Apologies to the Queen Mary
Wolf Parade
(Sub Pop)
Reviewed by Megan Giddings
Last March, I was intiated into the brotherhood of the wolf. No, this is not a secret cult in the '80's movie/Ivy League sense. It was in the midst of a Guitar Wolf show in Detroit, where I was cowering next to my boyfriend amidst flying beer bottles and the biggest, most dangerous mosh pit I have ever seen. Seiji - the Guitar Wolf himself - stepped up to his microphone and told us that we were all part of the spirit of the wolf. Or at least that's what I think he told us; it's kind of hard to understand what Guitar Wolf is saying. But long story short, I am now more than happy to welcome Wolf Parade into the fellowship.
Apologies to the Queen Mary, the debut album by my newest Canadian wolf brothers, could easily be used in a hipster bingo game of spot-the-influences, but it still manages to surpass the indie community's expectations . Its sound scope, ranging from sludge drone ("Same Ghost Every Night") to flying bird melodic highs ("Grounds for Divorce"), brims over with merry blips and gorgeous keyboards. Other than "Same Ghost Every Night," which truly attempts to produce a malevolent spirit, the primary effect is to make me feel good - or maybe I just equate electronic noise with happiness. But if one also pays attention to the lyrics, the album takes a somewhat creepier tone. Queen Mary is an album haunted by ghosts, most of the variety that are found in a grandmother's attic on a rainy saturday afternoon; while they often have strange stories and requests, there is rarely a preeminent feel of danger. Wolf Parade does its best to encourage the childhood sense of exploration and adventure.
Article comments
1 - Dan
Hot diggety! I really like this review.
2 - Matt
MPP--I agree with much of this after about 3 listens to ther album. The massive critical blowjob that Wolf Parade has received from the indie crowd so far is only partially justified. Dinner bells is way too long.
3 - Paul
Great review Megan - and very nicely written. I couldn't agree with you more about 'This Heart's on Fire', but I disagree slightly about 'Dinner Bells' - I think the length and drawn out nature of the track add to its overall cadence and impact. I've read countless reviews of this record and I can't believe that none of them has mentioned 'I'll Believe in Anything', which, to me, is one of the standout tracks of the last couple of years (up there with 'Wake Up').
4 - nick
i dont think dinner bells is too long. its obviously a heart felt song, so i feel it deserves to be that long. sure its not a song to rock out to in the car..but when your drunk and its the end of the night it does wonders. plus theyre pushing the envelope again, and i think they achieved their goal. listen to the live version of this hearts on fire and youll love it, trust me. i am disappointed with the studio version but the live version is amazing. download it or i think its on one of their earlier ep's.
5 - ashley
I am absolutely 100% given over to Wolf Parade fandomania! I've seen them three times so far and amazed at the raw energy their live performance entails. I agree that 'dinner bells' isn't as power on the album, but it is much edgier live and I was able to appreicate it on the grander scale. I also agree that "this hearts on fire' is a poor closer, but strongly disagree that it's not a good song. The more I listen to it, the more i love it.
The production on the album is amazing in comparison to the EP's - kudos to Issac Brock for an AMAZING job on it. The mix is terrific. This is a band I wish I could go see every single weekend... GO BUY THE RECORD!!!!
Here are some pics from their recent gig @ Lucky in Victoria, BC through the following tags:
<img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v614/ashcash1983/15.jpg" alt="Image hosted by Photobucket.com">
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v614/ashcash1983/15.jpg
6 - Kristin
My second favorite album of the year. I saw them twice, once opening for the Arcade Fire, once headlining in a small venue, which suits them very well. My favorite on the album: I'll Believe in Anything.
7 - Zach
What's your first favorite?
8 - matt
great band. great live show. great ep's. bad studio recording. really bad producer (isaac brock). the next record will be much better. wait and see. hype though premature will be met.