Scottish rock band Franz Ferdinand’s newest release “Tonight: Franz Ferdinand lyrically recounts the wild antics of party nights and day-after consequences. Released Jan. 27 in the United States, the album is the band’s third release. Though this 13-track work is tied together by a single theme, thus propelling the album’s steady flow, the originality of each song is hampered by this common thread. As_ the album moves along, the songs begin to sound the same moves along, but this does not take away from their overall rhythm and catchiness.
Franz Ferdinand’s first single off the indie rock compilation, Ulysses sets the tone for the jazzy vibe of the album. It is like the band is reverting to the 1970s disco era for inspiration on this song and the ones that follow, as it has mixed top-notch production with edgy lyrics.
For example, lead vocalist Alex Kapranos seductively sings, What’s a matter there feeling kinda anxious? / The heart that grew cold / Yeah everyone everybody knows it.”
He is supported by Bob Hardy on bass Nick McCarthy on guitar and keyboard and Paul Thomson on drums.
The steady beats and percussions mixed with Kapranos’ occasional “La la la la” and “Wooo hooo” make it difficult to not sway while listening to the track.
One might think the later songs can not keep up with the energy of the kick-off track but surprisingly enough most of the subsequent tracks keep pace with “Ulysses.”
“Bite Hard which is enticing in just its name alone, is the most animated song from Tonight: Franz Ferdinand.” It starts slowly but builds into a mixture of sounds ranging from drum beats to electric guitar wails and keyboard melodies. It is a song one might expect to hear in a swing joint as its beats are inviting to crowds looking to have fun on the dance floor.
This is surprising as lyrics like “Bite hard / Well it´s a broken smile / Breaking their hearts / And breaking their minds / Bite hard don’t seem to fit the fun dancing mold. However, it works for Franz Ferdinand.
Rarely does the band take it down a notch which is partially why many of the tracks sound a little too similar. Though songs like Katherine Kiss Me give listeners a taste of something new, this unique taste should be more frequent. The skillful production of many Tonight” tracks lose their spark because their similarity. This is true of tracks like “Turn it On Lucid Dreams” and “No You Girls.”
Despite the similarity of the album’s tracks “Tonight” is a revolutionary work for Franz Ferdinand. The band which is well known for modern tracks like 2004’s “Take Me Out took a risk in producing a work reminiscent of another generation. However, they came out with a success.
The vibe of Tonight: Franz Ferdinand which is a mixture of blues and funk, has a captivating nature that leaves listeners wanting more. And, for many college students, the raw lyrics are very relatable. In Twilight Omens Kapranos sings of innocent acts of love: I wrote your name upon the back of my hands / Slept upon it and I woke up with it / Backwards on my face / Reading forwards to my mirror / To my heart.”
Overall Franz Ferdinand has created an album that promises 42 minutes of energy playfulness and fun. One can expect to hear more of these beats at dance clubs around the nation.