Aug30

Review: Right Thoughts, Right Words, Right Actions – Franz Ferdinand

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Franz_Ferdinand_-_Right_Thoughts_Right_Words_Right_Action-coverAlbum Review by Juhi Matta

Right Thoughts, Right Words, Right Actions – Franz Ferdinand (Domino, 2013)

My rating: 4.5/5

Standout tracks: Stand on the Horizon, Love Illumination, Right Action

It’s been over four years since Franz Ferdinand released a full length, which unsurprisingly led to high expectations among both fans and critics. After Tonight: Franz Ferdinand put the band on the map again, Right Thoughts, Right Words, Right Actions has not only met expectations, but also surpassed them.

Opening with the titular trick, “Right Action”, the LP starts off on a high note, setting the tone for what’s yet to come. The song, which has a catchy chorus, immediately makes feet tap. Another standout track on the album is “Love Illumination”. The song, which feels like it could belong on the band’s self-titled debut, is Franz Ferdinand at their finest. 

For the most part, Right Thoughts, Right Words, Right Actions incorporates everything that’s good about Franz Ferdinand. The tight hooks, the captivating solos and amazing background vocals make the album a perfect blend of pop and rock. The album is catchy and fun enough to be a pop album, while including all the elements that make great rock music. Tracks like “Standing on the Horizon” and “Fresh Strawberries” start off on mellow notes, seeming reminiscent of songs like “Katherine Kiss Me”. However, just a few seconds in, they change course and are closer to “Take Me Out” than “Katherine Kiss Me”.

The album is not without its flaws, though. While it certainly has a few standout tracks, most remaining tracks feel forgettable and a bit too similar to each other. On the plus side, if you like one song , you’re probably going to like the whole album.

All in all, Right Thoughts, Right Words, Right Actions is a fun album that is sure to appeal to both Franz Ferdinand fans and new listeners. However, whether the album will go on to become as memorable as some of the band’s previous works remains uncertain.

Jun23

Best of 2013… so far

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Aren’t we all glad that the world didn’t end last year? Because if it had, we probably wouldn’t have gotten to listen to all the wonderful albums released this year. Though only half the year has gone by, enough good music to keep us sated for months to come has already been released. Here are some of my favourite albums of the year so far:

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Jun5

Review: Don’t Forget Who You Are – Miles Kane

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Album Review by Juhi Matta

Don’t Forget Who You Are – Miles Kane (Columbia, 2013)

My rating: 4.5/5

Standout tracks: Don’t Forget Who You Are, Out of Control, Tonight

Having a signature sound that’s immediately recognizable is a hard feat to accomplish, especially when you’ve only released one. Somehow, Miles Kane seems to have established just that.

The 27-year-old musician, best known for his side-project The Last Shadow Puppets with Arctic Monkeys’ Alex Turner, has always been a stronger guitarist than vocalist. And with Don’t Forget Who You Are, he plays up this strength as much as possible. Not only does this make for a solid rock album, but each of the tunes is catchy enough to be able to dance to as well.

Kane, who intentionally filled his debut LP, Colour of the Trap, with slow jams like “Happenstance” and “Take the Night from Me” to distance himself from The Last Shadow Puppets, seems to have found a middle ground between both sounds. And it works like a charm. The opening track “Taking Over” starts with a guitar riff that perfectly sets the tone for the rest of the album, while also showcasing Kane’s exceptional guitar-playing. Tracks like “Don’t Forget Who You Are”, “Taking Over” and “You’re Gonna Get It” perfectly blend the catchiness of pop music with the grittiness of rock music.

Enjoyed the ballads? Fret not! Don’t Forget Who You Are has quite a few throwbacks to Colour of the Trap. “Out of Control” and “Fire in My Heart” see Miles Kane demonstrate a vocal range even fans wouldn’t think he’s capable of. As he channels his inner Liam Gallagher (during Oasis’ peak, of course), the musician belts out lyrics like “There’s a darkness in our hearts / And my smile hides an aching heart / Although we’re close, we’re miles apart / Don’t let this darkness fill our hearts” making the album both soulful and immediately catchy.

All in all, Don’t Forget Who You Are is a fun album, ideal for the summer. Made up of short, catchy tunes, the LP showcases Kane’s talents as a songwriter, guitarist and vocalist, cementing his place as more than just a one-hit wonder.

May16

Review: Random Access Memories – Daft Punk

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Album Review by Juhi Matta

Random Access Memories – Daft Punk (Daft Life / Columbia, 2013)

My Rating: 5/5

Standout tracks: Doin’ It Right (feat. Panda Bear), Lose Yourself to Dance (feat. Pharrell Williams), Give Life Back to Music

Comedian Tom Scharpling recently tweeted, “This new Daft Punk album better have healing powers if it’s gonna live up to the hype”. He did have a valid point. Ever since the band’s Coachella teaser for Random Access Memories, it seemed like you couldn’t be on the internet without seeing something about Daft Punk.

About a month ago, I gave in and (finally) got around to listen to Daft Punk’s discography and was pleasantly surprised. As someone who’s never been a fan of electronic music, I hardly expected myself to like their music, but I still did. I, too, started growing excited for the release of Random Access Memories.

On May 13, when the French duo’s newest album was streamed on iTunes, everyone was surprised at how different it was from their previous efforts. Where the robots’ music was previously characterized by its instrumental nature and extensive sampling, Random Access Memories uses live vocals and no samples (except on the track “Contact”, with DJ Falcon). The band join forces with a series of collaborators like Panda Bear (Animal Collective), Julian Casablancas (The Strokes), Nile Rodgers (CHIC), Pharrell Williams (N*E*R*D) and Giorgio Moroder among others. The result? Tracks that are groovy, yet mellow and even melancholic at times.

On the standout track, “Doin’ It Right (feat. Panda Bear)”, Thomas Bangalter and Guy-Manuel de Homem Christo chant “Doing it right / Everybody will be dancing and we’re / Feeling it right” through vocoders as Panda Bear takes the front seat. Having never heard any of Panda’s solo work, I was pleasantly surprised at his vocals, especially considering the fact that the track was almost impromptu. The opening track of the album, “Give Life Back to Music”, is yet another strong point of the LP. Nile Rodgers plays the guitar as Daft Punk sing (through vocoders, of course) about bringing life back to musique. “Give Life Back to Music”, “Lose Yourself to Dance (feat. Pharrell Williams)” and “Get Lucky (feat. Pharrell Williams)” are probably the most Daft Punk-y tracks on the album.

The album isn’t without surprises, though. Random Access Memories features many ballads and introspective pieces like “The Game of Love”, “Within” and “Beyond”. While the tracks are not like the duo’s previous works, they’re still a great listen.

The only thing working against Random Access Memories, however, might be the hype surrounding it. Daft Punk’s meticulous promotional campaign for their first real studio album in eight years made people hope for a Discovery 2.0. Is Random Access Memories Discovery 2.0? No. Is it just as good? Yes.

Does it have healing powers? Only time will tell.