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{{Infobox album
| name       = Mass Romantic
| type       = [[Album]]
| artist     = [[the New Pornographers]]
| cover      = Mass romantic.jpg
| alt        =
| released   = November 21, 2000
| recorded   = 1998–2000
| venue      =
| studio     =
| genre      = [[Indie rock]], [[power pop]]
| length     = 40:54
| label      = [[Mint Records|Mint]]
| producer   = John Collins, David Carswell
| prev_title =
| prev_year  =
| next_title = [[Electric Version]]
| next_year  = 2003
| misc       = {{Singles
 | name        = Mass Romantic
 | type        = album
 | single1     = Letter from an Occupant
 | single1date = April 15, 2002
}}
}}

'''''Mass Romantic''''' is the debut studio album by [[Music of Canada|Canadian]] [[indie rock]] [[supergroup (music)|supergroup]] [[the New Pornographers]]. Produced by David Carswell and band bassist John Collins, it was released on [[Mint Records]] on November 21, 2000.<ref name="allmusicreview"/> The album was three years in the making, with musicians [[Carl Newman|A.C. Newman]] and [[Dan Bejar]] writing songs as early as 1998. With encouragement from peers, they recorded an album with other Canadian musicians from groups including [[the Evaporators]], [[Zumpano]], and [[Destroyer (band)|Destroyer]].

The album failed to chart in Canada or the United States, but the group had a sold-out tour, due to very positive reviews. It received a score of 87 from [[Metacritic]], which assigns a [[Standard score|normalized]] rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics.<ref name="metacritic"/>

== Production ==
''Mass Romantic'' was recorded over the course of almost three years.<ref name="blendertop" /> The first four songs were finished in early 1998. The New Pornographers claimed that the songs "were just sitting around. Friends would hear the songs and go, 'This is really great,' and so it was kind of frustrating in a way. We'd go, 'Yeah, well, we're going to try to record a record.'"<ref name="pitchInterview">{{cite web | title=Pitchfork: The New Pornographers | url=http://pitchfork.com/features/interviews/5818-the-new-pornographers/ |author=Lemay, Matt| work=[[Pitchfork Media]] | publisher= | date=2001-02-01 | accessdate=2009-04-16}}</ref> The group's producer and bassist John Collins decided to refer to themselves as a super group.<ref name="pitchInterview" /> The band consisted of [[Zumpano]]'s [[Carl Newman]], John Collins of [[The Evaporators]], Dan Bejar of [[Destroyer (band)|Destroyer]], [[Limblifter]]'s Kurt Dahle, filmmaker [[Blaine Thurier]], and [[alternative country]] singer [[Neko Case]].<ref name="pitchReview"/>

Production on the album was difficult. [[Carl Newman|A.C. Newman]] stated, "I remember 'Letter From an Occupant' was a pretty belabored song. It ended up being almost minimal, but I remember there's so much shit we put on it. There's a psychedelic 12-string guitar solo, a backwards guitar, there's a kind of really cool synth that's in there but buried. At some point, you have to choose. That was the hardest part about mixing the thing: just making that judgment call. I only feel at peace with the record now because people seem to like it."<ref name="pitchInterview" />

The songs on the album were written by A.C. Newman and [[Destroyer (band)|Destroyer]] frontman [[Dan Bejar]]. Newman recalled that he thought "'How could we lose?' You could just take some interesting elements and put them together. Even taking myself out of the picture, when I looked at the band I just thought, 'This band's got to be great.' I thought, 'Okay, everyone can hate my songs, they can dismiss them.' But I have the most confidence in Dan's songs because I'm totally outside of him, looking in. I'm just a fan of him."<ref name="pitchInterview" />

The song "Breakin' the Law" was taken from Destroyer's first album ''[[We'll Build Them a Golden Bridge]]''.<ref name="pitchInterview" /> The group vocals at the end of "Breakin' the Law" are credited to the Camp Northstar Kids' Chorus, a reference to the Canadian comedy film ''[[Meatballs (film)|Meatballs]]''.<ref name="pitchInterview" /> The chorus is actually every member of the band singing. Newman stated, "I like the fact that people think that it's a kids' group&nbsp;... We made ourselves sound like a giant group, but we ended up sounding like little kids. I love the fact that in the ''Rolling Stone'' review they mention the chorus of kids. I just think it's great that people actually believe that, because it's such a fucking ridiculous thing for a band to do."<ref name="pitchInterview" />

== Style ==
Tim DiGravina of [[AllMusic]] called ''Mass Romantic'' an album that "displays a decidedly [[power pop]] form of [[indie rock]]."<ref name="allmusicreview" /> DiGravina noted comparison per individual song with "[[the Beatles]] ('The Mary Martin Show') to [[David Bowie]] ('The Slow Descent into Alcoholism') to [[T.Rex (band)|T.Rex]] ('Mystery Hours') to [[Todd Rundgren]] ('The Fake Headlines')."<ref name="allmusicreview" /> Jim Caliguiry of ''[[The Austin Chronicle]]'' noted, "They borrow from [[Cheap Trick]], [[the Beach Boys]], [[Big Star (band)|Big Star]], [[Roxy Music]], [[Buzzcocks]], and [[Robyn Hitchcock]]".<ref name="austin">{{cite web | title=Record Reviews: Mass Romantic | url=http://www.austinchronicle.com/gyrobase/Issue/review?oid=oid%3A80245 |author=Caligiuri, Tim| work=[[Austin Chronicle]] |  accessdate=2009-04-16}}</ref> ''[[Rolling Stone]]'' also made comparisons to Big Star and Cheap Trick.<ref name="rollingstone"/>

The album's lyrics have been described as "ridiculous and melodramatic as they are witty".<ref name="pitchReview" />

== Release ==
''Mass Romantic'' was released on November 21, 2000, by [[Mint Records]] on [[vinyl record|vinyl]] and [[compact disc]] in [[Canada]].<ref name="allmusicreview" /> It received an official United States release when it was released in a remastered form by [[Matador Records]] on October 7, 2003.<ref name="allmusicreview" /><ref name="buy">{{cite web | title      = New Pornographers Mass Romantic CD | work = cduniverse.com | url = http://www.cduniverse.com/productinfo.asp?pid=6341511 | accessdate = 2009-04-16}}</ref> "Letter from an Occupant", released on April 15, 2002, was the only single.<ref name="lftoallmusic">{{cite web | title      = Letter From an Occupant > Overview | work = Allmusic | url = {{AllMusic|class=album|id=r1283384|pure_url=yes}} | accessdate = 2009-04-16}}</ref>

The New Pornographers went on their first tour to promote the album. The tour presented problems, including throat damage, broken-down buses, and having to take expensive cab rides.<ref name="pitchInterview" /> A.C. Newman spoke positively about the tour, stating, "There's been fairly good crowds, but the shows haven't been that crazy. They've been getting better&nbsp;... We're not really a party band. I hope people can party. We give them the music! Isn't that enough?"<ref name="pitchInterview" /> The tour sold out.<ref name="pitchInterview" />

== Reception ==
{{Album reviews
| MC = 87/100<ref name="metacritic">{{cite web |url=http://www.metacritic.com/music/mass-romantic/the-new-pornographers |title=Reviews for Mass Romantic by The New Pornographers |publisher=[[Metacritic]] |accessdate=April 16, 2009}}</ref>
| rev1 = [[AllMusic]]
| rev1score = {{rating|4.5|5}}<ref name="allmusicreview">{{cite web |url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/mass-romantic-mw0000624874 |title=Mass Romantic – The New Pornographers |publisher=[[AllMusic]] |accessdate=April 16, 2009 |last=DiGravina |first=Tim}}</ref>
| rev2 = ''[[Alternative Press (magazine)|Alternative Press]]''
| rev2score = 4/5<ref name="AP">{{cite journal |title=The New Pornographers: Mass Romantic |journal=[[Alternative Press (magazine)|Alternative Press]] |issue=152 |date=March 2001 |page=82}}</ref>
| rev3 = ''[[Entertainment Weekly]]''
| rev3score = A<ref name="ew">{{cite magazine |url=http://www.ew.com/article/2001/02/23/album-review-mass-romantic |title=Mass Romantic |magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]] |date=February 23, 2001 |accessdate=April 16, 2009 |last=Morgan |first=Laura}}</ref>
| rev4 = ''[[NME]]''
| rev4score = 6/10<ref name="NME">{{cite journal |title=The New Pornographers: Mass Romantic |journal=[[NME]] |date=April 27, 2002 |page=30}}</ref>
| rev5 = ''[[Now (newspaper)|Now]]''
| rev5score = 5/5<ref>{{cite news |url=https://nowtoronto.com/music/album-reviews/discs-2000-10-19-1/ |title=Discs |work=[[Now (newspaper)|Now]] |date=October 19, 2000 |accessdate=April 10, 2017 |last=Perlich |first=Tim}}</ref>
| rev6 = ''[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]]''
| rev6score = 8.4/10<ref name="pitchReview">{{cite web |url=http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/5771-mass-romantic/ |title=The New Pornographers: Mass Romantic |work=[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]] |date=March 31, 2001 |accessdate=April 16, 2009 |last=Juzwiak |first=Richard M.}}</ref>
| rev7 = ''[[Rolling Stone]]''
| rev7score = {{rating|3.5|5}}<ref name="rollingstone">{{cite magazine |url=http://rollingstone.com/recordings/review.asp?aid=2041840&cf=1758032 |title=The New Pornographers: Mass Romantic |magazine=[[Rolling Stone]] |date=March 1, 2001 |accessdate=September 24, 2016 |last=Wolk |first=Douglas |author-link=Douglas Wolk |page=54 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20010830173402/http://rollingstone.com/recordings/review.asp?aid=2041840&cf=1758032 |archivedate=August 30, 2001}}</ref>
| rev8 = ''[[The Rolling Stone Album Guide]]''
| rev8score = {{Rating|4.5|5}}<ref>{{cite book |chapter=The New Pornographers |last=Wolk |first=Douglas |author-link=Douglas Wolk |editor1-last=Brackett |editor1-first=Nathan |editor2-last=Hoard |editor2-first=Christian |title=[[The Rolling Stone Album Guide|The New Rolling Stone Album Guide]] |publisher=[[Simon & Schuster]] |edition=4th |year=2004 |isbn=0-7432-0169-8 |page=[https://archive.org/details/newrollingstonea00brac/page/583 583] }}</ref>
| rev9 = ''[[Spin (magazine)|Spin]]''
| rev9score = 8/10<ref name="Spin">{{cite journal |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=70ZSDx2TYhcC&pg=PA156 |title=The New Pornographers: Mass Romantic / The Corn Sisters: The Other Women |journal=[[Spin (magazine)|Spin]] |volume=17 |issue=4 |date=April 2001 |accessdate=December 14, 2015 |last=Weisbard |first=Eric |pages=156–58}}</ref>
| rev10 = ''[[The Village Voice]]''
| rev10Score = A−<ref name="RC">{{cite news |url=http://www.robertchristgau.com/xg/cg/cgv301-01.php |title=Consumer Guide: Vibrators |work=[[The Village Voice]] |date=April 3, 2001 |accessdate=December 14, 2015 |last=Christgau |first=Robert |author-link=Robert Christgau}}</ref>
}}<!-- Automatically generated by DASHBot-->

''Mass Romantic'' was well received in the band's native Canada, where it won a [[Juno Award]] for [[Juno Award for Alternative Album of the Year|Alternative Album of the Year]].<ref name="juno">{{cite web |url=http://junoawards.ca/database/artist-summary/?artist_name=new+pornographers |title=2001 Juno Awards (Best Alternative Album) |publisher=[[Juno Award|JunoAwards.ca]] |accessdate=June 2, 2010 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110723175846/http://junoawards.ca/database/artist-summary/?artist_name=new+pornographers |archivedate=July 23, 2011 }}</ref> On [[Metacritic]], which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, the album received a score of 87, indicating "universal acclaim".<ref name="metacritic"/> Tim DiGravina of [[AllMusic]] described ''Mass Romantic'' as an album "that reveals its charms through repeat listens, and makes a listener wonder how the band can master so many different musical styles via so many vocalists while still maintaining a fiercely cohesive sound."<ref name="allmusicreview" /> Laura Morgan of ''[[Entertainment Weekly]]'' called it "an insanely contagious concoction of new wave, [[Cheap Trick]], and garage-glam pandemonium" and "a perfect pop album."<ref name="ew"/> ''[[PopMatters]]''{{'}}s James Mann also spoke positively of the album, stating that the New Pornographers "have made such a great album, tuneful, overdosed with hooks, that all the past sins of our Northern neighbors are forgiven. Well, maybe not [[Rush (band)|Rush]], but close."<ref name="popmatters">{{cite web |url=http://www.popmatters.com/music/reviews/n/newpornographers-mass.shtml |title=The New Pornographers: Mass Romantic |work=[[PopMatters]] |accessdate=April 16, 2009 |last=Mann |first=James}}</ref>

[[Douglas Wolk]] of ''[[Rolling Stone]]'' described ''Mass Romantic'' as "a striking power-pop album, forty staggeringly catchy minutes of four-part harmonies and [[Wall of Sound]] production, exploding with energy and joy",<ref name="rollingstone" /> while the ''[[Alternative Press (magazine)|Alternative Press]]'' called the album a "masterful reproduction of underground power pop ca. 1979, complete with cheesy synths and slashing guitar leads".<ref name="AP"/> Tim Caligiuri of ''[[The Austin Chronicle]]'' stated that "''Mass Romantic'' is the type of album nobody makes anymore. It's an intricate and brightly colored gem, filled with sing-along melodies and sounds that shouldn't work together yet do."<ref name="austin"/> In a mixed assessment, ''[[Q (magazine)|Q]]'' referred to ''Mass Romantic'' as "charmingly poppy", but nonetheless an "erratic affair".<ref name="Q">{{cite journal |title=The New Pornographers: Mass Romantic |journal=[[Q (magazine)|Q]] |issue=189 |date=April 2002 |page=119}}</ref> Tyler Martin of ''[[Stylus Magazine]]'' felt that "too many misdirected ideas weigh this album down".<ref name="stylus">{{cite web |url=http://www.stylusmagazine.com/reviews/the-new-pornographers/mass-romantic.htm |title=The New Pornographers – Mass Romantic – Review |publisher=[[Stylus Magazine]] |date=November 2, 2003 |accessdate=April 16, 2009 |last=Martin |first=Tyler}}</ref>

The album charted in several best of the year lists from various critics. ''[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]]'' rated it the ninth best album of 2001, stating, "Energetic, smooth, and masterfully executed, ''Mass Romantic'' is the catchiest thing to come out in ages."<ref name="pitch2001">{{cite web |url=http://pitchfork.com/features/staff-lists/5844-top-20-albums-of-2001/ |title=Top 20 Albums of 2001 |work=[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]] |date=January 1, 2002 |accessdate=April 16, 2009 |archive-date=September 22, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090922020129/http://pitchfork.com/features/staff-lists/5844-top-20-albums-of-2001/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> The site later placed ''Mass Romantic'' at number 91 on their list of top 200 albums of the 2000s.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://pitchfork.com/features/staff-lists/7708-the-top-200-albums-of-the-2000s-100-51/ |title=The Top 200 Albums of the 2000s: 100–51 |work=[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]] |date=September 30, 2009 |accessdate=October 1, 2009}}</ref> ''[[Magnet (magazine)|Magnet]]'' magazine included the album in its "20 Best Albums of 2001" list.<ref name="magnet">{{cite journal |title=20 Best Albums of 2001 |journal=[[Magnet (magazine)|Magnet]] |pages=57 |date=January 2002}}</ref> In ''[[The Village Voice]]'''s [[Pazz & Jop]] critics' poll for 2001, the album placed at number seventeen.<ref name="pazzjop">{{cite news|url=http://www.robertchristgau.com/xg/pnj/pjres01.php |title=The 2001 Pazz & Jop Critics Poll |work=[[The Village Voice]] |date=February 12, 2002 |accessdate=April 16, 2009 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131202234415/http://www.robertchristgau.com/xg/pnj/pjres01.php |archivedate=December 2, 2013 }}</ref> In December 2007, ''[[Blender (magazine)|Blender]]'' listed ''Mass Romantic'' as the 24th best indie rock album of all time.  It is the second-highest Canadian album on the list behind [[Arcade Fire]]'s ''[[Funeral (Arcade Fire album)|Funeral]]'', which was selected as the 6th best.<ref name="blendertop">{{cite journal |url=http://www.blender.com/guide/articles.aspx?id=2981 |title=The 100 Greatest Indie-Rock Albums Ever — #30 to #21 |journal=[[Blender (magazine)|Blender]] |date=November 27, 2007 |accessdate=April 16, 2009 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080409014151/http://www.blender.com/guide/articles.aspx?id=2981 |archivedate=April 9, 2008 }}</ref>

== Track listing ==
All songs written and sung by [[A. C. Newman|Carl Newman]], except where noted.
{{Track listing
| extra_column = Vocals
| title1 = Mass Romantic
| extra1 = [[Neko Case]], Newman
| length1 = 4:11
| title2 = The Fake Headlines
| length2 = 2:45
| title3 = The Slow Descent into Alcoholism
| length3 = 3:56
| title4 = Mystery Hours
| length4 = 3:11
| title5 = Jackie
| writer5 = [[Dan Bejar]]
| extra5 = Bejar
| length5 = 2:46
| title6 = Letter from an Occupant
| extra6 = Case
| length6 = 3:46
| title7 = To Wild Homes
| writer7 = Bejar, Newman
| extra7 = Bejar, Case, Newman
| length7 = 3:33
| title8 = The Body Says No
| length8 = 3:56
| title9 = Execution Day
| writer9 = Bejar
| extra9 = Bejar, Newman
| length9 = 2:59
| title10 = Centre for Holy Wars
| length10 = 3:06
| title11 = The [[Mary Martin]] Show
| length11 = 3:19
| title12 = Breakin' the Law
| writer12 = Bejar
| extra12 = Bejar, Newman
| length12 = 3:27
| total_length = 40:54
}}
{{Track listing
| headline = Japanese release
| title13 = The End of Medicine
| length13 = 2:34
| title14 = When I Was a Baby
| writer14 = [[Sam Coomes]]
| length14 = 2:26
}}

== Personnel ==
* Bill Anderson – photography
* [[Dan Bejar]] – vocals, multi-instruments, [[korg]] [[synthesizer]], [[pipe organ]], [[wurlitzer]]
* David Carswell – producer
* [[Neko Case]] – vocals
* Davidian Chorley – saxophone (tracks 8, 11)
* John Collins – [[bass guitar|bass]], producer, [[audio engineer|engineer]]
* [[Kurt Dahle]] – drums, vocals
* [[A. C. Newman|Carl Newman]] – vocals, korg synthesizer, pipe organ, wurlitzer
* Shannon Oksanen – photography
* Fisher Rose – drums (tracks 4, 6, 9, 12)<ref>{{cite web |last1=DeVille |first1=Chris |title=The Story Behind Every Song on the New Pornographers' Debut Album ''Mass Romantic'' |url=https://www.stereogum.com/2169490/new-pornographers-mass-romantic-carl-newman/interviews/footnotes-interview/ |website=Stereogum |access-date=10 December 2021 |date=December 9, 2021}}</ref>
* [[Blaine Thurier]] – keyboards

== References ==
{{reflist|2}}

== External links ==
* {{Metacritic album}}

{{The New Pornographers}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:2000 debut albums]]
[[Category:The New Pornographers albums]]
[[Category:Mint Records albums]]
[[Category:Juno Award for Alternative Album of the Year albums]]
[[Category:Albums produced by John Collins (Canadian musician)]]
[[Category:Albums produced by David Carswell]]