Finished for what seems like ages, Canadian indie group the New Pornographers’ latest full-length album officially came out on August 21. The smashing Challengers has been available to fans thanks to Matador’s (the New P’s U.S. label) “Buy Early, Get Now” program in which customers can pre-order a CD (including a variety of extras), but immediately get access to streams of the album tracks.

But for anyone, the wait was worth it. As their fourth album approached release, its most talked about aspect was that the New P’s found a more “folksy” side, with less dependence on electronic instruments. While this is essentially true, the band maintains all the catchiness and fun of its previous works, including their breakout album, 2005’s Twin Cinema.

The folk side is best heard with the hummable opener, “My Rights Versus Yours.” Band leader A.C. “Carl” Newman sings about getting to the bottom of things and then marching back to the top again. “Flying the flags of new empires in rags” says it all, no?

Otherwise, the folk angle is a little bit overplayed, but if their sound doesn’t sound folk, their lyrics are as human as ever.

You could say that Challengers is the New P’s most reflective work, leaning to songs that try to be ballads, but end up being quiet, yet meaningful pop songs; which is perfectly fine.

Basically, Challengers is less hyper than the New P’s previous works and is filled with engaging and understandable songs: it gets the job done.

The group is in full force on the new disc with all its key players. Mastermind Newman, power vocalist Neko Case, Destroyer songsmith Dan Bejar, and Newman’s niece Kathryn Calder return, along with four other musicians to round out the eight-piece.

Calder first came on with the band to replace Case’s vocals live and to play keyboards, but Challengers sees her expand her role as a creative contributor. Her first lead vocal is on the keep-it-cool tune “Failsafe.”

Bejar’s songs are anything but dull, and his New York City love song “Myriad Harbour” is one of Challengers’ most delightful highlights. With its clever lyrics and catchy chorus, listeners should absolutely understand his magnetic attraction to the city. Bejar’s distinctive voice, along with comfortable and familiar tones during the unchained chorus, makes the song one of the best of the twelve tracks.

As with each of the New P’s records, Newman is at the forefront. Nothing he does is bad here. On “Unguided,” (their first “epic” at six and a half minutes long) Newman assures us that certainties are hard to come by and that “there is something unguided in the sky tonight.”

With its “pirates-on-the-sea” intro, the slower “Go Places” sees the New P’s at their most philosophical on Challengers: “A heart should always go one step too far.”

As soon as the tempo has been turned down, the New P’s crank it back up again for exciting power pop with “Mutiny, I Promise You.”

The band rounds out the record with two more deep songs about going it alone and giving back. “Adventures In Solitude” and “The Spirit Of Giving” represent the album well, with their soft “there is still hope” mantras.

But there was never any doubt with this record as the New P’s continue their tradition of producing entertaining and important songs. Four out of five.

The New Pornographers come to the 9:30 Club in D.C. October 27 with Emma Pollock and Benjy Ferree. The show is sold out. Darn.