Wolf Parade – Apologies to the Queen Mary

Reflecting Reality

The highly anticipated debut album, Apologies to the Queen Mary, from Canadian popsters Wolf Parade attempts to reflect some of the more tangible aspects within our daily lives
Modern technology, romanticism, and physical sacrifice are the most direct lyrical themes on the album. The song “Modern World” portrays the grim nature of our modern industrial age as the central character. Singer Dan Boeckner’s vocals, groggy and bitter, help the songs’ dreary tone come to life. Lyrics like “Modern world don’t ask why/Cause modern world will build things high” express the bloated and relentless attitude of our surroundings. Spencer Krug’s vocals tend to resemble a more urgent Issac Brock (the album’s producer). On the bouncy “Grounds For Divorce” he captures a romantic, yet envious moment as he sings, “Look at the lovers and the way they stand and the way they move their hands.” “Fancy Claps” find the two singers within a frantic duet that is musically akin to Arcade Fire. Pounding drums and hypnotizing synths are juxtaposed with themes of sacrifice. Boeckner and Krug sing in glorious unison “When I die, I’m leaving you my feet/When you die, you can stand up for me.” The albums greatest moment is also its most complacent and skeptical. “Shine A Light” is a driving track with a buzzing groove, ghostly harmonies, and lyrics like “You know our hearts beat time/They’re waiting for something that’ll never arrive.”

Apologies to the Queen Mary is a layered pop album that holds a mirror up to the world around us. More importantly it comments on it with the sort of malaise and frustration that is felt by so many people today.