Now for the qualification. First of all, be prepared for an aural wonderland of instruments. This is not your average indie-rock four piece band. Make way for strings, horns...it’s an entire freaking orchestra. “Trepidation,” the thirteenth and final song, is a perfect illustration of the band’s ability to integrate varied instruments, consuming vocals, and traditional and nontraditional arrangements. No two songs are alike, and this musical experimentation is appreciated rather than coming across as inconsistent. I am also a huge fan of track eight, “Belief’s Otherwise” and track twelve, “Affluenza,” (the reprise, not to be confused with track five).
And what’s more (yes, I say, there’s more), this is an intelligent band to boot. The lyrics read more like poetry than lyrics. And while the messages are positive, they are far from cheesy adages on how to be happy, but more like philosophical musings. Which makes sense, when you consider the origin of the band’s name as being a literary reference to The Praise of Folly by Erasmus.
Overall, it’s an exciting listen along the lines of Arcade Fire (before people stopped liking them for rising from the underground) or The Lovely Feathers – both Montreal bands. And at a time when Montreal is leading the way in the indie-rock scene, In Praise of Folly definitely fits into what has become the “Montreal sound.” Except that they’re an American band. C’est la vie.
