Franz Ferdinand "Tonight":
Humm... FF trying to go mainstream.
The record took some time to be completed basically the songs were written already some time ago but FF seem to have spent some time trying to invent some sort of new direction for their sound. Probably conscious of the risk of repeating their previous songs. Possibly the intention has been to bank on their success as star indie rock band to go more in the direction of dance pop music.
They did so through the collaboration with producers which had worked with Kylie Minogue, Sugarbabes, Girlsaloud, etc. In the end it took three successive producers to complete the album. FF members themselves are credited as producers for an unspecified proportion of the album. In addition, another producer who worked more with bands like AC/DC and Metallica was brought in to mix half of the album songs.
The record is presented as a concept album about a night out and the morning after.
Humm... FF trying to go mainstream.
The record took some time to be completed basically the songs were written already some time ago but FF seem to have spent some time trying to invent some sort of new direction for their sound. Probably conscious of the risk of repeating their previous songs. Possibly the intention has been to bank on their success as star indie rock band to go more in the direction of dance pop music.
They did so through the collaboration with producers which had worked with Kylie Minogue, Sugarbabes, Girlsaloud, etc. In the end it took three successive producers to complete the album. FF members themselves are credited as producers for an unspecified proportion of the album. In addition, another producer who worked more with bands like AC/DC and Metallica was brought in to mix half of the album songs.
The record is presented as a concept album about a night out and the morning after.
Reviews point that the album is very electronic and danceable. Kapranos stated that the album was aimed at the dancefloors.
Also the appearance of band like Vampire Weekend, Hotchips, MGMT has created some competion for FF dancey rock style.
However, in an attempt either to build-up buzz and expectations or simply to confuse the public, in the wake of the release of the album FF have made statements pointing in various directions.
They said the album was influenced by African music and even played a gig with some African musicians.
Then the influence of Jamaica reggae dub was quoted, but apparently all the material that has resulted from this has been put aside on the separate limited edition bonus disc which includes the dub mix of the whole album.
Ulysses
Everybody is questioning the choice of Ulysses as first single. However, I actually quite like it.
FF all seem pretty pissed in the video which seems to mean that a band touring is like Ulysses endless peregrination and that sometimes they despair returning home.
Check out 2 alternate release of the 7" single of Ulysses with different B-side tracks ("Anyone in love" and "You Never Go Out Anymore" on 7"x) and slightly different covers. The b-side on the CD version of the single is also different ("New Kind of Thrill").
The single has been remixed on a 12" vinyl disc, with (good) mixes by Beyond The Wizards, SleeveDisco Bloodbath, Mickey Moonlight and Max Tundra. The bud version of the song found on the special edition bonus disc of the album is also included. It does not include the regular version of the song. The CD version, which apparently exists in promo version only, but does include the original version.
The album is released on regular CD and limited double CD pack including a bonus disc with a dub version of the album called Blood.
A 2xLP vinyl version of the regular album was resealed at the same time.
Album is also released in special edition vinyl set where all songs are on 7" format for a total of 6 discs. The box set that goes for 50 pounds in the UK include a DVD, the album on CD plus the bonus limited CD with the dub version of the album and a booklet.
The special editions of the album are only available in Europe.
Most of the album is composed of songs which could have been used as b-sides for FF hits from their two previous albums.
The most interesting track is "Lucid Dreams" which is basically a built-in remix, with a four-minute jam crescendo which is actually the best part of it. The track is included in a different version in the soundtrack of the 2009 version of the NFL Madden videogame.
The song "No You Girls" is a sort of a parody of ballad (intentional or not) which some in fact may find chauvinistic. Alledgedly, this track uses a human skeleton for percussion.
In the end, the album while pleasing and interesting for some of the new approaches that FF have attempted, is not as captivating as the two previous albums.
Possibly FF moment has passed as the energic neo post-punk trend of the mid of the decade is overtaken by band more influenced by electro-pop and in the end more outright aimed to clubs.
Also the appearance of band like Vampire Weekend, Hotchips, MGMT has created some competion for FF dancey rock style.
However, in an attempt either to build-up buzz and expectations or simply to confuse the public, in the wake of the release of the album FF have made statements pointing in various directions.
They said the album was influenced by African music and even played a gig with some African musicians.
Then the influence of Jamaica reggae dub was quoted, but apparently all the material that has resulted from this has been put aside on the separate limited edition bonus disc which includes the dub mix of the whole album.
Ulysses
Everybody is questioning the choice of Ulysses as first single. However, I actually quite like it.
FF all seem pretty pissed in the video which seems to mean that a band touring is like Ulysses endless peregrination and that sometimes they despair returning home.
Check out 2 alternate release of the 7" single of Ulysses with different B-side tracks ("Anyone in love" and "You Never Go Out Anymore" on 7"x) and slightly different covers. The b-side on the CD version of the single is also different ("New Kind of Thrill").
The album is released on regular CD and limited double CD pack including a bonus disc with a dub version of the album called Blood.
A 2xLP vinyl version of the regular album was resealed at the same time.
Album is also released in special edition vinyl set where all songs are on 7" format for a total of 6 discs. The box set that goes for 50 pounds in the UK include a DVD, the album on CD plus the bonus limited CD with the dub version of the album and a booklet.
The special editions of the album are only available in Europe.
Most of the album is composed of songs which could have been used as b-sides for FF hits from their two previous albums.
The most interesting track is "Lucid Dreams" which is basically a built-in remix, with a four-minute jam crescendo which is actually the best part of it. The track is included in a different version in the soundtrack of the 2009 version of the NFL Madden videogame.
The song "No You Girls" is a sort of a parody of ballad (intentional or not) which some in fact may find chauvinistic. Alledgedly, this track uses a human skeleton for percussion.
In the end, the album while pleasing and interesting for some of the new approaches that FF have attempted, is not as captivating as the two previous albums.
Possibly FF moment has passed as the energic neo post-punk trend of the mid of the decade is overtaken by band more influenced by electro-pop and in the end more outright aimed to clubs.
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