Expo 86 [Import]

Wolf Parade's greatest strength is having two amazing songwriters at the helm. This could be an impediment; some people baselessly claim this in regard to At Mount Zoomer, but this simply outs those with little to no patience. But the band's third album, Expo 86, begins with a killer drum and guitar riff that puts Spencer Krug's amazing lyrical talents front and foremost. This album is the sound of Krug and Dan Boeckner settling into a peaceful and productive coexistence...more so than the first two records.

Wolf Parade might increasingly seem like the 'side project' compared to Sunset Rubdown and the Handsome Furs, but regardless of the other/past bands, Wolf Parade is one of the strongest and most consistent indie bands out there today. Expo 86 finds Wolf Parade marrying the catchiness of Apologies To The Queen Mary, with the depth and intensity of At Mount Zoomer. Krug offers up some of his strongest songwriting to date (which makes me really excited about the next Sunset Rubdown album), while Boeckner matches him practically song for song. It's a testament to how well Krug and Boeckner feed off each other that it's sometimes hard to who actually wrote the song, which is pretty easy on the first two records. Krug's "What Did My Lover Say? (It Always Had To Go This Way)" seems like it should have been written by Boeckner, while Boeckner's "Pobody's Nerfect" would have fit nicely alongside almost any track on Sunset Rubdown's last record.

Previous fans of the band won't be disappointed by any stretch of the imagination, while Expo 86 will most likely earn the band scores of new fans.

Wolf Parade debuted with a debut that was very hyped up by a lot of major publications. It must not have performed well as far as sells went, but I've yet to find a review that says Appologies to the Queen Mary was less than stellar. The follow-up, At Mout Zoomer was just as warmly received by critics but went unnoticed by everyone but Wolf Parade fans.
This album is better than the first two and will continue to go unnoticed. If released in a different era where 14 year old girls didn't decide what was popular, I guarantee this would be a huge record.
I never get tired of any song on this. Not even Yulia.

I was a little reserved after the first two tracks but got hung up on the the 3rd for about 45 min on first listen! Backing it up and turning it UP!! The album for me really kicks off there and never stops. Ive been singing this ones praises to anyone who will listen. its one of those rare albums that you want everyone you know to hear!