Carl Newman
Encyclopedia
Allan Carl Newman is a Canadian
musician and songwriter
. He was a member of the indie rock
bands Superconductor and Zumpano
in the 1990s. Following the breakup of those bands, he reemerged as the leader of The New Pornographers
in 2000.
In 2004, Newman launched his solo career, performing as A.C. Newman. He has stated he chose "A.C." for his solo career because he liked the way that it sounded.
-based pop group Zumpano
. Together they released two albums in the mid-1990s, Look What the Rookie Did
and Goin' Through Changes
, both of which received positive reviews. Zumpano did not officially break up, but did not record any more albums.
supergroup
The New Pornographers
. The band has released five full length albums since 2000, all of which received favorable reviews. In 2007, Blender
ranked the group's debut album, Mass Romantic
, the 24th best indie album of all time. Newman is the band's main songwriter and vocalist, and is generally regarded as the band's leader.
, his first album, was well-received. His musical sensibilities as a solo musician have been compared to those of Ray Davies
, Harry Nilsson
, and Ben Folds
.
Newman is married to Christy Simpson, formerly the marketing manager at Matador Records
, The New Pornographers' label.
Newman's second solo album, titled Get Guilty
, was released on Matador Records on January 20, 2009. "Prophets" was featured in the end of the fourth season finale of How I Met Your Mother
.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
musician and songwriter
Singer–songwriter
Singer-songwriters are musicians who write, compose and sing their own musical material including lyrics and melodies. As opposed to contemporary popular music singers who write their own songs, the term singer-songwriter describes a distinct form of artistry, closely associated with the...
. He was a member of the indie rock
Indie rock
Indie rock is a genre of alternative rock that originated in the United Kingdom and the United States in the 1980s. Indie rock is extremely diverse, with sub-genres that include lo-fi, post-rock, math rock, indie pop, dream pop, noise rock, space rock, sadcore, riot grrrl and emo, among others...
bands Superconductor and Zumpano
Zumpano
Zumpano was a Canadian indie rock group in the 1990s.The band, whose power pop style resembled such contemporaries as Sloan and The Super Friendz, comprised vocalist/guitarist Carl Newman, keyboardist Michael Ledwidge, bassist Stefan Niemann and drummer Jason Zumpano.The band formed in 1992 after...
in the 1990s. Following the breakup of those bands, he reemerged as the leader of The New Pornographers
The New Pornographers
The New Pornographers is a Canadian indie rock band formed in 1997 in Vancouver, British Columbia.-History:The band's first four albums each ranked in the top 40 on The Village Voices Pazz & Jop year-end poll of hundreds of music reviewers. From 2000 to 2006, either a New Pornographers' album or a...
in 2000.
In 2004, Newman launched his solo career, performing as A.C. Newman. He has stated he chose "A.C." for his solo career because he liked the way that it sounded.
Superconductor and Zumpano
Carl Newman began his musical career in the 1990s as a member of the grunge/pop group Superconductor. After a brief stay, he joined the VancouverVancouver
Vancouver is a coastal seaport city on the mainland of British Columbia, Canada. It is the hub of Greater Vancouver, which, with over 2.3 million residents, is the third most populous metropolitan area in the country,...
-based pop group Zumpano
Zumpano
Zumpano was a Canadian indie rock group in the 1990s.The band, whose power pop style resembled such contemporaries as Sloan and The Super Friendz, comprised vocalist/guitarist Carl Newman, keyboardist Michael Ledwidge, bassist Stefan Niemann and drummer Jason Zumpano.The band formed in 1992 after...
. Together they released two albums in the mid-1990s, Look What the Rookie Did
Look What the Rookie Did
Look What the Rookie Did is an album by Zumpano, released in 1995. The album is out of print, but can be purchased digitally through the iTunes music store...
and Goin' Through Changes
Goin' Through Changes
Goin' Through Changes is the second and thus far final album by Zumpano. It was released on 1996 on Sub Pop. The album is out of print. A video was made for the single Behind the Beehive-Track listing:#"Behind the Beehive"#"Broca's Ways"...
, both of which received positive reviews. Zumpano did not officially break up, but did not record any more albums.
The New Pornographers
Newman is a founding member of the successful Vancouver-based popPower pop
Power pop is a popular musical genre that draws its inspiration from 1960s British and American pop and rock music. It typically incorporates a combination of musical devices such as strong melodies, crisp vocal harmonies, economical arrangements, and prominent guitar riffs. Instrumental solos are...
supergroup
Supergroup (music)
In the late 1960s, the term supergroup was coined to describe "a rock music group whose performers are already famous from having performed individually or in other groups"....
The New Pornographers
The New Pornographers
The New Pornographers is a Canadian indie rock band formed in 1997 in Vancouver, British Columbia.-History:The band's first four albums each ranked in the top 40 on The Village Voices Pazz & Jop year-end poll of hundreds of music reviewers. From 2000 to 2006, either a New Pornographers' album or a...
. The band has released five full length albums since 2000, all of which received favorable reviews. In 2007, Blender
Blender (magazine)
Blender was an American music magazine that billed itself as "the ultimate guide to music and more". It was also known for sometimes steamy pictorials of celebrities....
ranked the group's debut album, Mass Romantic
Mass Romantic
Mass Romantic is the debut album by Canadian indie rock band The New Pornographers. Produced by David Carswell and band bassist John Collins, it was released on Mint Records in 2000. The album was three years in the making, with musicians A.C. Newman and Dan Bejar writing songs as early as 1998...
, the 24th best indie album of all time. Newman is the band's main songwriter and vocalist, and is generally regarded as the band's leader.
Solo career
After years of gaining success as the musical savant behind the songs of his bands, in 2004 Newman debuted as A.C. Newman the solo artist. The Slow WonderThe Slow Wonder
The Slow Wonder is the debut solo album by A.C. Newman, who is better known as the frontman of The New Pornographers and Zumpano. It was released in 2004 on Matador Records.-Reception:...
, his first album, was well-received. His musical sensibilities as a solo musician have been compared to those of Ray Davies
Ray Davies
Ray Davies, CBE is an English rock musician. He is best known as lead singer and songwriter for the Kinks, which he led with his younger brother, Dave...
, Harry Nilsson
Harry Nilsson
Harry Edward Nilsson III was an American singer-songwriter who achieved the peak of his commercial success in the early 1970s. On all but his earliest recordings he is credited as Nilsson...
, and Ben Folds
Ben Folds
Benjamin Scott "Ben" Folds is an American singer-songwriter, record producer, and television personality. From 1995-2000, Folds was the frontman and pianist of the alternative rock band Ben Folds Five. Since the group disbanded, Folds has performed as a solo artist and has toured all over the world...
.
Newman is married to Christy Simpson, formerly the marketing manager at Matador Records
Matador Records
Matador Records is an independent record label, with a roster of indie rock artists and bands.-History:Matador was started by Chris Lombardi in 1989 in his New York City apartment. The following year, Lombardi was joined by former Homestead Records manager Gerard Cosloy, and the two of them have...
, The New Pornographers' label.
Newman's second solo album, titled Get Guilty
Get Guilty
Get Guilty is A.C. Newman's second solo album, released on January 20, 2009 on Matador Records. The album was recorded during the summer of 2008 at Brooklyn's Seaside Lounge and produced by Newman and Phil Palazzolo...
, was released on Matador Records on January 20, 2009. "Prophets" was featured in the end of the fourth season finale of How I Met Your Mother
How I Met Your Mother
How I Met Your Mother is an American sitcom that premiered on CBS on September 19, 2005, created by Craig Thomas and Carter Bays.As a framing device, the main character, Ted Mosby with narration by Bob Saget, in the year 2030 recounts to his son and daughter the events that led to his meeting...
.