This week, Matador Records will celebrate the 20th anniversary of The New Pornographers’ second full-length, ‘Electric Version’ – first released May 6, 2003 – with a limited-edition opaque blue vinyl reissue out September 22.
Today, the band’s era-appropriate rarity “Turn” – originally a Japan-only bonus track – makes its debut on streaming services and is available to listen to HERE. In addition, newly pristine remasters of the “All For Swinging You Around” and “The Laws Have Changed” music videos are now available on YouTube.
As for the music: no sophomore slumping to be found here. Back then we wrote, “With impossibly huge hooks and an innate understanding of every pop trick in the book, this follow-up to 2000’s breakthrough Mass Romantic is the most exciting pop record we’ve heard in a long while.” For once, tastemakers of the day shared our enthusiasm. “The New Pornographers mix the pop purism of the Beach Boys, the power charge of Cheap Trick and the gentle psychedelia of Syd Barrett,” wrote the New York Times, who labeled ‘Electric Version’ “some of the best pop of the year.”
The New Pornographers have dates planned throughout the spring and fall, touring songs from their just-released ninth album, ‘Continue as a Guest’ (Merge). Regarding the new record, Rolling Stone called it, “An LP that delivers its vivid emotional payoff in subtle gestures…the results can be magisterial.” Find a complete itinerary below.
The reissue serves as the latest entry in Matador Records’ Revisionist History series, our ongoing campaign to jog the record-buying (and streaming!) public’s memory about our many catalog items now poised to celebrate a significant anniversary. Over the course of the year, Matador will mark these anniversaries with new reissues and re-pressings. Each release will be accompanied by rare live footage, unreleased music, photos, and videos. Find more information on the Revisionist History series HERE
(hi-res)
TRACKLIST
1. The Electric Version
2. From Blown Speakers
3. The Laws Have Changed
4. The End of Medicine
5. Loose Translation
6. Chump Change
7. All For Swinging You Around
8. The New Face of Zero and One
9. Testament to Youth in Verse
10. It’s Only Divine Right
11. Ballad of a Comeback Kid
12. July Jones
13. Miss Teen Wordpower
LIVE DATES
May 4—Milwaukee, WI—Turner Hall*
May 5—Chicago, IL—Thalia Hall SOLD OUT *
May 6—Chicago, IL— Thalia Hall SOLD OUT *
May 8—Cincinnati, OH—Memorial Hall*
May 9—Columbus, OH—Newport Music Hall*
May 11—Detroit, MI—El Club SOLD OUT *
May 12—Toronto, ON—Danforth*
May 13—Burlington, VT—Higher Ground Ballroom*
May 14—Norwalk, CT— Wall Street Theater*
May 15—Boston, MA—Royale*
May 17—New York, NY—Brooklyn Steel*
May 18—Philadelphia, PA—Union Transfer*
May 19—Washington, DC—9:30 Club SOLD OUT *
May 20—Washington, DC—9:30 Club SOLD OUT *
May 21—Saxapahaw, NC—Haw River Ballroom SOLD OUT*
November 7—San Diego, CA—Music Box†
November 8—Los Angeles, CA—The Fonda Theatre†
November 10—San Francisco, CA—Bimbo’s 365 Club†
November 11—Sacramento, CA—Ace of Spades†
November 12—Eugene, OR—McDonald Theatre†
November 14—Vancouver, BC—The Commodore†
November 15—Portland, OR—Revolution Hall†
November 16—Seattle, WA—The Showbox†
November 17—Boise, ID—Knitting Factory†
November 18—Salt Lake City, UT—The Commonwealth†
