Record Reviews
Wolf Parade: Expo 86
Nick Nicoludis :: Tuesday, June 29th, 2010 1:30 pm
Wolf Parade
Expo 86
Sub Pop
Expo 86 is Wolf Parade’s third full-length album, and it seems they’re still interested in the manic noise and bizarre song composition that garnered their popularity in the mid-2000’s.
The Canadian outfit, which consists of members from the Handsome Furs and Sunset Rubdown/Swan Lake/Frog Eyes, have hit their stride on their latest release. Their songwriting has evolved some, and they’ve created well-crafted tunes that lean towards indie-pop rather than rock.
Tracks like “Palm Road” and “Yulia” use off-time rhythms that drive the song further and further towards an emotional climax culminating with Spencer Krug’s voice and spiraling guitars. Halfway between the best indie rock we’ve heard lately and Bob Seger-esque rock anthems, the songs are catchy and danceable, fresh and original.
The album really sets itself apart from previous efforts with its indie-pop, dance tracks reminiscent of bands like The Faint and The Virgins. Both “What Did My Lover Say? (It Always Had To Go This Way)” and “Ghost Pressure” rely on vintage disco beats spiced up with muddy guitars and trance-inducing synth melodies.
Expo 86 has all the the aspects of a perfect summer album: loud infectious meolodies, lyrics you can scream along with, and straight-forward dance beats that, at times, devolve into chaos.
One thing is for sure: Expo 86 should be listened to extremely loud.
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