Carl Newman, who writes most of the band's material, has said, "When I seriously started to try to write songs, my main influences were, like, Burt Bacharach, Jim Webb, and Brian Wilson. Those were the guys I kinda looked at their music and went, 'What the hell are they doing here?' I was just fascinated by the structures and the harmonics."
The melody of the first and eponymous track on their second album Electric Version, for instance, begins with an arpeggiated diminished triad --- a rare and strange opening flourish for a pop song.
The band have released a series of well-received albums: Mass Romantic (2000), Electric Version (2003), Twin Cinema (2005), Challengers (2007), Together (2010), Brill Bruisers (2014) and Whiteout Conditions (2017). In 2019 they released In the Morse Code of Brake Lights.
The band members include:
- Carl Newman - vocals, guitar, ebow, synthesizer, harmonica, pump organ, xylophone
- Dan Bejar - vocals, guitar, synthesizer, melodion
- Kathryn Calder - vocals, piano
- Neko Case - vocals, tambourine
- John Collins - bass, guitar, synthesizer, ebow, vocals
- Kurt Dahle - drums, percussion, vocals
- Todd Fancey - guitar
- Blaine Thurier - synthesizer
The New Pornographers are frequently referred to as an indie supergroup because of the following members' associations:
- Carl Newman, solo artist (as A.C. Newman), also of Superconductor and Zumpano
- Dan Bejar of Destroyer,Swan Lake and Vancouver Nights.
- Kathryn Calder of Immaculate Machine.
- Neko Case, solo artist, also of Maow and cub
- John Collins of The Evaporators
- Kurt Dahle of Limblifter and Age of Electric
- Todd Fancey of Fancey
- Blaine Thurier, independent filmmaker
Newman, however, doesn't care for the term: "I'm really tired of that supergroup label, and I wish people would stop using it. None of us were known at all outside of Canada --- I just don't think it's accurate."
Broken Breads
The New Pornographers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I suppose that father knows best.
Where the wind blows, you could always see into the dark for miles around,
My job was to try and make a sound.
Then I heard the call of, I heard the call to, screaming "I don't wanna".
I saw the girls, the new world minstrels whispering "I don't wanna".
Tormented kings, your children of the earth sing under an embalmed clear sky,
Under an embalmed clear sky.
I foresee that you'll be weakened, the children of your cash,
And I can tell you can't live without it.
Who was I to come between a whore and her money?
Yes, there is a war: boys versus girls, clowns versus their curls.
I invested well and heavily into your antics,
I requested "Suicide Blonde" loudly.
Yes, there is a war, it's much like the one I've been waiting for:
Boys versus girls, clowns versus their curls.
I heard the call of, I heard the call to, screaming "I don't wanna".
I saw the pearls, the new world minstrels whispering "I don't wanna".
Tormented kings, your children of the earth sing under an embalmed clear sky,
Under an embalmed clear sky.
I heard the call of, I heard the call to, screaming "I don't wanna".
I saw the pearls, the new world minstrels whispering "I don't wanna".
Tormented kings, your children of the earth are singing...
The lyrics to "Broken Breads" by The New Pornographers are complex and open to interpretation, but they seem to be about society's obsession with money, power struggles between men and women, and the negative consequences of capitalism. The song's protagonist is torn between their desire to make music and their need to make money, and they seem to be criticizing the societal pressure to prioritize the accumulation of wealth over artistic expression and genuine connection.
The first verse explores the idea of selling out and making compromises for success. The line "I could have lived without with the whores and their buggies" suggests that the singer has had to make unsavory connections in order to advance their career. The line "I suppose that father knows best" implies that someone else, perhaps a father figure or authority figure, has encouraged them to make these compromises. The next lines, "Where the wind blows, you could always see into the dark for miles around, / My job was to try and make a sound," paint a vivid picture of a bleak, soulless environment where the singer is struggling to find their voice. Then, we hear the call of "screaming 'I don't wanna'" and the whispering minstrels repeating "I don't wanna," suggesting a rebellion against the status quo.
The second verse is more direct in its critique of capitalism and the power dynamics that reinforce it. The line "I foresee that you'll be weakened, the children of your cash" suggests that the pursuit of money will ultimately lead to self-destruction. The singer acknowledges that they too have been caught up in this system, saying "And I can tell you can't live without it." However, they are critical of those who prioritize money over basic human decency, saying "Who was I to come between a whore and her money?" The war metaphor in the lines "Yes, there is a war: boys versus girls, clowns versus their curls" highlights the power struggles that exist even within marginalized groups. Ultimately, the song seems to be about pushing back against societal pressures to conform and prioritize wealth over authenticity.
Line by Line Meaning
I could have lived without with the whores and their buggies.
I didn't need the excess baggage of those who were leading me down a negative path.
I suppose that father knows best.
I acknowledge the wisdom of those who came before me.
Where the wind blows, you could always see into the dark for miles around,
In moments of darkness, clarity often becomes apparent and can be seen from great distances.
My job was to try and make a sound.
I had an obligation to contribute something meaningful to the world.
Then I heard the call of, I heard the call to, screaming "I don't wanna".
I received a strong reminder of my desire to resist forces that were pushing me towards a negative path.
I saw the girls, the new world minstrels whispering "I don't wanna".
I noticed young women who were similarly disenchanted with the world around them.
Tormented kings, your children of the earth sing under an embalmed clear sky,
Oftentimes, those who are privileged to rule struggle to connect with those who are not.
Under an embalmed clear sky.
Despite the beauty of the natural world, there is always something dark lurking beneath the surface.
I foresee that you'll be weakened, the children of your cash,
Those who are defined by their wealth will ultimately suffer as a result of their materialism.
And I can tell you can't live without it.
There are some things that people simply cannot do without, even if they know it's not good for them.
Who was I to come between a whore and her money?
I recognized that it was not my place to judge or interfere in the lives of others.
Yes, there is a war: boys versus girls, clowns versus their curls.
Conflicting forces and ideologies are constantly in conflict with each other.
I invested well and heavily into your antics,
I became deeply involved in the game that others were playing, to my own detriment.
I requested "Suicide Blonde" loudly.
I loudly demanded that others conform to my own desires and expectations.
I heard the call of, I heard the call to, screaming "I don't wanna".
Once again, I was reminded of my own innate desire to resist conformity and social norms.
I saw the pearls, the new world minstrels whispering "I don't wanna".
Yet again, I observed others who shared my disillusionment with the world around them.
Tormented kings, your children of the earth sing under an embalmed clear sky,
Despite the fact that they wield great power, even the most privileged individuals are not immune to the darkness that lurks beneath the surface of the world.
Under an embalmed clear sky.
Even under the most perfect and seemingly pristine conditions, something dark and inescapable is always present.
I heard the call of, I heard the call to, screaming "I don't wanna".
I continued to be reminded of my own urge to rebel against the status quo.
I saw the pearls, the new world minstrels whispering "I don't wanna".
I observed others who shared my discontent with the way things were.
Tormented kings, your children of the earth are singing...
Even the most powerful and privileged individuals in society are not immune to the existential pain that comes along with being human.
Contributed by Peyton G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Sander Grootendorst
Great song, sounds a bit like Sparks on their first and second album ("Halfnelson" and "A Woofer in Tweeter's Clothing" - records that never got boring in all those years). By the way, Neko Case covered a Sparks song on her latest solo album; the original being from 1974 ("Never turn your back on mother Earth").
connorcanfly
This is the guy from Destroyer, right? I'm pretty sure it is because it sounds a lot like him and I heard that he did some work with The New Pornographers. Great song.