“In Vegas, I got into a long argument with the man at the roulette wheel over what I considered to be an odd number.” --Stephen Wright

Today's album, Apologies to the Queen Mary, by Wolf Parade is definitely one of my favorite albums I own. The drums are always keeping time with a different pattern; rarely will the listener hear any sort of “stock” pattern. In addition, the drums meld perfectly with each song, providing a rhythmic complement to the melody, rather than just providing time. The bass is varied, holding the bottom and the tempo at some points, but often creating a countermelody of its own. These both create a firm bottom for the guitar and keys on top. The keys in Apologies to the Queen Mary provide both harmonic and melodic support. Often, in the background, the keys will repeat a figure several times, upon which the guitars build. The most prominent of the guitar figures are the lead guitar lines, which are often inventive, while staying in the style. The lead singer’s plaintive voice lends to the overall driving motion of the band’s sound. It always seems to be moving into a more and more desperate sound.

What I think I like best about this album, though, is that it doesn’t lose energy throughout the entire album. Even the slow songs have that drive to hope or desperation--take your pick. Either way, there is a feeling of progression, until the final song on the album (before the bonus track) completely disorients the listener to time by switching between 7/4 and 4/4 within the song. Overall, the album is just slightly off-kilter, which keeps me on my toes as a listener, and ultimately why I like Wolf Parade’s Apologies to the Queen Mary.