The odds were stacked against them. Franz Ferdinand’s self-titled debut album was a good one, but there was still this feeling that they were a one-hit wonder with Take Me Out. Their second album, You Could Have It So Much Better, didn’t really do it for me. So when the band starting talking about abandoning their sound for something more electronica, well … like I said, the odds were stacked against them. The album turning out well at all would be nice. That it’s their best album yet is nothing short of a miracle.

A reasonably established band going off and doing something different is a recipe for disaster, but when it turns out well, it’s oh-so rewarding. Fatboy Slim’s Palookaville is the last time I recall an artist reinventing themselves like this. Franz Ferdinand do much the same, albeit not to the same extent. They’re still hanging on to their (excellent) edgy vocals and indie sounds, but there’s a distinct electronica influence to the music. Tonight manages to work as a dance album as much as it does an indie album. Ulysses, their debut single and first song off the album, captures this perfectly. Smooth lyrics, an electronica vibe, and some very strong vocals definitely inspired my confidence that Franz could actually pull this off. The album moves from one catchy, energetic song to the next at a relentless pace hitting the apex at Bite Hard. Working toward the conclusion Tonight mellows out, producing memorable songs with a different, but very distinctly Franz, style.

There isn’t a weak song on the album, although some may argue it lacks variation. I wouldn’t disagree, but I’d also say that the sound is interesting enough to hold my interest from start to end over the course of dozens and dozens of listens. Tonight: Franz Ferdinand is a great album with a unique new sound. It’ll appeal to the electronica fan and the indie fan alike. And if, like me, you happen to adore both genres, you’re in for a real treat.

This is a bit of a rare occurrence, but I’ve been listening to a couple of recent albums lately. By recent I mean “probably came out in 2007”. I’ve decided to review the lot of them. Alive 2007 (Daft Punk) lies below, followed by Costello Music (The Fratellis) and Future Future Future Perfect (Freezepop) after the cut.

Having come off a rather successful tour, Daft Punk chose to turn their Paris concert performance into their latest album, Alive 2007. So there is no new material here, but that is entirely irrelevant. Daft Punk have masterfully mixed their entire discography, creating a must-purchase album for anyone with even the slightest interest in electronic music.

As the French duo furiously throw their songs into the mix, they do so in a manner that never gets dull. Samples are played long enough for you to recognize them, but are pulled before they get tiring. My highlight moment is when the iconic Around The World sample get mixed in with Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger. There’s an amazing synergy between the two songs that never fails to stun me, even dozens of listens later. In fact, throughout the album I found myself dumbfounded by how smoothly the songs mix and how well they compliment each other. Songs that I previously didn’t like are brought alive thanks to some creative mixing.

The only thing that I hate about this album is the constant reminder that I could have seen Daft Punk live in Toronto, but somehow managed to miss that. That’s a mistake I’m not going to make twice.

(read on…)

Don’t you love surprises? I was flipping through Futureshop’s flyer early last week, looking for bargain games and drooling over televisions that I can’t really afford, when a quick glance at the latest music releases produced “Chemical Brothers – We Are The Night”. After a quick double-take I proceeded to flip out. A new album by one of my favourite bands, and all I had to do was wait a couple of days? I thought it was too good to be true.

It was. The album is a bit disappointing. Why?

(read on…)