Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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15 of 17 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Fantastic Start, August 4, 2005
Very interesting stuff. Wolf Parade shows great promise. For a band of only four, methinks they've already mastered a lush, layered sound.
Granted, this is only an EP. As a single, I'm gladly awarding five stars. I'm hoping they've saved some equally strong songs for the album, Apologies to Queen Mary.
There isn't any extraordinary variety in the way the songs sound. Which isn't necessary, but definately a plus to see a band strive to reach different places within a release (usually there's more room for exploration in an LP, so I'm cutting them some slack on this one).
To be honest, they sound a little like a blend between Arcade Fire and Modest Mouse. Hah. Bet you didn't see that one coming. However, there is definately a uniqueness to their music, something that hopwfully they'll be able to capitalize upon in their developement as they find their own blend.
The guitar is a little grungy fuzzy wuzzy, which is personally how I like it. The keyboards add a great effect. Drumming is strong. It works very well (nothing that attracts attention to itself, but at the same time is a pleasure to single apart and listen to seperately). I personally can't hear much bass. Maybe I'm mistaken. But that too, also works for them, (and, coincidentally, the White Stripes, too, although they sound nothing alike).
From the first few listenings, I believe the non-LP tracks are around the same caliber of quality as the first couple. I expecially enjoy the strange turn Lousy Pictures takes towards the end.
Um... you should purchase this EP. Thanks.
It's really fabulous. Trust me.
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5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Wolfy baby, November 20, 2005
One of the more popular indie bands to emerge this year is Sub Pop's Wolf Parade. I heard rumblings about this band months before the "Wolf Parade" EP came out, allowing me to hear this energetic new fuzz-pop band.
It's certinly a good introduction for anyone who might be uncertain about this bands sound, letting them hear plenty of bang for their buck. And it's a good sound -- new wave synths laid over psychedelic fuzz, all dancey and most quite good.
It opens on a rather ordinary note, with a standard dancepunk vibe that quickly blossoms into a transcendant pop melody -- that's "Shine A Light." It's quickly followed by the bizarre "You Are A Runner, And I Am My Father's Son," an artier and less catchy song, made up of staccato bursts of percussion and synth, before sliding into chaos, then static. Wow.
"Disco Sheets" is a more fun song -- very new wave-retro, energetic and dancey, heavy on the synth and the handclaps. And finally the EP rounds off with another expansive fuzz song, bursting with exotic riffs and surreal dancepunk. Takes guts to do that kind of thing.
At first listen, "Wolf Parade" sounds a bit messy. The instrumentation doesn't instantly mesh together, so it sounds like it was just thrown together with whatever sounded cool. But listen to it again, and even a third time. Then those elusive melodies and intertwined instrumentals will start to emerge.
This EP displays what they can (and can't) do -- they excel at the messy fuzzpop, but the synthy dance sound should be avoided. It isn't bad, but it isn't great either. They are at their best when combining the fuzz guitar, almost invisible bass, and shimmering synths into one big mishmash, topped by vocals that I really can't decipher.
Imagine Modest Mouse doing dance music, or Franz Ferdinand trying the arty route. That's a description of the debut EP of Wolf Parade, giving listeners a taste of their debut album.
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Well worth having for the extra tracks, November 28, 2005
Pretty much every year for the past five (and more, really), there's been at least one band hailing from Canada that has cracked through the consciousness of the indie rock world and made a huge name for themselves. Two years ago was Broken Social Scene and last year was The Arcade Fire, and if Wolf Parade can parlay the songcraft they show on this four song EP into an equally interesting full length to be released later this year, they might very well be the newest Canucks on everyone's tongue.
One of the most strange things about the group is how they manage to snag little bits of different musical styles (and even individual groups themselves) and pull them together into a short batch of songs that sound both familiar and new at the same time. On "Shine A Light," the group turns in a buzzy-synth indie rock track that jangles with a touch of a Modest Mouse feel (the group was brought to the attention of Sub Pop by Isaac Brock) while the lead singer has some of the same vocal intonations (and lazy drawl) of Beck. "You Are A Number" follows with a waltzing dirty organ track that stumbles along rhythmically before slathering on an equally gritty guitar melody.
"Disco Sheets" changes things up even more as the group cranks up the BPM and tosses a dance-punk entry on the pyre that chugs along raucously before breaking off into quiet segments that recall a synth-based Interpol before slamming things back home again. The album closes with "Lousy Pictures" and it's another cowbell-clanging, overdriven organ/guitar track that works just about perfectly alongside the howling vocals. In the end, the cheaply-priced four song, thirteen minute EP does just what it's supposed to in raising the excitement level for what the group will plop on the table next. At least we don't have long to wait.
(from almost cool music reviews)
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