neko Case's wonderful title track (a gorgeous tale of two people falling for each other when they shouldn't), these songs about hearts going too far and the promise of mutiny sound preppy and studied when they should be full of fire and hot blood.
  5. NOW Magazine
    60
    What's immediately striking about Challengers is the unabashed mellowness of it all.
  6. Dusted Magazine
    50
    It is perfectly pleasant, mildly intelligent pop, perhaps a cut above the vast majority of songs with "la la la" choruses. Yet it has none of the elegant non sequitur of Bejar's best work, nor the barbed hookiness of Newman's, nor even the sheer musical sensuality of Case on her own
  7. PopMatters
    50
    The problem with Challengers, however, is not its decelerated speed--it’s that the songs aren’t uniformly strong.
  8. Austin Chronicle
    40
    A.C. Newman is a brilliant singer-songwriter, and his work here shows no diminishment. Challengers' glass jaw, then, is its sluggish instrumentation, its boots filled with lead while the lyrics and vocals--especially Ms. Neko Case's--strain to pick up the pace.

Awards & Rankings

96
#96 Most Discussed Album of 2007
93
#93 Most Shared Album of 2007

User Reviews

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User Score
8.6

Universal acclaim- based on 77 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 71 out of 77
  2. Mixed: 4 out of 77
  3. Negative: 2 out of 77
  1. EricS
    Oct 11, 2007
    10
    My favorite album of the past few years. As mentioned before, it takes a few listens, but the rewards are substantial. This is a great group My favorite album of the past few years. As mentioned before, it takes a few listens, but the rewards are substantial. This is a great group and this is my favorite effort of theirs.… Full Review »
  2. DC.
    Sep 1, 2007
    10
    OK, this is a grower. The fist listens only serve to root these songs in your head. Once they're well rooted, this set of songs just OK, this is a grower. The fist listens only serve to root these songs in your head. Once they're well rooted, this set of songs just flourish like crazy. To have gems like "Challengers", "Myriad Harbour" and "Unguided" on a single album is just mindblowing. "Myriad Harbour" has my vote for song of the year, you can hear everything from The Pixies to XTC and everything in between in there. Yes folks, TNP do it again, fourth classic album in a row. Just give these songs time.… Full Review »
  3. Ricko
    Mar 6, 2012
    7
    For the most part this is pretty inoffensive indie music. It's got some nice tracks but nothing that will completely blow you away. ThingsFor the most part this is pretty inoffensive indie music. It's got some nice tracks but nothing that will completely blow you away. Things that go to make heaven and earth and my rights versus yours are pretty good songs but there's not much that really takes off for me here.… Full Review »
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