Much like the Lord himself, the human mind works in mysterious ways. Whenever we see or hear something that we have yet to form an opinion about, we are likely to adopt the underlying opinion embedded in what we are perceiving and claim it as our own. And from that moment on, we will seek out the facts that amplify our adopted opinion and twist, turn or even negate the things that might go against the way we see things.

At this point you are probably wondering what this has to do with Franz Ferdinand’s latest album, Tonight: Franz Ferdinand, and I am more than happy to explain. The point I am trying to make is that when you actively seek out and read music reviews, especially if you do it before listening to an album, there is a good chance that you are judging the album before even listening to it. And unfortunately I have a feeling that the Scottish quartet’s third album, as judged by those who are privileged enough to tell you what to think, will be under appreciated, just as most albums from typical “scene” acts gone mainstream are.

When talking about this record Alex Kapranos described it as their “night album”, and it certainly lives up to that sentiment. In fact, it does it so well that even for its lack of foul language it should probably be rated “R”, because Tonight plays out a lot like a night on town with a happy ending. First single and opening track Ulysses with its forced composure and self-convincing lyrics is when you are at home, in front of the mirror, getting ready and making the necessary realization of what a catch you are for practically everybody.

” Kiss me / Lick your cigarette then kiss me ” is the line Kapranos decides to go for as portrayed in No You Girls, before he declares with frustration that ” You girls’ll never know / how you make a boy feel ” while his words are driven forth by a delicious mix of funk rock elements such as dominant bass-lines and electric guitars. As the album progresses, each and every song appears perfectly placed, relieving its predecessor as your new favourite Franz Ferdinand track only to suffer the same fate as the next tune takes over.

The title of What She Came for says it all; the night is coming to an end and is about to be consummated, and Kapranos is well aware as he self-confidently asks  ” Where do you see yourself in five minutes? “. Two songs ahead, the work is done and you reach the obvious climax. Just like you could help yourself everything you get a certain sexual urge, you could skip straight to Lucid Dreams every time you want an aural orgasm. It just wouldn’t be as good, because when listening to it you instantly appreciate the fact that the archduke has finally made an album; an entity, something beyond a simple collection of good songs, and every moment of that entity has been leading up to the 8 minutes of amazing sound that is Lucid Dreams and in particular the absolutely immense three minute, 8-bit electro outro. It’s pure, psychedelic bliss!

After the climax, things slow down with the two quieter tracks on the record, or the pillow talk if you prefer. Dream Again and Katherine Kiss Me are both memorable tracks, in particular the latter which serves as a perfect ending to a night and a record, revealing the strongest allure of both: that the entire process can be repeated with the same outcome the next night, or in the case of the record, on the next listen.

Falling back to the introduction of this review, be it out of spite or a futile teenage rebellion against the man who wants me to buy into the notion that Merriweather Post Pavillion is the album that will bring peace and love to the world, but hopefully just because I like what Franz Ferdinand have presented with Tonight, I am going out on a limb and endangering all my musical credibility (if I even had any to begin with) by stating that with all its dancing bounce and funky attitude, this is my favourite album of 2009. As of January 16th, anyways.

The album will officially hit the stores on January 26th.

/ Posted: Jan 16, 2009
/ Written by: Lars-Christian
/ Category: Album Reviews
/ Artist(s): Franz Ferdinand