Wolf Parade

First of all, it's a miracle these guys can get their bands straight. Vocalists Dan Boeckner and Spencer Krug both have a lengthy list of side projects to their names, including Frog Eyes, Sunset Rubdown and Swan Lake. When they come together as Wolf Parade, they are joined by drummer Arlen Thompson, keyboardist Hadji Bakara and guitarist Dante DeCaro (formerly of Hot Hot Heat). The group plays an intriguing potpourri of dark, giddy indie pop in the vein of Modest Mouse, alongside lush collages of swelling rock like their Montreal buddies, Arcade Fire. And those comparisons are not merely coincidental. After Krug was offered a spot to open for Arcade Fire on their tour in 2003, he invited Boeckner in for the ride and the duo soon gathered a full lineup. With the help of Modest Mouse frontman Isaac Brock, they eventually got signed to Sub Pop and released their debut album, Apologies to the Queen Mary, in 2005. Partially produced by Brock himself, the album got heaps of acclaim from critics and indie fans alike. Nearly three years later, Wolf Parade dropped the proggier rocker, At Mount Zoomer, in June 2008.