#160 (of 365) "Killing Armies" Wolf Parade

This was the closing track on the second EP recorded and released by Wolf Parade in 2004. The first four tracks from that EP were re-recorded and appeared on debut album Apologies to the Queen Mary in 2005, and "Killing Armies" is now available on the "Deluxe" version of that album on iTunes. But it's an interesting story of how Wolf Parade--one of my favorite bands of all time--came together. I'm doing this from memory, not Wikipedia, so I may be wrong, but I think Spencer (Krug) and Dan (Boeckner) both came from western Canada (Vancouver area) where Spencer was in the band Frog Eyes (Carey Mercer's band) and Dan was in Atlas Strategic. They both ended up in the Montreal area (at least one of them was going to school there, Spencer) where the indie rock music scene was exploding (Arcade Fire, anyone?). Spencer was offered a gig in 2003 and with 3 weeks to put together a band, called up Dan who he knew from Vancouver. They eventually formed a full-fledged band with Arlen Thompson on drums and Hadji Bakara on keyboards that released this (their second) EP in the summer of 2004. They got tabbed to tour with Arcade Fire right at the start of their success and so when Apologies came out in 2005 (produced by Modest Mouse's Isaac Brock) they were a pretty major Canadian indie rock success story. But this raw song from the very start, when they were barely a band, captures so much energy and power and Spencer's amazing croon, it belongs here at this lofty spot on my all time favorite songs.

But no one said I can't put up a fight
That's why she's breathing like I'm holding a light
Well I never asked for something from you
I got the party ‘PARTY!' papers and the candles are ready to light
But no one said I can't put up a fight
That's why she's breathing like I'm holding a light
Well I never wanted any but answers
You know you've owed me for a thousand nights

"Killing Armies" - Wolf Parade // EP-6 (2004)