By Denis O'HanlonIllustration by Kristen Solecki
The main complaint I had with Wolf Parade's second album At Mount Zoomer was that it sounded like they took songs from both creative heads' solo projects, placed them in some arbitrary order, and called it a new album. Since then both Spencer Krug and Dan Boeckner, of Sunset Rubdown and Handsome Furs respectively, have put out excellent new solo LPs, and while most fans still wished for the days of a cohesive "band" sound that debut Apologies to the Queen Mary offered, more opportunities to hear distinct songs from two great writers was enough to get them excited again.
And I'm happy to say that Wolf Parade has come back with a great album that highlights the two singers differences while still allowing for enough continuity to make this feel like a collaborative effort. It still sounds a lot like an album of Handsome Furs and Sunset Rubdown songs, but the band Wolf Parade is performing them.
Dan Boekner really makes his voice heard here with a collection stronger overall than on any Wolf Parade album yet. Sure you could make the argument that he's had the best song on the previous two albums ("Shine a Light" and "Language City"), but overall every album seems owned by Krug and his jittery, nervous anthems. Boekner's songs on Expo 86 are a fantastic collection of raw, honest singing over driving rhythm. They're sing-a-long songs that you can't help but keep time too. Most of all the songs just flat out rock. "Pobody's Nerfect" is the standout. It's one of those songs that you can see still being on bar jukeboxes forty years from now, and I meant that as a high compliment. Boekner has really found his sound with these last two albums and hopefully the best is yet to come.
Saying Boekner comes out looking strongest isn't meant to deride Krug. Krug's songs are a strong as ever. His fault is mainly a combination of Boekner's explosion with the fact that Krug doesn't have a song on this album that's better than one from his last Sunset Rubdown release. Basically Krug is working against himself on this one and the fact that he breaks even is a testament to how solid he is instead of a proclamation of him slipping. Krug definitely leaves some of his stranger or more unique ideas and melodies with his side projects Swan Lake and Sunset Rubdown. Instead he leans heavy on a Frog Eyes wordiness that slide over melodies that work better for the overall context of the album. Also, "Cave-O-Sapien" is still a pretty weird song.
The worst thing I can say about this album is that Boekner and Krug seemed to have reigned back on their musical innovation a bit to create a more fun and loose sound.
Seriously, that's the worst thing I can say about it.
Both seemed to realize that they have their side projects to be experimental and the whole band really seems like they enjoyed themselves on this one making music that is both excellent and catchy. Most of all Boekner and Krug are back to regularly singing and yelping on the other's songs, which is the best sign of all.
