Queen’s albums became a lot less consistent after A Night at the Opera. Fortunately, they didn’t fall too hard yet on A Day at the Races. The biggest problem with this album is that it really is, in many respects, just a lesser version of its predecessor. Many songs here evoke the same feeling. The pummeling churn of “Tie Your Mother Down” (“Death on Two Legs,” but not as furious), and the sweet folk Brian May sung “Long Away” is a less touching “’39.”

“The Millionaire Waltz” goes from a ballad to a roaring rocker in the middle of it, much like the shift in “Bohemian Rhapsody,” only much less complex and intimate. “Somebody to Love” represents many of Queen’s best-known traits with the multi-layered vocals creating a gospel-like effect, but you all know that one.

Not all of this album suffers from this problem. The nostalgic Roger Taylor song, “Drowse,” is much more mellow than the hard rock song “I’m in Love With My Car.” “You Take My Breath Away” is a piano ballad addressed to Freddie Mercury’s first male lover that just might outshine “Love of My Life.”

And on top of that, I still enjoy every song I listed. The only clunkers on here are the sweet “You and I,” an enjoyable but ultimately forgettable John Deacon-penned song, and “White Man,” a dragging hard rocker that is all but subtle in its subject of the Native American oppression by the English settlers. Tiring and a bit preachy, though its heart is in the right place.

Most sequels aren’t as good as the originals. A Day at the Races is no different, if it can be considered one. It’s still a worthy addition to Queen’s library and contains mostly great songs that an already-converted fan should enjoy. Maybe the familiarity does help with that.