At Mount Zoomer * by Wolf Parade

Pros: A more nuanced, complex follow up to their debut

Cons: Not as immediate and instantly catchy as their debut

The Bottom Line: As follow-ups to excellent debut albums go, At Mount Zoomer strikes a perfect balance between being different enough to please fans but familiar enough not to alienate anyone.

Review: I was out for a jog the other day, and as usual, I didn't have music on. Maybe I'm alone in this regard, but I can't concentrate on music while exercising, so I developed the habit of listening to podcasts. For some reason I can concentrate on ...

Pros: The third act. MUCH better song-writing.

Cons: Too smart for its own good, really.

The Bottom Line: isn't sure if he wants go to Mount Zoomer, and never will know.

Review: After Wolf Parade's debut, A pologies to the Queen Mary, it's surprising that Spencer Krug has shown so much promise. Queen Mary may have been one of 2005's catchiest indie-pop records, but at its core, ...

Pros: Wolf Parade get smarter and showcase more impressive songwriting chops.

Cons: Two songwriting geniuses... and they don't interact. More difficult record overall.

The Bottom Line: Still worth your time, actually a pretty solid record. I just can't lower expectations significantly enough to give Wolf Parade four stars.

Review: There aren’t too many albums that I consider personal landmarks, but Wolf Parade’s debut, “Apologies to the Queen Mary,” is one of the most important albums I have ever listened to. I can even faintly remember the moment listening to “Dear Sons and ...