Always Ascending

The departure of founding member and guitarist Nick McCarthy appears to have refocused Franz Ferdinand—they've traded guitar-driven indie anthems for synth-heavy disco-rock. High-energy comeback single “Always Ascending” opens the album with a climax of pulsating post-punk beats while polished dance track “Feel the Love Go” is fueled by a filthy saxophone riff. Alex Kapranos’ velvet vocals breathe life into lyrics about the American healthcare crisis (“Huck and Jim”) and the self-serving side of altruism (“Lois Lane”). Well into their career, Franz Ferdinand sound as invigorating as ever.