This is continuing to grow on me - now I'm ready to call it one of the best of the year, although that isn't saying a monumental deal. My favourite moment on the record is the jamming at the end of Fine Young Cannibals, when that awesome guitar riff and the piano bit come together.
I was a little disapointed at this album at first. There weren't any instantly tackling offkilter pop/rock gems, like their first album is packed full of. But what I found after a few listens is that these passages create a warm pulsating feeling that sticks in the back of your head and makes you want to keep listening repeatedly.
I can completely understand when people come out and say Dan's songs are better than Spencers, but I find Spencer's songs are the ones that keep me coming back, and then Dan's make me stick around.
Am I the only person that would have bought the album even if all it was had been a 45 minute long version of "An Animal In Your Care"? And then "Kissing the Beehive" is possibly one of the most powerful rock album closers in the past few years. There is so much restraint and focus. They know their goal and they aren't afraid of losing their audience by taking their time in getting there. And then 2/3 of the way through the song they hesitate and then seem to start playing the whole thing in reverse while spiralling out of control and finally exploding. It's a massive achievement in song.
I unknowingly decided to start listening to the album backwards from the end to the beggining. Not because I think it makes more sense that way, because it doesn't, but because that's where my ears are drawn.
One way or another, it's an amazing album that is completely not what I was expecting. Here's hoping they continue to expand their sound, and don't shy away from doing things that are possibly risky.
---------------------------- It's okay, I'm a saint, I forgave your mistakes.
Yeah it's less immediate and more proggy than the debut, but I think the songwriting is better and they pull if off well. Most of the songs feature great keyboard lines (from Spencer?), which was missing from Apologies, if I remember correctly (haven't listened to it for quite some time). I agree, it's not what I expected and I'm glad with the direction they took. I gotta disagree on Animal In Your Care, it's the one song on the album I could live without. Do you always listen to albums from end to start? And how on earth did it happen unknowingly!?
Originally posted by thefanste: Do you always listen to albums from end to start? And how on earth did it happen unknowingly!?
I don't often listen to albums backwards.
And I did it unknowningly because I was sitting at my desk thinking I would just listen to individual songs, and I was throwing them into a playlist as I wanted to hear them. It just turned out that it came out as pretty much the entire album from end to beginning.
Also, I could understand someone maybe taking issue with the first minute and a half of "Animal In Your Care", but that last part is just magic. If you don't like the intro (which I still think is great), you should crop it off of the song. I think you will come to see it's one of the more intricate and grooving sections on the album.
---------------------------- It's okay, I'm a saint, I forgave your mistakes.
You know, I've listened to it a number of times today, and I take it back. Dunno what the hell I was thinking, the song rules. When the keyboard comes in at 50 seconds = awesome. Ending good too.
Can anyone explain to me the luke warm reception At Mount Zoomer is getting critically? I think this album is an incredible improvement on their adored debut.
Originally posted by Sicnarf: Can anyone explain to me the luke warm reception At Mount Zoomer is getting critically? I think this album is an incredible improvement on their adored debut.
I can't at all. I think it's at least on par with Neon Bible, as far as sophmore albums are concerned, and it was accepted pretty well. I even think it's better as a follow up than Neon Bible. I only use Arcade Fire as a comparison point though, because I think they both are having to deal with hype kickback, but seriously, Wolf Parade as a whole, and Dan and Spencer individually, have earned a lot more respect than they are recieving in the media.
---------------------------- It's okay, I'm a saint, I forgave your mistakes.
Originally posted by Sicnarf: Can anyone explain to me the luke warm reception At Mount Zoomer is getting critically? I think this album is an incredible improvement on their adored debut.
I can't at all. I think it's at least on par with Neon Bible, as far as sophmore albums are concerned, and it was accepted pretty well. I even think it's better as a follow up than Neon Bible. I only use Arcade Fire as a comparison point though, because I think they both are having to deal with hype kickback, but seriously, Wolf Parade as a whole, and Dan and Spencer individually, have earned a lot more respect than they are recieving in the media.
With Neon Bible it seemed the mainstream publications jumped on the bandwagon they missed with their debut. Rolling Stone, SPIN, and others gave it high scores, while Pitchfork and the other indie sites were more lukewarm. And they were right, its an ok follow up but nothing amazing.
Mount Zoomer, however, is awesome and I agree that I can't understand the middling scores. Cokemachineglow got it right, but Pitchfork surprised me. I bet it still lands fairly high in the year-end list for Pitchfork, though. They're inconsistent that way.
Posts: 1333 | Location: Atlanta, GA | Registered: 24 December 2004
i dont really like at mount zoomer. i LOVED apologies to the queen mary. and i didnt love neon bible, but i feel it is definitly better than the new wolf parade.
The only reason I can think of for its not so acclaimed reception is perhaps it's not what people wanted or expected from the band - no instant off-kilter pop rock gems like you said Shadrach, instead longer, more developed songs. I mean, it's more Sunset Rubdown than Apologies, and the wolf parade debut was more a critics darling than Random Spirit Lover, for whatever reasons. In fact At Mount Zoomer has pretty much the same score as Random Spirit Lover as of now. I think it's much more consistent than RSL, and a much better follow up than Neon Bible, which I still liked plenty.
Disappointed here. I loved their debut, but I think the new record is missing the hooks and choruses of Apologies (Shine a Light, I'll Believe In Anything). It's a lot more like Sunset Rubdown, but it doesn't have their complexity. I don't think there's room for a band sounding between Apologies Wolf Parade and Sunset Rubdown. Seeing all the praise here really makes me want to give it more tries though. Oh, and 'Kissing the Beehive' is far and away my favourite track on the album.
Posts: 46 | Location: Canada | Registered: 24 May 2007
I'd definitely recommend repeated listening before making a final judgment. I was a little offput by At Mount Zoomer at first, but now I like it almost as much as Apologies to the Queen Mary. It's good in a different way but doesn't reveal its secrets as easily. Just my opinion though....
ive officialy listened to it 10 times, and im still not impressed at all. Bang your drum is te only really good one to me. I infact hate dans songs, krugs are the only ones i semi enjoy, but the hole lbum altogether is very boring, and though i see where people would find hooks after repeated listens, they're still jut boring to me.
Posts: 43 | Location: Chicago | Registered: 18 May 2008
