Swing To The Right4 Out of 5 Stars
For their fourth CD, Franz Ferdinand rejuvenate themselves for "Right Thoughts, Right Words, Right Actions." "Tonight" was a more introspective affair, and allegedly a concept album about a day in the fife of the Ferds. Not this time. RTRWRA pulls out the choppy guitars and funky drums and bass of the first two albums. "Come home, practically all is nearly forgiven," they invite right off the bat. Which is classic FF. Maybe you fell off the bandwagon for "Tonight," but that's not their fault. Get back on board and enjoy the ride, just as long as you remember who's doing the driving.
The destination is a party on the Ferd's terms. You'll get it from the fuzzy guitars on "Love Illumination" or the ripeness of the semi-psychedelic "Fresh Strawberries" (one of my faves on the disc), dance to Chic pound of "Evil Eye." Or you can wonder what they are saying to you as a fan as they demand that you skip the pop music and "don't wear bright colors, you know I hate bright colors," as they wish "Goodbye Lovers and Friends."
The over the top Alex Kapranos snarls and brags across RTRWRA's 10 songs, with nearly relentless energy. Fell how insistently he commands you on "Treason! Animals!" or the title track "Right Action." They do throw in a couple of change ups, like the synth heavy "Brief Encounters," which sounds like it would have been at home on "Tonight," or the only self-effacing track on the album, the still dance heavy "Stand On The Horizon."
"Right Thoughts Right Words Right Action" is a fine return to form for Franz Ferdinand. If you're looking for the sort of awakening pop punch of the debut or "You Could Have It So Much Better," you'll find it here.
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