franz ferdinand//happy band of japan

Franz Ferdinand - Lucid Dreams
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The new Franz Ferdinand sounds like old Franz Ferdinand. The song rhymes "rodeo" with "Istanbul" and "Alexandria" with "Ithaca". Everything is, of course, a metaphor for sex. No, I can't explain it, but that's sort of the default assumption with these guys.

Happy Band of Japan - Sylvia
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Sticking with the UK and fey English accents for a minute. I found Happy Band of Japan though CMG's review of their new album, Allotment. "Sylvia" is a perfect, jaunty pop tune in the tradition of many other tortured songs obsessed with their titular female. It's got this hesitant, start-stop rhythm, alternating between high-spirited momentum and short moments of inertia, which aside from being really addictive, gives the song a conflicted, introspective feel.

If you want to download Happy Band of Japan's album, it's available for free through their website.