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Wolf Parade

Wolf Parade
2005
Sub Pop

Wolf Parade - Wolf Parade (Cover Artwork)


Review by: RyanM
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Sub Pop Records (Logo)

Published on October 21st 2005

[Ed.'s Note: Try to read this review with the mindset it was written in July, as it was. A review of the full-length will be posted shortly.]

There should be something said about using an EP as an actual teaser for an upcoming full-length, which seems the most logical use of a collection of short songs, especially considering the practice seems deader with each passing year. Wolf Parade do this perfectly, however, using this short and sweet 4-song EP to not only get you moving, but also get everyone excited about their nearing full-length, which appears later in the year. The four songs represented here include some infectious, dance-inducing songs as well as some more emotive and heavy passages, striking a nice balance between the two. And while it is enough in and of itself to be interested in -- the promise which this shows -- it should naturally leak onto the future release, and that's the true story behind it.

While there have been plenty allusions towards the standardized sound which Wolf Parade play, it would be short-sighted to dismiss their brand of indie rock as mundane or overdone. The small flairs of personality abound on these four songs, from the excellent vocals to the playful stomp of “Shine a Light,” Wolf Parade seem set on putting their own spin on traditionalistic composition. What results is a familiar feeling, a mixture of songs that still manage to offer a new perspective. The aforementioned opener, “Shine a Light,” begins with a catchy, galloping guitar leading the way, upon which other sounds are continuously layered, eventually morphing the song into an immediately gratifying, upbeat and pulsating song. The heartfelt cries from Dan Boeckner are delivered as earnestly as one could ask, with lines like “that’s fine, I’m barely alive” and the constantly repeated “waiting for something that’ll never arrive” give the song an emotional weight that contrasts nicely with the dance-floor stomp of the synth and guitars. “You Are a Runner and I Am My Father's Son” relies on a disjointed drum pattern following alongside Boeckner’s broken voice. With “Disco Sheets,” things once again pick up as the music pushes quickly giving the vocals a quickened, urgent pace, before settling down for a brief period, only to make a final charge with a swagger that does the name proud.

This EP gives a superb introduction to Wolf Parade, and should build the anticipation for their full-length to a maximum quickly enough. While there is nothing that strays too far from a standard template for indie rock, they do manage to fit a personality behind the elements led by Boeckner and the quirky instrumentation that oftentimes brings out the danceability of the songs. With only four songs running under 14 minutes, there’s just enough material to whet the appetite but not enough to satiate it. That may be the best thing about it. Here’s to waiting in anticipation.






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    Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, October 23, 2005 at 6:59 PM (EDT)

    Dude, there are like 327 Wolf bands. Wolf Parade > than the majority.

    Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, October 22, 2005 at 7:06 PM (EDT)

    "Psst. There is already a band called WolfBrigade and they own. Sorry, find a different name."

    First the words Brigade and Parade are different. You crusties might not read so good so I thought I'd help with that one. Second WolfBrigade is awful. Just horrible. They are funny to laugh at but that doesn't mean they are any good.

    Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, October 22, 2005 at 5:17 PM (EDT)
    My Score:

    Their EPs are better, but bare in mind that I fucking adore their second EP to no end. This gets an 8, then another point for "I'll Believe in Anything".

    Posted by Marlon on 2005-10-22 13:31:29

    From an hour ago:

    "Oh dammit I don't know or care anymore leave me alone."

    Posted by LevitateMe on 2005-10-22 13:07:43
    My Score:

    From the pitchfork review

    Krug's key tracks also come toward the album's end: the regal swagger of the Frog-Eyed "Dear Sons and Daughters of Hungry Ghosts"

    Boeckner's best are the anthemic "Shine a Light" and his lovely, ragged closer, "This Heart's on Fire"

    Posted by LevitateMe on 2005-10-22 12:56:10
    My Score:

    I have seen them live three times. Spencer sings "..Hungry Ghosts" and Dan sings "This Heart's On Fire."

    Posted by Marlon on 2005-10-22 12:38:09

    Oh dammit I don't know or care anymore leave me alone.

    Posted by Marlon on 2005-10-22 12:36:09

    I'm half right and you're still wrong. They're both sang by Dan.

    Posted by Marlon on 2005-10-22 12:31:16

    Oh god dammit they're not! Well fuck... they still sound the fucking same.

    Posted by Marlon on 2005-10-22 12:31:15

    Oh god dammit they're not! Well fuck... they still sound the fucking same.

    Posted by Marlon on 2005-10-22 12:28:58

    Yeah. They're both sang by Spencer. You've shot yourself in the foot. I win.

    Posted by Marlon on 2005-10-22 12:27:58

    Levitate Me...An interesting fact... the songs you listed as them sounding like different from each other... I think they're both sound like Spencer Krug. I could be wrong... but I think they are.

    Posted by etwiels88 on 2005-10-22 12:11:08

    Has anyone ever heard any thing by wolf pac featuring the remnants of the bloodhound gang from the use your fingers/dingleberry haze era?

    X-Pac?

    Posted by Marlon on 2005-10-22 10:40:46

    "I don't think the two vocalists sound that similar at all. Spencer is kind of a yelpier version of Isaac Brock (or Bobcat Goldthwait) and Dan is more like a girzzled rock star, Strummer/Mackaye-type voice."

    They both sound like your first description to me a lot of the time, I will admit that on the two songs you posted to listen to to notice differences. But the truth remains that if you listen to the band without knowing they have two singers and without looking at the news it is very likely you will think it is one guy.

    Posted by LevitateMe on 2005-10-22 06:37:02
    My Score:

    I don't think the two vocalists sound that similar at all. Spencer is kind of a yelpier version of Isaac Brock (or Bobcat Goldthwait) and Dan is more like a girzzled rock star, Strummer/Mackaye-type voice.

    Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, October 22, 2005 at 6:00 AM (EDT)

    Ryan M?

    The guy tate kicked out? Should be, this is right up the pitchfork so it has to be.

    Posted by localh on 2005-10-22 05:53:25

    Has anyone ever heard any thing by wolf pac featuring the remnants of the bloodhound gang from the use your fingers/dingleberry haze era?

    Posted by etwiels88 on 2005-10-21 18:03:07

    yeah? well you're grammatically gay.

    booyah

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, October 21, 2005 at 3:50 PM (EDT)

    ""or clap your hands say yes."

    Haha, the politically correct version."

    hey dick, that's grammatically correct, not politically correct.

    Posted by Inspection12e on 2005-10-21 15:41:33

    Oh snap Maron told you!

    Posted by etwiels88 on 2005-10-21 15:11:00

    "or clap your hands say yes."

    Haha, the politically correct version.

    Posted by Marlon on 2005-10-21 15:01:55

    "I don't know how anyone can think that the two vocalists sounds the same. Listen to "Dear Sons And Daughters Of Hungry Ghosts" and then listen to "This Heart's On Fire." Completely different."

    They obviously sound different once you realize they are different people and concentrate on how they are different and you can pick up contrasts. But they sound similar enough on a lot of tracks for it to confuse you if you aren't particuarly listening.

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, October 21, 2005 at 2:32 PM (EDT)

    Psst. There is already a band called WolfBrigade and they own. Sorry, find a different name.

    -Ken

    Posted by LevitateMe on 2005-10-21 14:17:15
    My Score:

    I don't know how anyone can think that the two vocalists sounds the same. Listen to "Dear Sons And Daughters Of Hungry Ghosts" and then listen to "This Heart's On Fire." Completely different.

    Posted by Inspection12e on 2005-10-21 13:55:54

    Yes it is. I for one am glad to have him.

    Posted by stevejonestherealbones on 2005-10-21 13:48:43

    is this that guy from the other site? did he come to the dark side?

    - jones the bones

    - stevejones8770@yahoo.com

    Posted by RyanM on 2005-10-21 13:40:01

    "Ryan Mills sold out. And this still sucks Maron."

    Yeah, what can you do?

    Posted by youwinalemon on 2005-10-21 13:04:52

    The full-length is seriously wonderful. I wasn't really that into it at first, but it grew on me exponentially after a while. I don't know if it's really deserving of the hype, as the hype's been a tad ridiculous, but it's still probably one of my favorite albums this year.

    Haven't heard this EP, though.

    Posted by Inspection12e on 2005-10-21 12:51:31

    Touche Marlon, touche.

    Posted by Marlon on 2005-10-21 12:49:49

    From now on I'm gonna start fucking your mom and you're gonna call me dad. Trust me, it'll be an improvement.

    Posted by Inspection12e on 2005-10-21 12:44:13

    That's right Marlon. I renamed you. From here on out you shall be known as Maron. Trust me it's an improvement.

    Posted by Marlon on 2005-10-21 12:41:19

    Just to be straight up... I like the band and they still sound exactly the same to me.

    Posted by ClicheMyHeart on 2005-10-21 11:38:19
    My Score:

    the one singer is being compared to "beck" while the other singer is compared to modest mouse or clap your hands say yes. They definitely sound different from each other. This is ok, you can definitely hear there influences right when the cd starts (modest mouse, arcade fire, or any energetic indie rock band). Go to metacritic and see all the good reviews its getting.....its definitely overrated, but not bad

    Posted by Inspection12e on 2005-10-21 11:03:06

    Ryan Mill sold out. And this still sucks Maron.

    Posted by Marlon on 2005-10-21 09:16:56

    It is a fact that they have two vocalists not one. Is also a fact that they sound exactly the fucking same.

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, October 21, 2005 at 9:03 AM (EDT)
    My Score:

    album isn't bad...but im so sick of keyboards..and find them in this album to be really annoying at times.

    Posted by LevitateMe on 2005-10-21 06:44:18
    My Score:

    They have two vocalists, not one.

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, October 21, 2005 at 4:23 AM (EDT)
    My Score:

    Give me a break. One good song. How bout a My Morning Jacket review?

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, October 21, 2005 at 3:48 AM (EDT)

    The vocals cop Isaak Brock shamelessly, but this is a pretty good album. It's like a Modest Mouse/Arcade Fire mash-up, with loads of keys. "Sons and Daughters of Hungry Ghosts" is a great song.

    Posted by localh on 2005-10-21 03:25:36
    My Score:

    score is for sub pop still being around...

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, October 21, 2005 at 3:25 AM (EDT)
    My Score:

    The Full Length Sucks. At least review that. Can't believe the critics on this one. I dont hear Modest Mouse. I hear terrible lyrics and average musicians. Review Something good...The Hold Steady, The New Lows, Lightning Bolt, DangerDoom. This sites been really slacking lately on reviews.

    Posted by TheOneTrueBill on 2005-10-21 03:11:46

    The staff on my school newspaper reviews this. They're pretentious indie fuckers and loved it. I bet I'll hate it.

    Posted by kenjamin on 2005-10-21 00:46:48

    more jesse reviews!

    Posted by theundergroundscene on 2005-10-21 00:42:29

    O - VER - RA - TED

    *clap clap, clap clap clap*

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, October 21, 2005 at 12:37 AM (EDT)
    My Score:

    Fuck the EP. The Full length came out 3 weeks ago. You guys suck.

    Posted by etwiels88 on 2005-10-21 00:30:23
    My Score:

    Erg, thought this was for Apologies To The Queen Mary. Well, either way, Holopaw is great.

    Posted by etwiels88 on 2005-10-21 00:29:52

    Unless you're an avid Arcade Fire fan, buy the Holopaw album instead of this.

    Posted by Marlon on 2005-10-21 00:11:21

    He's an editor.

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, October 21, 2005 at 12:07 AM (EDT)

    who's Ed?

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