Wolf Parade

Expo 86 (Sub Pop)

By Jodi Root
Published: July 1st, 2010 | 1:00pm

On Expo 86, Spencer Krug refuses to apologize for things he does in his dreams in the guitar-driven “What Did My Lover Say? (It Always Had to Go This Way).” Later, he loses confidence and proclaims he's a disaster in the bizarrely charming and New Wave-y “In the Direction of the Moon” before lecturing his teacher about love in the warped and spacey “Two Men in New Tuxedos.” Is there any deep or significant meaning behind the lyrics? Probably not, and it doesn't matter. Expo 86 is the tightest, most cohesive effort to date by the Canadian indie rock maestros.

Wolf Parade's co-leaders Krug and Dan Boeckner have mentioned their desires to create an album they can dance to, and with all the added synths, keys, embedded guitars, and abundance of punched up “whoa-oh-oh”’s, they definitely succeeded in crafting a bona fide dance record.

Krug and Boeckner’s vocal work is much more complementary than on past efforts, leading listeners on a seamless transition from track to track. Apologies to Queen Mary was the group’s breakout album, composed of perfect slices of indie rock goodness. At Mount Zoomer found the band experimenting with psychedelia. Expo 86 is Wolf Parade's album of equal collaboration. Some fans may be taken back by the dancier direction of the new songs, but stay focused. If you’re not immediately smitten, be assured that it won’t take long.

Wolf Parade MySpace page

Sub Pop Records