Wolf Parade, "At Mount Zoomer"

Sub Pop Records

1.5 (of 4)

In this ardent test of patience, Wolf Parade follows its 2005 under-the-radar debut with a disc that clarifies this Montreal group’s sound. But the identity is of a band marching into a drifting emptiness. “Bang Your Drum” tells us to jump into life. “Soldier” proclaims that a warrior’s view of where he serves is defined by his native soil. There’s nothing with much bite here. Singer/keyboardist Spencer Krug (sharing vocals with Dan Boeckner) passionately matches the moods in these drum-driven songs but the band doesn’t get to do anything more than stomp — ’80s Big Country meets the ‘90s U2 — until the six-minute Cars-smooth “Fine Young Cannibals.” By then, it’s too late to be memorable and becomes overshadowed by the tired 11-minute closer and live concert killer, “Kissing the Beehive.” Like a handful of the tunes, “Beehive” forces a last-minute tempo change to avoid boredom. Wolf Parade has grown confident and better-rounded but seems to have grown tired of its own direction.