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To put this into perspective: this is the Montreal band's third album since 2005's debut effort, the emotionally charged and lyrically abstruse Apologies to the Queen Mary. In that time, Boeckner has issued two albums under the Handsome Furs moniker–a side-project he has with his wife Alexei Perry–while Krug has released three albums for his side-project Sunset Rubdown, as well as being heavily involved in indie supergroup Swan Lake, who have brought out two albums in that time. The other two members, former Hot Hot Heat guitarist/songwriter Dante DeCaro and drummer Arlen Thompson, also have other creative outlets.
With so much else going on, you could be forgiven for thinking that Wolf Parade might be somewhat lacking in cohesion and focus. Yet the band has always thrived from that sense of discombobulation and the two distinctive yet similar mindsets of its co-frontmen, and Expo 86 is no exception. It begins with the Krug-led Cloud Shadow on the Mountain, an agitated rumination on a life that won't be ("You'll never be born as a scorpion," ruminates Krug in a near spoken-word trance), but, really, whose song is whose is irrelevant. They blend and merge together, 11 songs of dysfunction and disorder that, through fuzzy guitars and neat electronic touches, forge a sense of musical unity and emotional/psychological paranoia.
Yet these are as much catchy pop songs as they are off-kilter indie songs–Little Golden Age bristles with late night, end-of-the-world inspiration, Ghost Pressure is a paranormal exploration of inner emptiness, and Oh You, Old Thing is a tender tribute to Montreal. This is a typically odd, zany album, but that's precisely what makes it so good–because Wolf Parade's twisted, crazy, surreal world becomes yours, and it feels both absolutely normal and absolutely right.
--Mischa PearlmanFind more music at the BBC This link will take you off Amazon in a new window
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Customer Reviews
The inventive debut Apologies To The Queen Mary was gloriously hit and sadly miss, and its successor At Mount Zoomer downright disappointing in comparison. Wolf Parade may be the most attainable of Krug's arsenal, but overall, to these ears, also the least likeable - until now that is.
Less than the sum of their parts on at least one of the two previous attempts, Expo 86 seems to have struck a winning balance. It's interesting and sufficiently challenging, poppy but varied. It's epic too, as the drum battery, galloping tempos and shifting refrains of the opening tour de force "Cloud Shadow On The Mountain" so definitely confirm. And you could rarely say that about Apologies.
Consequently, the album's 55 minutes fly by keeping the listener largely enthralled. The relationship Krug has with fellow singer and songwriter Dan Boeckner, a man not short of bands himself, finally sounds entirely complementary. Whilst the pair arguably fail to produce true fireworks on Expo 86, it nevertheless has an exciting backbone.
Krug's theatrical howl sounds refreshed set against the enviably tight and patient new-wave indie-rock spikes of "What Did My Lover Say?", as well as on its intelligent sister "Ghost Pressure". Thrusts of synths set the latter apart, and whilst whiffing a touch of The Bravery they are blended into the mix much less derivatively, even though the resultant subdued delays of "Oh You, Old Thing" have a touch of the Gary Numans to them.
The beefy "Pobody's Nerfect", which is as close to much-likened Modest Mouse as Wolf Parade come on this occasion, is surprisingly sing-along in between its classic rock riffs, and "Yulia" doubles that feeling, coming on like Springsteen - all throat-growled blue-collar stuff with militaristic progressions and a discernible hands-in-the-air quality.
Ultimately, Expo 86 finally does Wolf Parade more than justice, at last making at least this penny drop.
However, I could say that I'm quite pleased with Expo 86. The album is more catchy than the previous and got a bit more character, so looking forward to seeing them live in October. Bet the crowd will be more lively having listened to the album for a couple of months and hope the WP will come up with new versions rather than replicating the sound on the cd.
Now for the music. Some of the songs have a bit of an 80s tinge to them and some even remind me of Ladytron, Knife and Modest Mouse stuff. The lyrics also seem a bit easier to relate to, more dreamy and personal. But it's still in no way a cheesy or a copycat album. Not sure how to describe it as I'm not a proper reviewer, so I'd say if you liked ATQM, you won't be disappointed in Expo 86.
I thoroughly enjoy this album, it gets a certified "2 thumbs up" as far as i'm concerned. Rollercoaster ride of emotions....
The songwriting is strong and mature with a unique flavour. Read more
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