Pitchfork

If you really want to be ready to step into the ring with the New Pornographers' Challengers on August 21, one CD just won't be enough. Nor two. Three, maybe, but since we're thinking big, why not go four? That's right, Matador is offering a deluxe box set version of Challengers-- what they're calling the "Executive Edition"-- packed to the brim with four discs. It's available right this minute as part of Matador's Buy Early Get Now pre-order campaign.

The first disc is of course the Pornos' fourth LP. The second aims to collect every B-side, demo, and alternate version related to the album, while the third, titled "Live From the Future", will include live Pornos cuts from gigs on their just-announced fall tour. The final disc includes videos, photos (no Neko Case lingerie shots that we know of, sorry), and album artwork.

You might be wondering, hmm... how can they sell me a box set that includes songs that haven't been recorded yet? Well, the answer is... the box set doesn't actually exist in a box. Unless you make it yourself. You see, all of the extra goodies will be downloadable from the Buy Early Get Now site-- it's up to you to burn it to disc. And since it's a bunch of downloads rather than a physical product, Matador can add new stuff to it whenever they want. Magic!

In addition to the box set, "Executive Edition" subscribers also get to stream the whole album RIGHT NOW, mp3s of three exclusive bonus tracks, and early bird access to tour dates and tickets. For five bucks less, you can get the "Standard Edition", which includes everything but the box set.

Speaking of live Porno, the Canadian pop troupe has a handful of dates lined up in the weeks to come-- including, of course, a spot at the Pitchfork Music Festival. And then this September, they'll hit the road again, with Matador labelmates Lavender Diamond opening.

Challenges:

06-18 London, England - Bar Academy %
06-19 London, England - Borderline &
06-20 London, England - 93 Feet East +
06-22 Pilton, England - Glastonbury Festival
07-04 New York, NY - Battery Park *
07-15 Chicago, IL - Union Park (Pitchfork Music Festival) $
09-13 Victoria, British Columbia - McPherson Ballroom #!
09-14 Seattle, WA - Showbox #!
09-15 Seattle, WA - Showbox #!
09-16 Portland, OR - Crystal Ballroom #!
09-17 San Francisco, CA - Warfield Theatre #!
09-18 San Diego, CA - House of Blues #!
09-19 Los Angeles, CA - Henry Fonda Theater #!
09-20 Los Angeles, CA - Henry Fonda Theater #@
09-21 Tucson, AZ - Rialto Theatre #@
09-22 Albuquerque, NM - Sunshine Theater #@
09-24 Boulder, CO - Boulder Theater #@
09-25 Salt Lake City, UT - The Depot #@
09-26 Boise, ID - The Egyptian Theatre #@
09-28 Vancouver, British Columbia - Commodore Ballroom #!

% with Envelopes
& with Immaculate Machine
+ with the Little Ones
with Midlake
$ with Stephen Malkmus, De La Soul, Of Montreal, Jamie Lidell, the Sea and Cake, Junior Boys, the Field, Cadence Weapon, the Cool Kids, Klaxons, Nomo, Deerhunter, the Ponys, Menomena, Craig Taborn's Junk Magic, Brightblack Morning Light, Fred Lonberg-Holm's Lightbox Orchestra
# with Lavender Diamond
! with Fancey
@ with the Awkward Stage