A.C. Newman
VIMTV Album Review #535: A.C. Newman – Shut Down the Streets
Jake: 67/100
Tom: 69/100
Verdict: A decent albums with some good hooks and melodies, but not very memorable overall.
Overview: Shut Down the Streets shows a calmer, softer side of A.C. Newman. These tracks are mostly comprised of an acoustic guitar foundation, backing electronic keyboard melody, and A.C. Newman’s smooth vocals with female harmonies. Overall the sound of this record is very pleasant, but the lack of variety in the songwriting is somewhat alarming; it made the record seem dull on the second half. This is probably our least favorite A.C. Newman solo record, but that doesn’t change the fact that this Pornographer still makes some really enjoyable tunes.
Jake’s Track Picks:
- 1. I’m Not Talking
- 5. There’s Money in New Wave
- 6. Strings
Tom’s Track Picks:
- 2. Do Your Own Time
- 4. Encyclopedia of Classic Takedowns
- 5. There’s Money in New Wave
VIMTV Episode #60: A.C. Newman – Get Guilty
Jake: Recommended, 84/100
Tom: Recommended, 80/100
Overview: Solid songwriting and refreshingly raw production, with more edge than A.C.’s work with The New Pornographers, but not as much as his first solo album, “The Slow Wonder.”
Recommended Similar Artists: The New Pornographers, Field Music, Devin Davis, The Arcade Fire
Jake’s Track Picks:
- 3. Like A Hitman, Like A Dancer
- 8. The Changeling (Get Guilty)
- 11. The Collected Works
Tom’s Track Picks:
- 5. Submarines Of Stockholm
- 8. The Changeling (Get Guilty)
- 11. The Collected Works
VIMTV Research Links:
- A C Newman Band Website
- A C Newman at Matador Records
- Wikipedia – A C Newman
- A C Newman Myspace
- A C Newman – Get Guilty reviews at Metacritic
- Lyrics – A C Newman
