At the core of The New Pornographers' grandiose power pop is a melodic sensibility informed by the exuberant sing-alongs of Paul McCartney and the wry wordplay of The Kinks' Ray Davies. The band's gleaming hooks then get wrapped up in luxuriant, widescreen production redolent of Electric Light Orchestra and the manic eccentricity of gonzo glam mavericks Sparks and New Wave brainiacs XTC.