Wolf Parade - Apologies to the Queen Mary

I’ll go out on a limb and venture a guess that the majority of the Silent Uproar audience has some connection, however limited it may be, to the world of “indie rock,” and if so, you’ve undoubtedly heard the hype linked to Montreal’s Wolf Parade. Apologies to the Queen Mary abolishes what some may consider hyberbole as a fine addition to the Great White North’s roster of exceptional indie bands—The Arcade Fire, Hot Hot Heat, Stars, Broken Social Scene, Metric, The New Pornographers, and so on. It’s true that Isaac Brock “discovered” Wolf Parade—had it not been for the quirky head-honcho of Modest Mouse, the wild canine assemblage would’ve certainly found a multitude of other labels knocking on the door. Sub Pop got lucky (who woulda guessed?) though and introduced us. The self-titled “token EP to stir up some noise before we drop the big one” was released in July; “You are a Runner and I am My Father’s Son” and “Shine a Light” made the cut this time around. That Wolf Parade, though, don’t take kindly to any label you try to slap on them. They’re inspired by decades of incredible rock music, and it’s prevalent in their sound. There’s artistic simplicity, but no hints of pretension. Dan Boeckner and Spencer King have distinct voices that are unabashedly weird, but simultaneously warm and charismatic. Lots of humming keyboards, non-technical drumming, and more than a handful of noteworthy (memorable) choruses are just a scant few of distinguishable attributes the band possesses, and if you considered that last Modest Mouse record to be too much of an attempt at popularity, take a gander at Apologies to the Queen Mary to find some satisfaction. And yeah, I'll stand by this being one of the best records released this year--it's original, it's fun, and it isn't dull in the least. Catchy, smart, and a million other positive adjectives all apply. Don't pass it up, seriously. [www.subpop.com]