The Spill Magazine The Spill Magazine
The Spill Magazine The Spill Magazine
The Spill Magazine The Spill Magazine
  • Reviews
    • Album Reviews
    • Features
    • Live Reviews
    • Festivals
  • Portraits
  • Headlines
    • News
    • Contests
    • Events
    • Entertainment Headlines
    • Concert Listings
    • Toronto Concert Venues
  • New Music
    • Premieres
    • Track Of The Day
  • Track Of The Month
  • Books + Movies
  • About
16
new
SPILL NEW MUSIC: HEAVY SHOEGAZE BAND LOCKSTEP SHARE NEW SINGLE AND VIDEO “WEAVE” + ANNOUNCE ‘ARRIVAL’ EP OUT MAY 19
SPILL NEW MUSIC: HANNAH GEORGAS SHARES NEW SINGLE “THIS TOO SHALL PASS” ON ARTS & CRAFTS
SPILL NEWS: THE SMASHING PUMPKINS ANNOUNCE 2023 NORTH AMERICAN ‘THE WORLD IS A VAMPIRE TOUR’ WITH SPECIAL GUESTS INTERPOL, STONE TEMPLE PILOTS & RIVAL SONS
SPILL FEATURE: HOPE FOR THE FUTURE: THE IMPOSSIBLE DREAM – A CONVERSATION WITH BLAIR PACKHAM (THE JITTERS)
SPILL NEW MUSIC: SKYDIGGERS RELEASE NEW SINGLE “COME TO MY SENSES” VIA LATENT RECORDINGS | TOUR DATES
SPILL NEW MUSIC: EMMA ARMSTRONG – “MAYBE PROBABLY NEVER”
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: LANA DEL REY – DID YOU KNOW THAT THERE’S A TUNNEL UNDER OCEAN BLVD
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: JERRY LEGER – LATENT UNCOVERS
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: VARIOUS ARTISTS – THE GREATEST SOUL/FUNK & DISCO 12″ SINGLES OF THE 70s AND 80s
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: DEPECHE MODE – MEMENTO MORI
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: THE KINKS – THE JOURNEY – PART 1
SPILL BOOK REVIEW: JOHN ROBB – THE ART OF DARKNESS: THE HISTORY OF GOTH
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: BASS DRUM OF DEATH – SAY I WON’T
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: DARREN JESSEE – CENTRAL BRIDGE
SPILL VIDEO PREMIERE: d3adc0de – “FIGHT OR FLIGHT” (THE CRYSTAL METHOD REMIX)
SPILL MUSIC PREMIERE: MELØ – “PARALYZED”
  • Reviews
    • Album Reviews
    • Features
    • Live Reviews
    • Festivals
  • Portraits
  • Headlines
    • News
    • Contests
    • Events
    • Entertainment Headlines
    • Concert Listings
    • Toronto Concert Venues
  • New Music
    • Premieres
    • Track Of The Day
  • Track Of The Month
  • Books + Movies
  • About
  • Spill Menu
    • Reviews
      • Album Reviews
      • Features
      • Live Reviews
      • Festivals
    • Portraits
    • Headlines
      • News
      • Contests
      • Events
      • Entertainment Headlines
      • Concert Listings
      • Toronto Concert Venues
    • New Music
      • Premieres
      • Track Of The Day
    • Track Of The Month
    • Books + Movies
    • About
Album Reviews
313
previous article
SPILL NEWS: ALICE MERTON ANNOUNCES U.S. TOUR DATES | "NO ROOTS" OUT NOW ON MOM + POP MUSIC
next article
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: MIRAH - SUNDIAL

SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: WOLF PARADE – CRY CRY CRY

Wolf Parade

Wolf Parade
Cry Cry Cry
Sub Pop

It’s always hard to predict who will stick around when a band calls an indefinite hiatus. Not every group’s work stands the test of time, and irrelevance sometimes seems imminent for even the most promising of acts if they take too much time to themselves. Wolf Parade tried their luck this year, releasing their first full length album after seven years, and apparently their dedicated “Wolf Pack” of fans hadn’t budged since 2010. The Montreal indie rockers were warmly welcomed back to the music scene they had such an integral part in almost a decade ago.

Band leaders Spencer Krug and Dan Boeckner have always had a knack for sharing the spotlight. Each member always finds a way to showcase their own unique style of composition throughout every tune, complimenting each other’s sensibilities and resulting in an wholly unique sound. Their distinct vocals and raw instrumentation have always been a highlight of Wolf Parades sound. Boeckner and Krug have kept this dynamic in the forefront of their newest release Cry Cry Cry. 

Cry Cry Cry features a moody uncompromising collection of songs from start to finish with huge choruses and cutting guitar licks. A truly apt addition to the bands now cherished catalogue. Opening with a love-it-or-hate-it brooding ballad, “Lazarus Online” , this is an emotional track featuring a solid arrangement, but probably not the best introduction to this collection of otherwise energetic rock pieces. The following tracks are a memorable return to form, a highlight being the albums single “Valley Boy”. Krug’s unmistakable trembling vocals and bold synth tones draw vintage post-punk comparisons, while Boeckner’s more straight forward rock vocals ground the collection of songs and create a great contrast throughout the album.

Wolf Parade came to prominence amidst some of Canada’s greatest indie rock acts such as Arcade Fire and Broken Social Scene. A definitive style emerged from this era with moody songwriting, loose airy production and raw emotional vocals. These values are still ever present on Cry Cry Cry. Tracks like “Incantation” and “Am I An Alien Here” are great examples of these aesthetics, and a couple more highlights from the album.

For the casual fan of Wolf Parade, their more progressive and experimental side may come as a bit of a surprise. This is one aspect that sets the group apart from many of their contemporaries. Serious chops and abstract solos can be found throughout the six minute jammer of a track “Baby Blue”, bolstering piercing harmonized guitar solos, along with too many synths to keep track of, and as always a loose and heavy drum beat beneath it all.

Cry Cry Cry may not capture the pure excitement and rawness of “Apologies to the Queen Mary”; but it contains more than enough spirit and innovation to delight the dedicated “Wolf Pack” who have long awaited the group’s return.



Artist Links

facebook_flat_2016 twitter_flat_2016 instagram_flat_2016 youtube_flat_2016

STAY UP-TO-DATE
WITH OUR WEEKLY NEWSLETTER!

* Mandatory Field

Check your inbox or spam folder now (just in case!) to confirm your subscription.

Item Reviewed

SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: WOLF PARADE – CRY CRY CRY

Author

Elijah Jimenez-Clarke

Here's what we think...
Spill Rating
Fan Rating
Rate Here
New Criteria
10
10
8.0
Total Spill Rating
10
Total Fan Rating
You have rated this
Album Reviews
album reviewscry cry crysub popvalley boywolf parade
album reviews, cry cry cry, sub pop, valley boy, wolf parade
About the Author
Elijah Jimenez-Clarke
Growing up in the dull suburbs of Southern Ontario, Elijah gravitated towards the city at a young age. With a healthy addiction to live music, and a constant itch for discovering his new favourite band, he finds himself happily submerged in Toronto's music scene. With his work appearing thus far in Sock Monkey Sound, and The Spill Magazine, he's going to keep this writing thing going for a while.
RELATED ARTICLES
album reviewscry cry crysub pop
 
9.0
Lana Del Rey
10

SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: LANA DEL REY – DID YOU KNOW THAT THERE’S A TUNNEL UNDER OCEAN BLVD

by Joseph Mastel on March 24, 2023
Lana Del Rey Did You Know That There’s A Tunnel Under Ocean Blvd Polydor/Interscope One of the most anticipated albums of 2023 is finally here. Did You Know That There’s a Tunnel Under Ocean Blvd is the ninth release by Lana Del Rey, and if [...]
 
8.0
Jerry Leger

SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: JERRY LEGER – LATENT UNCOVERS

by Ljubinko Zivkovic on March 24, 2023
Jerry Leger Latent Uncovers Latent Recordings Jerry Leger has been quietly making a name for himself and for The Cowboy Junkies’ Latent Recordings record label, that has quietly been recently taking on a louder form, deservedly at that. It was [...]
 
7.0
The Greatest Soul/Funk & Disco 12" Singles Of The 70s And 80s

SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: VARIOUS ARTISTS – THE GREATEST SOUL/FUNK & DISCO 12″ SINGLES OF THE 70s AND 80s

by Melinda Welsh on March 24, 2023
Various Artists The Greatest Soul/Funk & Disco 12″ Singles Of The 70s And 80s Cherry Red Records Get ready to boogie back to the time of the 12-inch single, a concept born to keep dancers engaged on the dance floor. Cherry Red Records [...]
 
9.0
Depeche Mode
9.9

SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: DEPECHE MODE – MEMENTO MORI

by Joseph Mastel on March 24, 2023
Depeche Mode Memento Mori Columbia Records Depeche Mode continues to cement its legacy as one of the best bands to come out of the 1980s with their latest release Memento Mori.  Memento Mori is equal parts haunting and beautiful. They experiment [...]
 
9.0
The Kinks

SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: THE KINKS – THE JOURNEY – PART 1

by Aaron Badgley on March 24, 2023
The Kinks The Journey – Part 1 BMG The Kinks officially formed in 1963, hence the 60th Anniversary celebration that is happening for the band this year. To honour this classic, timeless, and brilliant band, two box sets are being released, [...]

Latest Album Reviews
View All
 
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: LANA DEL REY – DID YOU KNOW THAT THERE’S ...
9.0
10
 
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: JERRY LEGER – LATENT UNCOVERS
8.0
 
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: VARIOUS ARTISTS – THE GREATEST SOUL/FUNK ...
7.0
 
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: DEPECHE MODE – MEMENTO MORI
9.0
9.9
 
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: THE KINKS – THE JOURNEY – PART 1
9.0

STAY UP-TO-DATE
WITH OUR WEEKLY NEWSLETTER!

* Mandatory Field

Check your inbox or spam folder now (just in case!) to confirm your subscription.

Tweets by @spillmagazine

SPILL MAGAZINE MENU
  • Home | The Spill Magazine
  • Premieres
  • Track Of The Month
  • Album Reviews
  • Books + Movies
  • Features
  • Live Reviews
  • Festivals
  • Portraits
  • News
  • Events
  • Entertainment Headlines
  • Concert Listings
  • Toronto Concert Venues
  • About Us
  • Contests
  • New Music
  • Contributors
  • TOTD
  • Privacy Policy
  • The Scene Unseen
  • Newsletter

Copyright © 2023 | The Spill Magazine
All Rights Reserved.

TRENDING RIGHT NOW
   
 
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: DELERIUM – SIGNS
864
 
SPILL VIDEO PREMIERE: WITHERED HAND – “WAKING UP”
853
 
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: GODSMACK – LIGHTING UP THE SKY
831
 
SPILL NEWS: CLAN OF XYMOX TOUR NORTH AMERICA
735
 
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: BOB DYLAN – FRAGMENTS – TIME OUT OF MIND SESSIONS (1996-1997) THE BOOTLEG SERIES VOL. 17
686
 
SPILL NEWS: RICKIE LEE JONES NEVER DID FOLLOW THE RULES | ‘PIECES OF TREASURE’ OUT APRIL 28 (BMG MODERN)
565
 
SPILL LIVE REVIEW: ALTER BRIDGE w/ MAMMOTH WVH @ HISTORY, TORONTO
527
 
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: THE ROLLING STONES – GRRR LIVE!
517
 
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: STEEL PANTHER – ON THE PROWL
463
 
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: JOHN FOXX – AVENHAM
452
 
SPILL LIVE REVIEW: ON THE BLUE CLASSIC ROCK MUSIC CRUISE 2023
348
 
SPILL FEATURE: THE GIRL IS CRYING IN HER LATTE – A CONVERSATION WITH RUSSELL MAEL & RON MAEL OF SPARKS
345
 
SPILL FEATURE: THE GOBLIN KING & GOTHIC HOMEMAKING – A CONVERSATION WITH AURELIO VOLTAIRE
344
ENTERTAINMENT HEADLINES