Tonight is a collection of catchy, high-energy, body-moving tracks formed around the theme of a raunchy evening out on the town.  Apparently inspired by Jamaican reggae and dub, the tone of this album also incorporates strong, carefully orchestrated, clean sounds of synth, rock, new wave, electronica, and dance. Lead singer Alex Kapranos croons and plucks along harmoniously with the varied hard and soft punchiness of Paul Thomson’s drums, Bob Hardy’s bass, and Nick McCarthy’s keyboards and guitar. 

The intro to “Ulysses” is already enough to hook you. “Turn it On” is a head-bopping, 80s-inspired song that evokes thoughts of the Happy Mondays.  “Send Him Away” is just groovy, and “Katherine Kiss Me” is a pleasantly-surprising final track; it is stripped bare, sweet, and simple.

You’ve probably heard the track “No You Girls” already: it’s featured in one of the more recent iPod ads. Yes, Franz Ferninand has followed in the footsteps of U2, Gorillaz, Feist, Coldplay and a slue of other musicians who went commercial. Given the fact that lines between music and the mediums we can now access it has become greatly blurred, Franz Ferdinand’s marketing strategy was an excellent one. As an already well-established, talented, and credible band, Franz Ferdinand has now cemented themselves a place in pop culture history and in the ears of a massive audience.

Tonight is a diverse blend of styles that still manages to retain that unique quality that made the band stand out and shine in the first place. There is still that strong base that is essential Franz Ferdinand — particularly those let’s-all-sing-along-now choruses. You can’t help but love those.



Track Listing:

Ulysses
Turn It On
No Your Girls
Twilight Omens
Send Him Away
Live Alone
Bite Hard
What She Came For
Can’t Stop Feeling
Lucid Dreams
Dream Again
Katherine Kiss Me