A.C. Newman: Get Guilty (2009)

New Wax


Allan Carl Newman, otherwise referred to as A.C., may be better known as the front man and principle songwriter in The New Pornographers but his 2004 solo full-length The Slow Wonder was just as worthwhile as anything in the New Pornographers catalog. Now Newman is back with Get Guilty, an album chalk-full of layered harmonies, which Newman's material seems to possess in spades. Get Guilty kicks off with "There Are Maybe Ten Or Twelve," a catchy hodgepodge of piano, shimmering guitar, infectious maracas, and impressionistic lyrics that poke fun at the songwriting process. Newman repeats the line: "Make of that what you will." The track is memorable and the front end of Get Guilty has its share of power-pop bliss. Unfortunately, the longer the album plays the more interchangeable the tracks become. Newman is known as a meticulousness songwriter, and that is apparent on Get Guilty, but that attention to detail borders on hindrance rather than virtue. Some of these songs seem confined to their structures rather than sounding organic and having a chance to breathe, so to speak. All in all, it's a solid release from an undeniably talented guy, but it doesn't necessarily stick with you. -- Capt. Obvious

Listen:
MP3: A.C. Newman - There Are Maybe Ten Or Twelve
MP3: A.C. Newman - Like A Hitman, Like A Dancer

Tags: A.C. Newman, Get Guilty, Review