Reel Dealer

New Pornographers Change Old Laws

Words: Sandy Hunter

The artfully ebullient power pop of The New Pornographers combines the Vancouver band's maniacally catchy single from their Electric Version LP with the filmmaking talents of The Pornos' keyboardist Blaine Thurier. Thurier, a one time underground comic artist who previously directed the short "Low Self Esteem Girl," apparently studied Luis Bu&uel's 1965 classic Simon of the Desert prior to directing "The Laws Have Changed." The original film has the 5th century's St. Simon Stylites, who lingered for 37 years atop a pillar preaching Christianity to passersby, tempted by a time-traveling devil women. The woman transports Simon from atop his perch to modern day New York where further temptation and debauchery ensues. The video, subtitled with lyrics from the song itself, begins with Simon being tempted to Earth by the diabolic vixen before being led to a swingin' nightclub where The New Pornographers themselves are performing and have the crowd shimmying madly around them. Soon enough, the dark-eyed saint and his temptress find themselves cutting the rug, as we would expect and demand. The New Pornographers are currently touring North America.

http://www.mintrecs.com/bands/speak/pornographers/pornographers.html