Chat Review: Wolf Parade - Expo 86
By You Can't Hear it on the Radio
BoxOfficeProphets.com

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Noah: At first listen, Wolf Parade’s 2010 album Expo 86 seems to be an inferior album to their previous work, particularly their acclaimed full-length debut, 2005’s Apologies to the Queen Mary.

Steve: I think it's less risky than both prior albums, but their sound is fuller.

Noah: I was concerned that the respective side projects of frontmen Spencer Krug (Sunset Rubdown, Swan Lake, Moonface) and Dan Boeckner (Handsome Furs) had sapped their enthusiasm for collaborating in Wolf Parade. Is Wolf Parade now the side project?

Steve: Expo 86 is an "accomplished" album, would be kind of the first word that comes to mind - these guys are working on a plane all their own these days, and the side projects you mention are included in that.

Noah: I agree. For me 2008’s At Mount Zoomer was not a huge progression after the masterful Apologies…, but it certainly continued the tone and sound. So on first listen, my first reaction to Expo 86 was disappointment.

It seemed tossed off and reportedly was quickly recorded. Without question, Expo 86 sounds more polished and lacking anything that compares to Apologies to the Queen Mary’s “Grounds for Divorce”. But as is often the case with interesting and complicated music, with Expo 86 first listen was wrong.

Steve: The thing I love about Wolf Parade in general, which this album has in spades, is how they give you one thing and then subvert it within the very same song.

Like the tempo shift at the end of Palm Road is a good example of what I'm getting at.

Noah: The interplay between Boeckner and Krug seems more solid on Expo 86 than their previous stuff.

The more I listen, the more I realize that Expo 86 is a monster. It's just relentlessly hooky.

Steve: I definitely agree about Krug. Wolf Parade reins in his kookier aspects. I was not as big a fan of Dragonslayer as you were.

Noah: Boeckner's more straightforward (and driving) rock guitar influence makes a huge difference with Krug's more out there tendencies.

Steve: They complete each other.

Noah: The evolution from album to album makes Expo 86 their most cohesive, consistent, relentlessly catchy album.

Steve: Krug is Tom Cruise to Dan's Renee Zellweger.

Noah: Picking between Krug and Boeckner's songs on a Wolf Parade album is like picking my favorite Wilco album...it changes from day-to-day.

You mentioned "Palm Road" earlier, that might be my favorite song from Expo 86.

Steve: I feel like they created their sound with Apologies, let it settle a bit with Zoomer (while experimenting with a few things that didn't add much ... I noticed while revisiting each of the albums yesterday how much piano there is on Zoomer), went off and got inspired by their side projects, then came back and laid down their masterwork with Expo.

Noah: Agreed. If you'd told me that after first listen I might have slapped you, but it's true. Expo 86 is their best album. It will endure.

Now, back to all the amazing songs. When I'm not obsessed with "Palm Road", my favorite song from the album is "Yulia" or "What Did My Lover Say" or "Little Golden Age" or "Cave-O-Sapien" or "Pobody's Nerfect"...

Steve: I threw on "Ghost Pressure" on the drive home and it's a fantastic song. It gets a little lost in the middle of the album but hearing it with fresh ears as a track one was cool.

Noah: Oh man, I forgot that one. Add that to the list.

I can't lie, as I recently re-listened to Apologies to the Queen Mary and At Mount Zoomer, while I loved many of the songs, I found their sound a little lacking.

Steve: What would you say Wolf Parade's signature sound is? For me the drumming is the thing that holds everything together.

Then you have Krug's voice, and the thrashing guitar

Noah: The drumming is one of the things that seems to have improved significantly from album to album.

I would choose the combo of Krug and Boeckner's voices, plus Boeckner's guitar.

Steve: It's the best rock guitar being played today bar none.

Noah: What really took this album to the next level to me was seeing them in concert.

Boeckner's energy and the ferocity of his guitar work are just incredible.

Steve: What else did you like about the concert?

Noah: It was honestly the best concert I've seen this year. They are one of the tighter bands I've seen in a long time. Krug's voice and general weirdness comes through without studio help, which was nice.

But Boeckner was the revelation.

Steve: Would you say you're more of a Krug guy or Boeckner, as far as songwriting goes?

Noah: Yes.

I like Krug's non-Wolf Parade work better, but I tend to like Boeckner's Wolf Parade songs better.

Steve: I like Boeckner, but then again I was the guy championing Jay Farrar over Jeff Tweedy all those years, so what do I know.

You like Boeckner's WP songs better because they get the benefit of having Krug on them in the background. He's a great accent to a straight ahead rock song.

Noah: That's exactly right. They might be the current indie Lennon/McCartney. Yes, that's a ridiculous comparison, but it explains the way they play off each other's strengths.

Steve: On Krug's songs, I'm always ready for the roller coaster ride. Boeckner adds some nice ballast to the highs and lows.

Final thought?

Noah: Unless there's a late charge from Arcade Fire (seeing them in concert next week) or one of the fall releases, Expo 86 will almost certainly be my 2010 album of the year.

Steve: It'll be in my top ten for sure.

Rating: Great

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