No 'Apologies' necessary from Wolf Parade
By Jeff Renfro
Out of the newest bands to come out of the hyped Montreal music scene, Wolf Parade stands out the most. According to both Spin magazine and The New York Times, Montreal is the hub of North American rock music. The buzz surrounding Montreal might be overstated, but Wolf Parade is the real deal. They bring an experimental spirit to what would be standard pop songs if in the hands of a lesser band.
Coming together at the spur of the moment, Wolf Parade (Dan Boeckner, Spencer Krug, Hadji Bakara and Arlen Thompson) formed when a friend's band needed someone to open for them. The band enjoyed the collaboration so much that they continued to play together, and they were eventually discovered by the members of Modest Mouse, who brought them to Sub Pop Records. Putting together a self-titled EP that was largely ignored, the band went on to tour and further develop their sound into their debut album, "Apologies to the Queen Mary?"
The album begins with "You are a Runner and I Am My Father's Son," an introspective ballad which turns into a dizzying and aggressive melody. The band's most valuable asset is immediately recognizable. Completely unique and emotive, Boeckner's singing delivers a sense of agony and longing. The tone in his voice doesn't change much during the course of the album, but his vocals become much more pronounced by the end, creating a renewed sense of longing and desperation in each song.
The first standout track on the album is "Fancy Claps." Each preceding song begins slowly, progressively building momentum until the album explodes with this track. Introducing a synthesizer that remains in the background for the rest of the album, the song starts a dramatic buildup, which doesn't let up until the end of the album.
The lyrics revolve around the past and relationships, the best being "I'll Believe in Anything." The line "Nobody knows you and nobody gives a damn" repeats throughout the song, as the other lyrics undercut it, in what becomes a beautiful ode. The song shows off its climax unabashedly, but the cheese factor is scaled back by the meaningful lyrics.
The album continues to build, with the next track, "It's a Curse," where the instruments compliment each other perfectly. The guitars play off of each other, over a simple bass and drum line. The vocals reach their high-point, as Boeckner adds a raspy yell.
"Apologies-" has few missteps, and is almost perfectly constructed. Wolf Parade's attention to pacing and song ordering pays off. The band is currently touring Europe, but will bring their energetic live show to the Bay Area next year.
Grade: A-
Contact Jeff Renfro at (408) 551-1918 or jrenfro@scu.edu.