Review: Wolf Parade - At Mount Zoomer (Sub Pop/2008)

Wolf Parade - "Call it a Ritual" - mp3
Yes, yes. We are all aware that Dan Boeckner and Spencer Krug, the two frontmen of Wolf Parade, are two different songwriters, rocking two separate styles, and heading two different side projects. Why this seems to be bumming some critics out with regard to the new Wolf Parade album is perplexing. Perhaps it's because I was joyfully mucking around in Apologies to the Queen Mary for months before I even discovered Sunset Rubdown or Handsome Furs. But the lack of cohesiveness some people are wringing their hands over is what I always thought everyone loved about this band.

The new album, by the way, is fantastic.

MORE AFTER THE JUMP...
"We are not at home," they insist, on "Language City", one of the album's best. Yet it's hard to imagine them not feeling pretty damn at home among the ornate arrangements, varied textures, and well, the pretty fantastic art created on this album. It's interesting. Some songs are drum-driven with the guitars taking a pleasant melodic, rather than rhythmic role - sometimes the keyboard is the star of the show. Furthermore, while I'm usually annoyed by a 6-minute song, (unless it's a 10-minute epic statement, you can usually say what you want to say better in 3), "California Dreamer" proves me wrong. And big ups to drummer Arlen Thompson for nailing the production of the album.

To be sure, the album has it's SNAFU's. "The Grey Estates", the 6th track (my lucky number!) is disappointingly irritating in every way. But "Animal In Your Care" is lovely, starting out fractured and brittle, though ending up beautifully defiant. "Kissing the Beehive" is the perfect 11-minute-album-ender, and some sort of proggy-amazingness.

Dan, Spencer: your band is big enough for the both of you. Too many cooks don't spoil the broth, they just make it more interesting.

P.S. if you weren't planning on seeing Wolf Parade in July, listen to the album and get back to me on that. I hear they added a second show. Who's coming with me?

Tara McCarthy--Stark Contributing Writer

New Wolf Parade Track: "Language City"

Following up on Tara's recommendation to see Wolf Parade live -- and there's no question that you should -- the band is offering a track on its Myspace from the forthcoming record At Mount Zoomer, due June 17 on Sub Pop. Interspersed with flowing synth lines and dark overtones, "Language City" builds to a sweeping outro that makes you want to start the whole thing over again. Download the song HERE.

Select Summer Shows '08

So I just finished the fresh hell that is law school exams, and after roughly three days of sleeping and a full day of the Deadliest Catch Mother’s Day Marathon, I am proud to say that I’ve re-entered the world of the living, refreshed and ready to go to shows. Here are a couple that I’m pretty pumped for this summer…or, six, because it’s my lucky number.

The Raconteurs, 5/30-1 at Terminal 5
I’ve seen them twice, once when they opened for Bob Dylan. Now, I won’t say that the Racs put on a better show than Dylan, because holy hell, that would be sacrilege, and also false. The two aren’t easily compared. I will say that while Mr. Zimmerman had on some very fetching sparkly pants, he didn’t touch a guitar the entire show. Jack White’s guitar solos, however, were positively incendiary. (Dylan: “Hey, I’m incendiary too man…”). Bottom line, if you’re looking for a great rock show, go to this concert. Plus, the bassist kind of looks like Marcy from Peanuts, and strangely, that’s not a bad thing. Tickets on sale now.

GZA, 6/4 at Nokia Theatre Times Square
I’ve been on a Liquid Swords kick recently, thanks to a friend who suggested I dig it out of retirement. I’ll be honest—I haven’t listened to any new new stuff, but I’m sorry, how good is Liquid Swords!? Not sure about the venue here, as I’ve never been, and it might be a little big. Tickets on sale now.

M.I.A., 6/6 at McCarren Park Pool, Brooklyn
Okay, yes, tickets are sold out, and you probably don’t want to pay three billion dollars per ticket on StubHub. However, my friend recently received two tickets as a gift, and while she understandably feels pressure to take the person who gave them to her, she DID say she might take me. That WAS after three margaritas and a heart-to-heart at that weird secret phone booth bar inside Crif Dog, so I’m not holding her to it, but here’s hoping…

RZA as Bobby Digital, 7/5 at Webster Hall.
Serious delirium Bill Murray. Enough said. Tickets on sale now.

The Butthole Surfers, 7/29 at Webster Hall
Their album covers were always so gross, but Independent Worm Saloon was always my favorite, and Gibby Haynes is a badass. Tickets on sale now.

Wolf Parade, 7/31 at Terminal 5
Yeah, they’re a little yelpy, often sparking inept comparisons to Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, but if you can deal with super-indie vocals, this band is great. And come on, if 14-year-olds can get past Conor Oberst’s emo-bleat, you can digest Apologies to the Queen Mary with ease. Put on a plaid shirt, order a Maker's Mark on the rocks, and enjoy yourself. Tickets on sale now.

Tara McCarthy - Stark Contributing Writer