Five songwriters can be too many cooks in the kitchen, but for Edmonton, AB's Wool on Wolves, they've managed to turn this into an advantage. Their second album, Measures of Progress, strongly focuses on the collaborative efforts of everyone in the band, piecing together songs that not only yield their most consistent record to date, but also a dynamic effort that's wonderfully fleshed out with horns, harmonies and a fusion of nostalgic rock and country folk fanfare. Opening track "Unsuspecting Ways" theatrically kicks off the album with six minutes of suspense and build-up, leading into horn-filled single "Midnight Avenue," whereas "Be the Change" is just as on-point as anything Zeus has released. Wool on Wolves still aren't completely there yet though and there is quite a bit of room for the group to continue to improve and tighten their overall sound. However, it's evident from Measures of Progress that they have indeed progressed in their four years together as a unit.
You make it a point to note the democracy in songwriting on this record. How did that shape Measures of Progress?
Guitarist/vocalist Thomas Reikie: We definitely feel that our band is better having everyone working on ideas as a collective. It took a little while to adjust to how you view a song you bring forward to the band so that it isn't "your" song; it's just "an idea for a song" that the band are going to flesh out together. The previous record had elements of this, but took less of a collective approach.
Nik Kozub (Shout Out Out Out Out) produced this album as well. What made you want to work with him again?
Nik is a gem, plain and simple — an absolute gem. He holds an unwavering attention to detail and he is totally obsessed with gear, which is a fantastic quality in both an engineer and producer. We decided to bring in Paul Arnusch to produce though, to let Nik's primary focus be engineering. There was an atmosphere of openness and freedom to share creative ideas in the studio between Nik, Paul and the entire band. Everyone was working to make the songs sound the best they could.
You make it a point to note the democracy in songwriting on this record. How did that shape Measures of Progress?
Guitarist/vocalist Thomas Reikie: We definitely feel that our band is better having everyone working on ideas as a collective. It took a little while to adjust to how you view a song you bring forward to the band so that it isn't "your" song; it's just "an idea for a song" that the band are going to flesh out together. The previous record had elements of this, but took less of a collective approach.
Nik Kozub (Shout Out Out Out Out) produced this album as well. What made you want to work with him again?
Nik is a gem, plain and simple — an absolute gem. He holds an unwavering attention to detail and he is totally obsessed with gear, which is a fantastic quality in both an engineer and producer. We decided to bring in Paul Arnusch to produce though, to let Nik's primary focus be engineering. There was an atmosphere of openness and freedom to share creative ideas in the studio between Nik, Paul and the entire band. Everyone was working to make the songs sound the best they could.
