When you really think about it, the idea of an indie supergroup is kind of an oxymoron. "Yeah, man, have you heard of Wolf Parade? It features members of Handsome Furs, Swan Lake and Frog Eyes!" Though it's strange to consider groups like Wolf Parade "super," as opposed to, say, The Traveling Wilburys, it's not so strange to name Wolf Parade a leading indie rock institution. The Québécois, Canada foursome thudded onto the scene in 2005, burning a white-hot hole in the blogosphere and convincing a budding generation of indie fans to put down their sad bastard Belle and Sebastian records, and rock out with their art out.
Lyrics about sandcastle hearts and island-hopping gazelles showcase the band's commitment to artiness. Wolf Parade has always been known for their experimental approach to lyrics and songcraft, but what I appreciate most about Expo 86 is the sheer volume of it. Loud is the only way to play this album, a feast of clashing cymbals and arena-filling, beer-spilling choruses. "In The Direction of the Moon" is indicative of the whole dadgummed album and is what makes Wolf Parade off-again-on-again aces. Krug's Bowie-esque barbaric yawp is in play, cymbals are a-go and synth riffs snake under the track like electric-blue cobras.
This article appears in Jun 24-30, 2010.