Allan’s World of Music

Does Wolf Parade need an introduction? One of Canada’s premier indie rock groups out of Montreal featuring side projects Sunset Rubdown and the Handsome Furs which each have their own dedicated fanbase. Wolf Parade’s Apologies To The Queen Mary garnered critical acclaim and I will attest that I absolutely loved the album. It has slowly become one of my favorites ever.

Today marks the day that the highly anticipated follow-up At Mount Zoomer is released. First off I knew exactly what the title was about when I heard it. I remember Kevin asking if anyone had any “zooms” and I knew it was a reference to shrooms. Maybe Wolf Parade takes in a lot of shrooms which could explain their greatness?

I’ve read a ton of reviews of the album and while I could’ve chosen to write the review anytime, I’ve made sure I did it after Pitchfork does it. My Fleet Foxes review, I wanted to show I had a grip on music before the critics spoke but alas I took the hit in traffic had I released it after. That’s life.

One of the defining parts of Apologies To The Queen Mary is that it was great indie pop rock with a hint of experimentation that put it into the stratosphere of greatness. At Mount Zoomer is a shade more toward Sunset Rubdown adding elements of art rock while trying very little to preserve the pop rock that probably lead them to be so popular with the masses. I’m not against experimentation when it works…well does it?

First I’ll start with the first track Soldier’s Grin. I would say it’s quite typical of what you’d expect a Wolf Parade album to start with the keyboard synths backed with an awesome guitar riff. I actually dig the first track, very reminiscent of the Wolf Parade I look forward to.

Call It A Ritual is the next track which, is the short, pop song that came out awhile ago to get the blogosphere into a absolute craze. While this song is sort of catchy, I expect more out of Wolf Parade and it amazes me that this is a Spencer Krug track. Language City was the second track released by Sub Pop and it’s a great track. I love the guitar strum through the song. The next two tracks, I’m kind of iffy (yes I use iffy) about still. They have great elements but I generally end up skipping them.

The next two tracks are by far my favorite on the album, The Grey Estates and Fine Young Cannibals. The Grey Estates captures why Wolf Parade is so great. It’s a pop song that’s catchy in nature but deep with meaning. Fine Young Cannibals is a 6-minute epic track that starts with a simple little riff but becomes increasingly complex. The 10-minute epic Kissing The Beehive is also an amazing track.

Pretty much I ended up liking Boeckner’s work a whole lot more then Krug’s. After spending some of my own time, this album is more like Wolf Parade then being “artsy” like Sunset Rubdown (critics obviously didn’t listen to that record). Wolf Parade continues to make great pop rock with enough of a spin of it to have the masses call upon their greatness. One of the best groups of our generation perhaps?

Rating: 4.75 out of 5.
Excellent, maybe a touch off from total “greatness” but if this is what you call an album that isn’t as good as your first…it says a lot of the expectations people have placed on you. Still a great album on it’s own…it may be a bit off from the quality of Apologies but I’m not complaining.

MP3s to check out:

The Grey Estates by Wolf Parade
Fine Young Cannibals by Wolf Parade
Soldier’s Grin by Wolf Parade

2 Comments for “Wolf Parade - At Mount Zoomer Review”

1. ?? — July 3, 2008 @ 8:09 am
   
   

   Isn’t Mt. Zoomer the studio they recorded at?

2. Allan — July 3, 2008 @ 12:44 pm
   
   

   Yeah, it’s a homage to shrooms as well though.

Leave A Comment