Wolf Parade Apologies To The Queen Mary. Release Date : September 27, 2005. Label: Subpop. Rating: Andy doesn't dig rating stuff. This album was produced by Isaac Brock of Modest Mouse. Well no shit. Anyone who can't hear the Modest Mouseishness coursing through this is certifiably nuts or just hasn't heard MM before. The disc starts off with the choppier version of "You Are A Runner" off of the EP earlier reviewed on Cord. I'm not sure which I like better - I'm just so used to the older version. Peculiary, "Shine A Light", which is also off the EP, doesn't seem to have been touched. I'm very much into Dan Boeckner's shredded, strained voice. It's partway between a surly Beck and a little David Eugene Edwards. And maybe with the "whatever-i'm-on-drugs" casual caterwaul of the guy from the Vines. "Grounds For Divorce" is so Modest Mouse. I think the thing I find about this full album, which is still great, is that the EP, due to only being four songs, was full of such impact, and really left you feeling like you hadn't had enough. Each tune was very distinct. On the full length, it seems a bit more like there's a few songs of each style but they arent spaced out too well, so there's one song that goes on for a bit before the vibe switches up. I don't think there's anything wrong with this so much as it could have just come a cross better by a simple re-ordering of the songs. But that would probably screw with the album mojo, so I'll just keep my nose out of it. Regardless, it's something that's going to grow on me a bit as I listen through it a few more times, I'm sure. Vocal crickiddy-crack. "Same Ghost Every Night" has a classic vintage feeling, but more scathing. You know, with that voice. I don't think this voice can become butter. It's all just scratchy, tripping, cracking vocals. Fantastic! There's a great, but tiny, guitar chunk in there near the end of "Same Ghost..." It's a spit of a sound but it's great. There's a whirly windy sound that near the end sounds sort of like a bowed saw. The great guitar sound, simple, comes back in for the outro, but it's cloaked in other instruments. God doesnt always have the best Goddamn plans. "Dear Sons and Daughters of Hungry Ghosts" is really good - my fave out of the new tracks so far. It has a good roll to it. I guess I hear a bit of Scissor Sisters in here too, only a little more absurd than theatrical/flaunty. The beginning of "I'll Believe In Anything" reminds me of playing that old electronic 'Simon Says' game from the 80's. Man I wish I still had one of those. That'd be a great thing to sample. It also brings to mind this tune from the solo album by Nuno Bettencourt. Ahahaha remember him?? - the guy from Extreme. Just this string of your (body part) / your (body part) etc etc is mirrored in that tune and has the same feel. The two are vastly different songs, but it's a point of interest. I sometimes wonder about things like that - uncharacteristic similarities. Like maybe one of these guys heard that album and liked that part of that song and figured it was embarrassing/obscure enough a reference to be able to nick lightly without drawing to much attention. Who knows. Neat thought. That Nuno bond, you know, unbreakable. Actually "It's A Cure" is pretty funky too. Oh wow I want to dance. Too bad I'm at work, that might not go over too well. There's a dark intro to "Dinner Bells." Darn I like this one too. It just gets better and better towards the end. This is a sweet song. Coldly promising. Well everyone under the sun knows Wolf Parade by now, but if you don't for some weird reason, get 'em now. NOW. Song of choice : Hard to choose, but I'll say "Dear Sons and Daughters of Hungry Ghosts." -Andy Scheffler Elsewhere Wolf Parade website Published : November, 2005.