Handsome Furs - Plague Park

Handsome Furs
Plague Park
(05.2007, Sub Pop)
8.5/10

For me, everything the Wolf Parade crew touches turns into something beautiful but subtle and difficult to catch. They have created a kind of new rock. It's not in your face, it's not necessarily catchy, not too poppy, and not incredibly skilled, but for some reason it's remarkably appealing. There is something in the way that these Canadian's are composing music that is interesting. It's the layering, the disenchanted almost muttered vocals of both Dan Boeckner and Spencer Krug, and the distorted guitars, all in their simplicity that gives every project they touch an instant charm. Handsome Furs, Boeckner's project along side fiancee Alexei Perry is no exception to this eerie, hard to place charm. It's minimal brooding drum machine laced tracks all topped off with Boeckner's crackly almost scared sounding vocals. There is something in his voice on Plague Park that reminds me a bit of Beck particularly on "Handsome Furs Hates This City." Plague Park is an easily overlooked release because of it's subtlety and simplicity, but becomes very rewarding to the faithful listener. There isn't a stand out track on the album, it needs to be consumed as a singular work. It doesn't get old on repeated listens; there is always something new to discover in its composition.

-Sassigrass

Handsome Furs - "Cannot Get Started"