Nothing too surprising happens over the course of the first half of Tonight, which in the case of this 2-disc vinyl package means both sides of disc one. That doesn't mean there's nothing good going on---there is---it's just fairly typical Franz Ferdinand. The effort begins with "Ulysses," a dance number with a shuffling beat that is instantly recognizable as Franz Ferdinand thanks to the distinct singing style of Alex Kapronos; the vocalist wastes no time showing off his elastic vocal chords as he effortlessly slides from a speaking voice to a near falsetto. The only problem with the song is that it is a bit too derivative of the band's early hit "Take Me Out."
There are two standout tracks on the rest of disc one; a rocking slice of '70s-style disco called "No You Girls" and the Electric Light Orchestra-goes-glam "Bite Hard."
The second half of Tonight is far more interesting and progressive than the pop-flavored first half. "What She Came For" follows the "Take Me Out" formula of marching beat and anthemic vocals but with a song-ending freak-out that blows away the quirky part of the song it's patterned after. "Can't Stop Feeling" is a swinging dance number that would probably be forgettable except for the fact that it features an attention-grabbing raunchy riff made by something (probably a synth) that sounds like distorted electric saxophone.
"Lucid Dreams" finds the band stretching out quite a bit; the song has a Beatles-circa-Sgt. Peppers feel to it, so much so that you have to wonder if the "lucid" in the title isn't a sly and slightly slurred reference to LSD. About half of the lengthy cut is instrumental allowing for the synths to conjure some wild gurgles and for Kapronos to generate bursts of psychedelic guitar.
The quiet but also psychedelically-tinged "Dream Again" follows immediately and reinforces the notion that "Lucid Dreams" is about tripping. The album closes with "Katherine Kiss Me," a gentle acoustic guitar and vocal number that reprises some of the lyrics from "No You Girls." Those who look upon Franz Ferdinand as one-hit-wonders will be very surprised at the tenor of this album if they hear it all the way through. The gatefold package comes with a lyric sheet insert and for the time being some retailers are giving away with purchase a bonus 12" with remixes of "Ulysses."
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