By Maria Lubanovic, Staff Writer
[Sub Pop; 2017]
Rating: 6.5/10

Key Tracks: “You’re Dreaming”, “Baby Blue”, “Who Are Ya”

Cry Cry Cry is the fourth full-length album from indie-rock band Wolf Parade. After going on an indefinite hiatus in 2011, the band is back with an album that is both cohesive and overall a great listen.

The album opens with “Lazarus Online”, a heavy hitting, piano-driven track, which carries a heavy emphasis on a fighting attitude. It threatens to “rage against the night” over electronic instrumentals. The instrumentals on this album are really well done, and this track sets the precedent for what is to come. “You’re Dreaming” opens with an upbeat, almost 80s style synth lead that moves into a rolling guitar part and a catchy chorus. The synth almost sounds like the beginning of The Who’s “Won’t Get Fooled Again”, but less rebellious. The lyrics are cynical, but it’s so well masked by the instrumentals that it sounds like a feel-good track until you listen hard enough. “Valley Boy” has a similar feel but relies more on shaky guitar effects and percussion. The instrumental break definitely stands out.

“Incantation” is percussive through its main riff and in its singing style. It quickly settles into its groove and moves through a crunchy piano and guitar section, into a screeching solo. It repeats into echoes of “let this morning come” before coming to a halt with a dissonant group of instruments. “Baby Blue” is similar to “You’re Dreaming”, run by bubbling synth and jamming guitar. The instrumentals are just as good as anything else on the album, just longer and a little gnarlier. The guitar solo is backed by brass and then fizzles out before moving into “Weaponized,” a track with piano and a simple melody. This track is cool, and the sound is good, but it’s just longer than it needs to be. “Who Are Ya” is a short but repetitive guitar and synth track that just asks “who are ya”. It’s simple and catchy, and the instrumentals are fun and upbeat. “Am I An Alien Here” follows the same pattern as the other tracks: synth, a great instrumental break and a begging question.

The album ends with “King of Piss and Paper” – a slower, but still strong jam that concludes the album on a more solemn note. The cascading guitar line through the instrumental section really makes the track before it comes to a crashing end and then glitters away.

The problem with this album is that all the tracks are good, but many of them are indiscernible from each other. It’s easy to get lost and lose track of how long you’ve been listening. Many of the tracks use similar effects or follow a similar structure. But if you like that, Cry Cry Cry is the album for you.

Listen here: