Members of Wolf Parade have done a bit of explaining about the band’s third album EXPO 86. We were told the main criteria Spencer Krug had for the songs was “whether or not [he] would dance to them.” He continued: “You know in Archie comics when there’s a school dance and you see little cartoon music notes floating out of the PA speakers? I like to think this new record sounds like those notes.” For his part, Dan Boeckner said EXPO 86 is a “dense” and noisy album that he feels is “more focused” and has “more energy” than At Mount Zoomer. We’ve been listening to this hour of new music all weekend and agree with both songwriters.
Five years after Apologies To The Queen Mary, Wolf Parade have become a solid indie-rock institution. For some reason, though, they’ve yet to crossover like Arcade Fire or even the more idiosyncratic Animal Collective. Maybe because, at times, they feel more like a project than a band, their various side projects seemingly taking precedence. That feeling could shift here … When we evaluated Mount Zoomer, we mentioned its cohesion, but EXPO 86 is tighter and more “band-like” than we’ve ever heard these guys. It’s likely not going to hit you like Apologies To The Queen Mary did all those years ago, but it’s more immediately enjoyable than At Mount Zoomer, and we’re finding more enjoyable details as we return to it. This is largely because of Krug’s contributions … but not for the reasons you might think.
Boeckner generally comes out of the gate swinging — it’s the up-tempo Springsteen-esque thing to do. On Expo, Krug matches, and at times surpasses, that energy. If you listen to Mount Zoomer again, Krug’s songs were generally mellower, knottier, and weirder. Which is great, but he can also write anthems. See, for instance, the last section of Zoomer’s “California Dreamer” or “An Animal In Your Care.” We see a more of those here: For starters, the incantatory, dust-kicking opener “Cloud Shadow On The Mountain.” (Followed by Boeckner’s mellower “Palm Road.”) On it, Krug howls and harmonizes about boat shoes, dream catchers, scorpions, and island-jumping gazelles while distorted guitars ring out and Arlen Thompson gives his set a workout.
We also get guitar swagger on “What Did My Lover Say? (It Always Had To Go This Way),” which we heard live before we knew its name and officially when we did. Krug switches things up and slows things down, but even the less straightforward “In The Direction Of The Moon” has a funky dance-step to it that counters its drifting ambient moments. Ditto the fist pumping “Two Men In New Tuxedos.” Or the synth ‘n’ guitar “Oh You, Old Thing,” in which he mentions cutting a rug. (EXPO 86‘s new wave undertones are maybe a nod to the year referenced in its title.) And “Cave-O-Sapien” is an addictive, unhinged chant-along closer. It’s fitting this one includes moments of folks shouting together.
Last time we mentioned Boeckner was coming into his own as a songwriter. We thought to mention it because he often gets overshadowed by Krug. Here, his work has a tendency to sound a little same-same. The previously mentioned “Palm Road,” for instance, isn’t his best moment. It’s not bad, but it doesn’t stand out like his classics. “Little Golden Age” is a better take on that general idea. And he’s sharper and more memorable on “Pobody’s Nerfect,” which marries a crushing side with softer side and an almost gothy side (there’s room for all inside it). There’s the hazily textured, escalating “Yulia.” He also puts a decent foot forward on the previously enjoyed “Ghost Pressure.”
The increased cohesion benefits both writers. More than any previous offering, EXPO 86 works especially well as a complete listening experience: Threads are picked up, guitars ring out and diminish, choruses echo. Songwriters blend. In fact, despite what we just did, it’s best enjoyed when you forget who wrote what, sit back, and just listen. It’s Wolf Parade’s “band” record.
EXPO 86 is out 6/29 via Sub Pop.
You Might Also Like
 Wolf Parade Unveil At Mount Zoomer Album Art |  Britt Daniel, Dan Boeckner & Sam Brown Are Divine Fits |  Moonface – “Teary Eyes And Bloody Lips” Video & Album Stream |  Moonface – “Headed For The Door” |
 |
 |
Leave a Reply
Sign in Sign in with FacebookYou must be logged in to post, reply to, or rate a comment.
Been listening to this album all weekend myself. You’re review is a nail on the head. Another solid effort from the boys of Wolf Parade
Wolf Parade is one of the best bands we have. (Even with Dante “Doofus” DeCaro … miss you Hadji!)
“Ghost Pressure” was an early favorite but the whole album is doing a nice trick. Happy to have this for springtime.
Why would you call Dante a doofus? Dante is a wildly talented musician and a super nice guy to boot. He is the only reason HHH ever had any decent songs and Johnny and Moon is great. You need to pay closer attention to his contribution to the band if you think he’s a doofus.
Expo ’86 has definitely consumed me. I’ve listened to it so many times, and I think I’m just now discovering all of the songs. Wolf Parade definitely has this odd, intangible quality about them–it takes lots of listens until I finally hear the songs.
Anyway, another fantastic release from Krug & co. Also, not to be a butt, but it should be “your review,” jacksfork.
i gotta admit, i was initially down on the first two songs that were posted about a week ago. but after listening to them in the context of the whole album, i’m definitely more into them. this should be a record that gets better with each listen.
Hidden due to low comment rating. Click here to see
Not gonna lie, I think the cover is kinda cool
you’ll sh*t bricks if you look at the picture upside down.
why? also, i’m in the “awesome cover” camp.
yeah, seriously, i just did… i don’t get what ur saying
not trying to be a dick, i guess i just don’t think little kids trying to look tough is cute, funny, cool, etc…i mean i get it if it’s trying to be nostalgic for childhood, but it’s just not up my alley.
I’m not going to downvote you for having this opinion. That’s kindof silly. But not only do I think this album cover is great, but can you seriously be disapointed after the previous Wolf Parade covers. Also, Sunset Rubdown, God bless them, have horrible covers as well. Handsome Furs thrown into the mix is a step up, but I still think this trumps them all.
Same story goes with the album title. Although, the HF and SRD side projects tend to have some epic album titles…
Another great release from the WP boys. But “Two Men In New Tuxedos” has got to be the worst song Krug has ever written.
Sadly, I agree. I’m a bit baffled about this one…(the song, not the album)
I kinda agree right now. Maybe in 8 months I will fully see the genius of it and it will become my all time favorite Wolf Parade song ever (as seems to be the defining charachteristic of a Spencer Krug song) but as of now I think its the weakest song on the element (that or yulia).. everything else .. pretty much awesome
top albums of 2010 nxt to shame shame
I disagree SO MUCH about Dan’s songs. I really think he outshines Spencer here. I’m a Krug loyalist, but Dan’s songs feel much more complete, whereas a couple of the Spencer songs feel like Sunset Rubdown leftovers (“Cloud Shadow…” and “Two Men…”)
All in all, it’s a great album. I still think At Mount Zoomer is incredibly underrated. It’s an explosive album.
Explosive is a good word for At Mount Zoomer. Explosive and Bombastic. I want the last song I hear in life to be “Kissing the Beehive”, because it will mean I will have achieved my dream of riding a rocket straight into the sun.
First off, that cover is totally bad-ass. Second… well, that was it.
I really like the album, but there are definitely some low points (“Palm Road”), and not as many high points as “At Mount Zoomer,” for me. “Ghost Pressure” had me hoping for some “Kissing the Beehive” shit, but most of the time on the album I’m only turning up messy guitars and noise (not a bad thing). I miss the pounding keyboards and howling, but the album’s still an interesting chaos, and sometimes it’s just straight fuck-you-rock-and-roll (“Cloud Mountain” comes to mind). The lyrics are less cryptic, but more fun, and a lot more interesting rhythmically (especially in “What Did My Lover Say”).
I DIG IT IS WHAT I’M TRYIN’ TO SAY I JUST DON’T KNOW HOW.
Palm Road is raw.
Can you honestly imagine if these guys were forced to take as long as The National on one CD. Not to take anything away from High Violet, but tell just imagine.
Dragonslayer’s omission on the best of 2009 confounds me to this day.
hellllllllllllluh psyched on this thing!!@#$%^&
Whooops, not supposed to be a reply man, my bad
Great album! The photo on the cover is great too. But I think “Pobody’s Nerfect” is the worst song title ever!
you better watch what you say about not liking stuff, otherwise you might get massively downvoted. actually, i happen to agree that it’s a terrible title, but i really like the song. it also seems that i’m in the extreme minority about disliking the cover art, which is fine, but isn’t downvoting reserved for hateful or antagonistic commenting?
I love the song too, its actually one of my favourites! the name is just so silly…
I agree though, donwnvoting should be reserved for hateful or antagonistic commenting.
The internet is serious business and you should hold every comment accountable to how you are as a person depending on how it was up- or down- voted lol. Who gives a crap about downvoting or upvoting anyways onto the Wolf Parade. These doods never fail to impress and this album is another fine piece to add to their indie legacy.
I know right? The vocal fanboy minority downvotes the rational discretionary majority. I heart intardnet.
I think they’ve accumulated enough cred to get away with calling a song “Pobody’s Nerfect”. It’s hilarious and shows they’re not taking themselves too seriously which is a nice departure from most bands these days.
That’s a cool way to look at it, I guess. It would have been even more hilarious if Dan Boeckner actually sung the words “pobody’s nerfect”
Marge: Mmm, that seems very noisy and expensive for a souvenir. Mmm,
why don’t you get this nice cap? [cap reads "Pobody's Nerfect in
Australia"] It’s clever…just like you. Hmm? Hmm?
-The Simpsons
YES! I was wondering why no one else got that reference. Damn kids today and their lack of classic Simpsons knowledge.
lawl, that’d be the all time most sincerely legit chorus.
can’t wait
Loving this shit so much. In the Direction of the Moon has got to be my new fave WP song. This album and cover are both outstanding.
agreed on every level. it sounds super organic
so, i thought this album had clicked, and i was in love. but my goodness. yesterday, driving to florida (through alabama), i listened to the album, soaring down the highway, and it was BRILLIANT. such a rocking album, and i’m so glad to have it!
i would say this album is a little better than AMZ – that album to me was marred by sub-par songwriting (IMO “Call It A Ritual” is the worst song Krug has ever written – I kind of like “Two Men In New Tuxedos”!)
as for “pobody’s nerfect” – my reasoning is that dan couldn’t have called the song something as serious as “nobody’s perfect,” which is a very serious lyric in the song, so he settled for changing the letters. not a huge deal. could be a simpsons reference too. also, how BADASS is the solo in that song. that song rips.
i would say i like (palm road) to LOVE (oh you, young thing; ghost mountain) about every song on this album, though What Did My Lover Say may be one of the worst songs they’ve produced. everything else is pretty great though. another 7/10 (same goes for AMZ, which was maybe a 6)
How can I disagree with you SO MUCH about songs, but still love the album?!
Call it A Ritual is a wonderful song and it’s baffling that you could say it’s the worst song Spencer Krug has written. That would never cross my mind (especially considering the first Sunset Rubdown record). Ever. I think Tuxedos is the weakest song on this album, and What Did My Lover Say is probably my favorite. It’s so huge. Riffs. Guitars. Keys. Beats. Dissonance. Everything that makes Wolf Parade who they are. And it reminds me of Modest Mouse (mostly in the guitars)–but not in a derivative way. It’s representative, I think, of the band that they’ve grown into, which is absolutely wonderful.
The first Sunset Rubdown is great, but otherwise I agree.
This is really well put. “What Did My Lover Say” is also my favorite song, and I thank you for defending it. I watched a live video of this and it looks like Dante Decaro takes over from Dan for the rocking out at the end.
Also, I think Dan is a master at writing really simple riffs that turn out to be catchy as hell. The solos at the end of this song are not technical at all, but I can’t resist playing air guitar along with them.