The New Pornographers: Together

Label: Matador

It’s been three years since Challengers, the first New Pornographers album I can think of that wasn’t universally loved by the indie-supergroup’s (legitimate usage of this overused term) legion of superfans. The aptly named Together, which feels like this large band’s most unified work yet, returns their effortlessly sunny pop to the fore, with the sort of group harmonizing that could power a small city. Together‘s chief fault is also kind of its best trait — the fact that the vast majority of the tunes glide past at a medium pace, each striking a uniquely melodic bell but vibing like pieces of a real whole. Even though the brightest moments — the interplay of the vocals and guitar-riffing on “Crash Years,” the arena-size ambition of “Your Hands (Together),” the fay sway of "If You Can’t See My Mirrors" — stand out after repeated listens, Together is an album that asks precious little of you, but offers great rewards for the more dedicated fans. Just right for spring. (M.L. Thrope)