Indie-pop band Franz Ferdinand delivers an album packed with catchy hooks sure to delight. (Andy Knowles)
Indie-pop band Franz Ferdinand delivers an album packed with catchy hooks sure to delight. (
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Albums of the Week
FRANZ FERDINAND
“Right Thoughts, Right Words, Right Action”
★★★
You can tell just by the title that Franz Ferdinand is in no mood to mess around. Their fourth album is a no-nonsense indie-pop collection that is clearly designed to burrow inside the brain on first contact, and for the most part, it succeeds brilliantly. The four-piece band has always been ruthless in pursuit of great hooks and choruses but, here, they seem to have hit the mother lode.
“Bullet,” “Love Illumination” and the superb title track, “Right Action,” all possess the kind of instantaneous appeal that many bands aspire to, but few have the craft or discipline to achieve. Some may gripe that Franz Ferdinand is happy just to sound like themselves. But when you sound this good, why bother copying anyone else?
BIG SEAN
“Hall of Fame”
★★
There are points during Big Sean’s second album that leave you wondering if the Detroit rapper is trying his hand at comedy.
Impeccably produced though it is, Kanye’s old protégé is certainly guilty of some clunky lines throughout “Hall of Fame.” “10 2 10” finds him atonally wailing “I woke up working like a Mexican/Dat means I work from 10 2 10,” and the declaration “I believe in God and rubbers” during the silly threesome fantasy “Mona Lisa” is laugh-out-loud bad. Thankfully, he does find his flow when he writes from the heart, notably during songs “Beware” and the tender relationship reminiscence of “Ashley.” When Sean has something to say, he flirts with greatness. It’s just a shame he doesn’t do it more often.
Downloads of the Week
MILEY CYRUS
“Wrecking Ball”
★★ 1/2
After her eye-poppingly sexual performance at the VMAs on Sunday night, it seems odd to find America’s new favorite car crash singing about heartbreak with genuine feel and power on this ballad. The giant chorus, in particular, sounds like it will be the anthem of jilted girls for months to come, and with new album “Bangerz” (yes, really) due on Oct. 8, Miley is going to be around for some time.
M.I.A.
“Unbreak My Mixtape”
★★★
The Brit is set to release her fourth album, “Matangi,” Nov. 5, and the latest preview seems like a departure from the noise and confusion she normally dishes out. Built around James Brown’s “Funky Drummer” beat, the song weaves in samples from Blur and Carly Simon alongside M.I.A.’s wounded vocals to make a beautiful breakup song that is funky and forlorn at the same time.
GOODIE MOB
“Special Education”
★★ 1/2
For all those who bemoan modern hip-hop’s aggression and misogyny, the return of CeeLo Green’s old group will be a welcome relief. On this single (taken from new album “Age Against the Machine), they rally against bullying while revisiting the sonic flair of the Dirty South when it wasn’t quite as dirty as it is now.