Let me start this post off by saying I'm sold or I have been sold for quite some time on the ability of Wolf Parade. Sure, you can call them Modest Mouse Jr. if you want to be a dick about it. There are portions of their style that come with the obvious nod to Isaac Brock, but they do manage to veer into their own territory most of the time, (except when they do... gulp... step across the kick ball line and onto Arcade Fire's towering composition). All this being said (read: easiest comparisons in the book), the album has received nearly 5 spins a week since it was passed down to me. So I'm a big fan of what they've accomplished on their first record. I've also resigned to the fact that I'm part of the hype machine that perpetuates the overly enthusiastic love for the next big thing.

So let me say this: last night's show at the Bowery Ballroom was great if only because I finally got to see Wolf Parade perform the songs that have been the soundtrack to the last couple months of my life, (since I was out of my head at the CMJ show). They were loose and rocked out, but here are the top five things that I didn't enjoy about the Wolf Parade show:

1. At times the vocals were difficult to hear. I don't know if this was the fault of the house or the band. It sounded as though more pronounced album choruses got lost in the mix and left me hearing my own voice instead of theirs. In fact, the entire mix could have been up a bit, but it was at a comfortable level.

2. Why does the lead singer tell us he's drunk? It seems like an insecure disclaimer. Don't worry about being drunk dude! We want you to be wasted. We want you to be sloppy, but goddamnit we don't want to know about it. Leave it to the imagination. Yes, he did comment on how the bloggers said that they thought it was lame of him to mention it at their CMJ show which makes me think he reads Central Village.

3. Why won't you play "Grounds for Divorce"? Can you please tell me the story or at least give an explanation. Maybe you are sick of people calling out the name to their favorite song, but you've played NYC three times in the last couple months and you refuse to play a song that is undoubtedly on the list of many fan's favorite Wolf Parade songs. Is there something up with the production? Did Isaac have too much to do with it? If you are going to dump it, at least give us a reason... please!

4. The fifth member of Wolf Parade is definitely my least favorite. While the dude who rocks mad skills on the Theremin could stand to not play one handed airborne keyboard, this fifth guy (is he officially in the band?) simply bangs on all sorts of percussion with a sloppy conviction. Doesn't it drive the drummer made? His hammering on bells, tambourines and chimes all seem a bit off time. One thing is for certain; he can really wear that guitar well.

5. Wolf Parade's two-song encore ended with "Dinner Bells". While I certainly enjoy this song, my expectations for a big rock finish were crushed. It was like getting worked up for an earth shattering orgasm only to have your partner run out of the room seconds before, but then they return to cuddle for a couple minutes leaving you with some left over pent up aggression that now searches for an unhealthy release, (read: vodka). Please-Please-Please be a rock band tonight at Northsix. Take us out with some "Disco Sheets" since you didn't play it last night.

Honorable Mention: The drum fill that ushers in the song "Shine a Light" could have been tighter. It's my favorite drum part on the record; (both with its placement and simplicity) so I was hoping it would sound spot on.

Ok, don't get me wrong. I do still love you Wolf Parade. You are one of my favorite bands of the year. Thanks for playing tracks like: "We Built Another World", "I'll Believe in Anything", "You Are A Runner", "Dear Sons and Daughters", It's a Curse", "Fancy Claps" and thank you-thank you-thank you for playing "This Hearts On Fire". As Wolf Parade continues to hone in on their talent, they are sure to reach the next level sooner than you think. I'm going on record to say 2006 will see Wolf Parade at Webster followed by Wolf Parade at Nokia / Roseland. Let's hope they hold it together.

And before I forget... Kudos go to the Sub Pop crew who were jammed up at the front of the stage and yelled, "Shit on my pussy" or something in that crude nature that forced the band to repeat it and give an all around, "What the fuck?".