Top 50 Songs of the Decade, #47: "This Is the World of the Theatre"

It's time to pick up the pace on this little project.

Today, let's talk about The New Pornographers.  How about that band name?  It never fails to get a reaction when I include one of their songs on one of my compilations, and one has to wonder how many potential fans have quickly walked away in the record store when they see it.

In a perfect world, they'd be a gosh darn hit machine.  There may not be another band in the last twenty years that's created songs with such great hooks.  The musicianship is terrific, and the vocal interplay among the band's members is downright awe-inspiring.  When it comes to bands from Canada, they just might be the very best.  They've never recorded an album quite as good as "Neon Bible" or "The Suburbs" by Arcade Fire, but "Challengers" (2008) came close, and overall their output has been more consistent.  Call it a draw.

And for a bonus, here's the recorded version.



"This Is the World of the Theatre," The New Pornographers.  The #47 song of the decade.