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Rating: With "At Mount Zoomer", Wolf Parade is back on the scene, one of the most appreciated bands in the Indie scene in recent years.
There was a bit of anticipation for these young Canadians after their widely acclaimed debut in 2005 with "Apologies To The Queen Mary". The album was a success among critics and the public, produced by the talented Isaac Brock, the leader of Modest Mouse.
It consists of nine solid alternative pop-rock songs that (in my opinion) have the merit of not being easily understood after just a few listens (don’t expect to be humming them soon) and compel you to press the "play" button on your stereo again, convinced that the next listen will clarify your ideas better.
The album starts on the right foot with the rhythm changes in "Soldier’s Grin" and with the skewed piano of the short but incisive "Call It a Ritual".
Right from the start, the band makes things clear, proving to be in perfect form and hinting that they didn't want to create a clone of their previous work. It’s no coincidence that they themselves stated that the first songs composed for "At Mount Zoomer" sounded too similar to the previous ones. Hence the decision to scrap them and start from scratch. The result? Unlike "Apologies To The Queen Mary", the approach to songwriting changes, giving more emphasis to the keyboards and resulting in a cleaner and more linear production: this perhaps slightly detracts from the spontaneity and expressive urgency (truly remarkable in their first album) but the tracks follow one another well-crafted and are enjoyable to listen to all around.
Worth remembering are also "Language City" with its compelling finale, the wobbling "Bang Your Dream", and the sunny "The Grey Estates", certainly the most catchy of the bunch. Wolf Parade pulls the ace from their sleeve with the surprising ten-plus minutes of the closing track "Kissing The Beehive" (which was also supposed to be the title of the album): rhythm changes, progressive echoes, and real emotions for what is perhaps the most interesting track of their still sparse discography.
Though clearly influenced by Modest Mouse and to a lesser extent by Arcade Fire, Wolf Parade shows a strong personality and clear distinctive signs that confirm their undisputed talent.
Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
02 Call It a Ritual (02:45)
well into the desert you must go
so into the desert we go
call it a ritual
call it whatever you will
and you will grow out at me
as naturally as branches on a tree
call it a ritual
call it whatever you will
and you know
they will swing swing their swords for show
while you turn your flower petals so slow
you said the desert will eat us alive
i said i'll make the decisions you just drive
you just drive
and i saw the windmill wings were gone
and i heard the wind come creepin around
call it an act of easy mercy
to tear the structure down
call it whatever you will
call it whatever you will
cause you know
they will swing swing their swords for show
while you turn your flower petals so slow
but i am amazed at how they go
i am amazed at how they go
but i am amazed at how they go
i am amazed at how they go
but i am amazed at how they go
i am amazed at how they go
but i am amazed at how they go
i am amazed at how they go
but i am amazed at how they go
i am amazed at how they go
so call it whatever you will
call it a ritual
call it whatever you will
you know
they will swing swing their swords for show
09 Kissing the Beehive (10:52)
[Dan] Lost on a river our hearts beat regular time
Well the landscapes don't
The rivers flowing by
We're just drifting all night long hands to the sky
And a captain, oh he is never denied
I heard them singing out from shore, hands at the sides
Someone brought a rifle overhead to tear at the sky
We're just drifting all night long here with the flies
And the captain, oh he is never denied
[Spencer] As if you didn't know that it would sting
Kissing the beehive
And pissing down the mountain side in the rain
As if you didn't know that it would sting
Kissing the beehive
And fucking up your finger from pushing on the ring
Sing
[Dan] Well we lay
On frigid shores of light
We need nothing of his bitter care, oh
Something strange
and the coast line
Still we need nothing of his bitter hand, oh
[Spencer] I wish I could believe in you
Crashing all the weddings wearing white
But we all hate the landlord baby
It's all right, it's all right
I wish I could believe in who you are
You held your cap in the air and you called it a guitar
You put your face on the glass and you called it good cinema, oh
As if you didn't know that it would sting
Oh, oh, ohhhh
Johnathan, Johnathan
Waterfalls are running thin you know
Here's a holy grail for you to hold
Fire in the hole, fire in the hole, fire in the hole
I'm not a wild party
I'm just an evening at the show
Put the ring back on and take your husband home
Fire in the hole, fire in the hole, fire in the hole
Radio, radio
Why did you leave Virginia's side
It's an alibi, we all know how the music died
Fire in the hole, fire in the hole, fire in the hole
Johnathan, Johnathan
Waterfalls are running thin you know
Here's a finger made from me for you to hold
Fire in the hole, fire in the hole, fire in the hole
[Dan] Estranged from the captain's light
And his bitter hand
Estranged from the captain's light
And his bitter hand
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