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

Review this album

  1. Your Score
    0 out of 10
    Rate this:
    • 10
    • 9
    • 8
    • 7
    • 6
    • 5
    • 4
    • 3
    • 2
    • 1
    • 0
    • 0
  1. Submit
  2. Check Spelling
view
per page
  1. WarrenW.
    Oct 25, 2007
    6
    Where Mass Romantic and Twin Cinema succeed, Challengers fails. The aforementioned certainly are poppier, and that isn't the problem with this album, it's that they don't really have anything new to say, the choruses are repetitive to the point of boredom and while it is slower and darker, it's just old hat at this point. Not bad, just not up to the standards Where Mass Romantic and Twin Cinema succeed, Challengers fails. The aforementioned certainly are poppier, and that isn't the problem with this album, it's that they don't really have anything new to say, the choruses are repetitive to the point of boredom and while it is slower and darker, it's just old hat at this point. Not bad, just not up to the standards they've already set for themselves.… Expand

Awards & Rankings

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

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
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. PopMatters
    90
    More cinematic than "Twin Cinema," more cohesive than any other record released this year, Challengers is so very good it almost compels you to think in the cliches of music criticism.
    Read full review
  2. 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
    Read full review
  3. Q Magazine
    80
    Challengers, their fourth album, sees the band and its three main songwriters at the top of their game. [Sep 2007, p.99]
See all critic reviews »