knowncutter's Full Review: Tonight by Franz Ferdinand
Although it's been three years since we last heard any new music from Glaswegian post-punkers Franz Ferdinand, I can't say I've missed them. In the intervening years, not one night was spent lying awake, pining after lead singer Alex Kampranos' devilishly suggestive vocals. I didn't find myself weeping every time I heard the sharp bounce of one of their previous guitar riffs, either. Or at least, weeping because I heard a previous Franz riff. Any tears shed at the expense of "March of the Penguins" while a roommate blared Franz's biggest hit, "Take Me Out," in the background don't count.
Now, this isn't to assert that I despise Franz Ferdinand. Far from it. In fact, both their self-titled 2004 debut and quick 2005 follow-up, "You Could Have It So Much Better," were among my favorite albums released those years. What I'm saying is that those Franz Ferdinand records are really comprised of top-notch, adrenaline fueling pop singles that get the blood flowing and encourage all sorts of uninhibited dancing that probably should not be encouraged... but they aren't albums that offer much by way of replay value.
On their third album, "Tonight: Franz Ferdinand," the band has come back from the dead with their most finely polished, nuanced record to date. While their debut was all about the infectious, toe-tapping riffs, and "You Could Have It So Much Better" came out of the gate amps blazing full speed ahead, "Tonight: Franz Ferdinand" is the most meticulously crafted album in the band's catalogue, paying close attention to all the subtle details that can make an album more interesting.
Lead single and opening track, "Ulysses," steadily builds on a funky bassline and moderately catchy chorus of "La La La La's," before it finally bursts into a final chorus so explosive I swear I saw smoke coming out of the top of my iPod when the song finished. Fuzzy synths that sound like they're being transmitted from an alien spaceship's stereo system surround the pinpoint precision of Franz's trademark guitar chords and when the song ends it's too soon every time.
Likewise, "No You Girls" is an undeniably danceable, mind-infiltrating mixture of intertwining, swagger-drenched guitar-play and a huge, so simple it's stupid, sing-along chorus. This one will surely grace modern rock radio sometime soon and brings to mind the likes of Blur's own catchy, repetitive refrain on "Girls & Boys."
Perhaps the moments that best display Franz Ferdinand's newfound studio savvy occur when the band experiments with new styles. "Send Him Away," takes its cues from reggae via The Clash before serenely drifting into a surprise dose of tropicalia, handclaps and all. Even more surprising is the electronic, instrumental rave-fest concluding the eight-minute long "Lucid Dreams." What starts with a typical bouncy melody soon drifts away into the sort of acid-house beat a lesser Daft Punk might lay claim to.
Sadly, these moments of inspiration aren't incorporated particularly well into Franz's already well defined aesthetic. Rather than simply hear the band prove they have the capability to create three minutes of a fairly uneventful digital backbeat, I'd like to hear them successfully layer one of their trademark disco-pop choruses over such a instrumental. Until then the move is nothing more than a lazy change of pace.
All in all, Franz find themselves more focused than ever on cleverly writing music you can't help but dance to. In the case of "Tonight: Franz Ferdinand," this means a lot of warped synthesizers and thumping bass at the expense of as many memorable guitar riffs. Still, Franz Ferdinand will probably always be capable of rattling off feel-good jams like "Turn it On" or "Bite Hard," tracks infinitely better than current music from new wave contemporaries like The Killers or The Kaiser Chiefs. The album is remarkably consistent throughout and adds just enough depth and innovation to the band's sound that it doesn't sound like the reprise it could have been. I probably won't mind waiting another three years for the next Franz Ferdinand album, but I'm glad I have "Tonight: Franz Ferdinand" to dance to in the meantime.
2009 release, the third album from Glasgow-based modern rockers. Tonight: Franz Ferdinand sees them taking a step back from the Post-Punk revival soun...More at Buy.com Marketplaces
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