On the Glaswegian quartet’s first album in three years, there is no
lapse in hooks and flourishes. A few tunes on Tonight: have a
little too much going on. Then there’s “No You Girls,” with
irresistibly propulsive bass and a beat that got the “disco sucks” memo
but ignored it. The unconscious is a generous muse. “Dream Again”
features a fine throwaway lyric, “You live a little fear, but feel the
future.” The keyboard guy is always up to something spacey or creepy.
Under pressure from the long break, Franz Ferdinand strives mightily to
satisfy both the dreamers and dancers. It’s like you’ve got ants in
your pants and they’re happy.
This article appears in Feb 26 – Mar 4, 2009.