“I’m bored, c’mon lets get high,” intones Alex Kapranos on “Ulysses,” the opening track of Tonight, Franz Ferdinand’s third offering and first album in three years from the Glasgow quartet.
“Alright Alex, I’m game. What’s your poison?”
“To start, how about some Ecstasy to make you all happy and nostalgic?” While “Ulysses” churns through its singsong giddiness, “Turn It On” quickly follows with dance-floor grooviness. “No You Girls” (hey, is this “Take Me Out”?) pushes the party in full-rave mode.
“Awesome, Alex, I’m rolling now, what’s next?”
“Let’s come down a little there, partner.”
A shot of “Twilight Omens” helps the transition.
“Yes, so right.” Hear the synths, melodic, wondrous. Perfect.
“Question for you,“ Alex pipes up. “Where do you see yourself in five minutes time?”
“Don’t know, right now I’m feeling pretty… HOLY CRAP WHAT IS THAT?”
“What, the punk/metal breakdown at the end of “What She Came For”? That’s just the cocaine talking. Hey, it makes a whole lot of sense on “Live Alone”, our Studio 54 homage to disco balls and Blondie.”
“Yes, I see what you mean. Wait, is that Andy Warhol?”
“No, no, that’s just a hallucination brought on by “Lucid Dreams.”
“It’s only eight minutes (only?), but feels like an eternity. Damn mushrooms.
“Sorry. How about a farewell toke of “Dream Again” and “Katherine Kiss Me?“
Ahh, solemn berceuses from a quiet balladeer – a fitting way to end a riotous affair.
Thanks guys for the weird, wild trip. Don’t stay gone so long, OK?
