Franz Ferdinand:
Right Thoughts, Right Words, Right Actions:
Domino:
Out Now:
6/10
For just over a decade, Glasgow's Franz Ferdinand have been issuing a steady stream of likeable and artful pop-rock, notching up several awards and a loyal fan-base in the process. If you haven't snapped your neck, shaken a leg or dad-danced/mum-jived to Take Me Out or Do You Want To?, you frankly haven't lived or shamed yourself as much as you really, really should have.
Right Thoughts is the band's fourth and the follow-up to 2009's Tonight: Franz Ferdinand, a somewhat clumsy album that didn't exude the same charm as previous BRIT-winning achievements. Sadly, nor does this. There isn't a big hit, there's barely an anthem or a chorus to speak of and as for that blend of deep and meaningful lyricism so often associated with Alex Kapranos, forget it - in short, Franz Ferdinand have lightened up and swallowed a pill called pop.
And this is no bad thing - pop makes the world go around and, in the case of Right Thoughts, positively sends it spinning. There's the near-title-track to get things started (as Josef K-like as they've ever been), there's the mildly familiar funk-jangle of Evil Eye to pep things up some more and the ridiculous notion that a song called Fresh Strawberries could be anything other than a novelty are dashed when that hook-line kicks in. Another triumph is The Universe Expanded, a somewhat darker but more aurally wholesome exercise that might spell 'crowd-favourite' in months to come.
But too much of Right Thoughts sounds laboured and as anonymous as all the other wannabes making jaunty indie-pop these days. Pop this next to Foals, Two Door Cinema Club and the like and, unless you're Kapranos' biggest fan, you'll struggle to differentiate between them. Basically, everybody else has caught up - fast.
After three straight Top 3 successes with their previous albums, it's hard to see Right Thoughts meriting anything more than critical acclaim by the converted and the inevitable sold-out tour in its wake. Rather disappointing, although far from the disaster it might have been.
Ironically, the Live bonus CD ably demonstrates just why Franz Ferdinand have retained a partisan following for this long - they can certainly cut it on stage. Maybe album number five should herald a return to the band's roots and get it all laid down in one take. Now that really would be something to savour.
Right Thoughts, Right Words, Right Actions:
Domino:
Out Now:
6/10
Right Thoughts is the band's fourth and the follow-up to 2009's Tonight: Franz Ferdinand, a somewhat clumsy album that didn't exude the same charm as previous BRIT-winning achievements. Sadly, nor does this. There isn't a big hit, there's barely an anthem or a chorus to speak of and as for that blend of deep and meaningful lyricism so often associated with Alex Kapranos, forget it - in short, Franz Ferdinand have lightened up and swallowed a pill called pop.
And this is no bad thing - pop makes the world go around and, in the case of Right Thoughts, positively sends it spinning. There's the near-title-track to get things started (as Josef K-like as they've ever been), there's the mildly familiar funk-jangle of Evil Eye to pep things up some more and the ridiculous notion that a song called Fresh Strawberries could be anything other than a novelty are dashed when that hook-line kicks in. Another triumph is The Universe Expanded, a somewhat darker but more aurally wholesome exercise that might spell 'crowd-favourite' in months to come.
But too much of Right Thoughts sounds laboured and as anonymous as all the other wannabes making jaunty indie-pop these days. Pop this next to Foals, Two Door Cinema Club and the like and, unless you're Kapranos' biggest fan, you'll struggle to differentiate between them. Basically, everybody else has caught up - fast.
After three straight Top 3 successes with their previous albums, it's hard to see Right Thoughts meriting anything more than critical acclaim by the converted and the inevitable sold-out tour in its wake. Rather disappointing, although far from the disaster it might have been.
Ironically, the Live bonus CD ably demonstrates just why Franz Ferdinand have retained a partisan following for this long - they can certainly cut it on stage. Maybe album number five should herald a return to the band's roots and get it all laid down in one take. Now that really would be something to savour.