Alright...The Story of The Subways...Show # 242

The trio known as The Subways formed in 2002 in Welwlyn, Garden City, in England. The group contains two brothers Billy Lunn (who uses his mothers maiden name) on guitar/vocals, Charlotte Cooper bass/vocals, and Josh Morgan drums (the actual brother of Billy). The group started out playing gigs in 2003 in Essex and went by a few different names before settling on The Subways. They were at one point known as Mustardseed, and Platypus. The brothers grew up listening to the likes of The Beatles, AC/DC, Ramones, and T-Rex. When Billy saw Oasis performing "Supersonic" on Top of the Pops, he began to take guitar more seriously. It was also around this time that he met Charlotte and they connected with similar musical tastes such as Nirvana, Mudhoney, and Sex Pistols. Charlotte learned to play bass and Josh learned the drums and the group was formed.

During their initial beginnings the band recorded many demos and EP's selling them at their gigs. They also played cover songs too such as Nirvana and various punk songs. Since the band did not have much money they bought their own recording equipment on which to record. Billy put up a website (thesubways.net) to put the songs online. The band won an unsigned band competition in 2004 and played at the Glastonbury Festival in front of 10,000 people. After this the band went on to play a few more big festivals in the UK and around the end of 2004, the band got signed to City Pavement & Infectious Records.

The band then began work on their first album Young For Eternity with producer Ian Broadie (Lightning Seeds). The bands first single "Oh Yeah" reached number 25 on the UK charts. The album was released in 2005 in the UK and in February of 2005 in the USA. The band made an appearance on the popular TV show the O.C. where they performed two songs "Rock & Roll Queen" and "Oh Yeah". They also had songs on the soundtrack for the show as well as on TV adverts for Kate Moss in the UK and even in the movies Live Free or Die Hard and Charlie Bartlett.

The album Young For Eternity itself was a mix of loud punk and pop inspired rockers mixing styles of Nirvana and Brit pop such as Oasis and Supergrass. It opens with the song "I Want To Hear What You Have Got Say", an acoustic and distorted rocker. "Holiday" is a roaring punk fuelled song that treads during the chorus as the drums and bass jump up and down. "Rock & Roll Queen" echoes elements of Nirvana, slow verses and loud chorus's. Other loud rockers include "Young For Eternity", the pop punky "Oh Yeah", and the loud and catchy "With You". The slower songs which are very poppy and British include the sun drenched-sounding "Mary", "Lines of Light", the mellow "No Goodbyes", the dreary "She Sun", The album ends with the song "Somewhere", which is a mix of floating verses and heavy roaring choruses. The album continues at the 9:23 mark with the hidden track "At 1 AM".

Young For Eternity (2005) & All Or Nothing (2008)

The band toured in 2006, but had to postpone some gigs because Billy had nodules in his vocal cords. He made a full recovery and the band returned playing a secret gig in their hometown under the alias The Audrey Hepburns. When the band hit America in the summer of 2006 they appeared on the talks shows Late Show with David Letterman, and Late Night With Conan O'Brien. After playing Lollapalooza they also appeared on The Late Late Show With Craig Fergusson. The band opened for Angels & Airwaves as well as Taking Back Sunday while on their US tour.

In June of 2007 the band began work on their second album with Butch Vig (Nirvana, Smashing Pumpkins) producing. The band went in with twenty five tracks worth of material and recorded the album in two instalments at Conway Studio in Los Angeles. After leaving to perform in the UK the band returned again to LA to finish up the new album. The bands second album is titled All or Nothing and was released in June of 2008. Many of the songs to appear on All or Nothing were actually performed at live shows before the band even started to work on the album. The songs reflect a new sound in the bands career, being at times more melodic and heavier sounding than Young For Eternity. The songs also reflect the break up of Billy Lunn and Charlotte Cooper who were seeing each other since 2003.

All or Nothing opens with the arpegiated and chunky rocker "Girls & Boys". "Kalifornia" is a dirty grungy rock song with a chorus that transcends into Brit Pop style, "Alright" was the first single from the album. It has more melody than any other previous Subways track. The heavy tracks include "Shake! Shake!", "I Won't Let You Down", "Turnaround", and the lyrically dark "Obsession". The album also contains more acoustic/mellow themed tracks such as "Strawberry Blonde", "Lostboy", and "All or Nothing" (which is pop punk track that sounds similar to Green Day at times). Overall All or Nothing shows The Subways maturing without losing their rock edge from their debut; It also features more dual vocals from Billy and Charlotte and even one track sung by drummer Josh Morgan ("All or Nothing"). The album went to # 17 on the UK album charts.

It's time once again for CJAM's annual Jammy awards. Once a year voting takes place so that the people that listen to CJAM can vote for their favourite shows. Voting does not take very long and it gives you a chance to have a say in what your favourite CJAM shows are. This year my show (Revolution Rock) is nominated in the Indie/Alternative/Rock Category. Show your support by voting for your favourite CJAM shows. You can vote by clicking this link.

Play List:

1. The Kinks - The Contendors
2. Booker T. - Potato Hole
3. The Sinners - In With The New
4. Spiral Scratch - Streetfighter
5. The Hippies - How You Gonna Live
6. The Regulators - What's in the City
7. The Perks - Escape
8. Blur - We've Got A File On You
9. His Mischief - Veins
10. Plunt - Boner
11. The Strange Boys - Woe is You and Me
12. Anagram - Leads To Nowhere
13. Drive Like Jehu - Luau
14. Pluto - Thirsty
15. The Subways - Holiday
16. The Subways - Oh Yeah
17. Mudhoney - Judgment, Rage, Retribution & Thyme
18. Nirvana - Very Ape
19. Japandroids - Wet Hair
20. Dirty Pretty Things - Chinese Dogs (Demo)
21. The Howlies - Sweet Denise Vs Road Rage Rhonda
22. Hater - Zombie Hand
23. Soundgarden - Ty Cobb
24. The Saints - Lipstick On Your Collar

To download this week's show visit the CJAM archives and select the files 10:00 AM and 11:00 AM on March, 31st 2009.

So It Goes...The Story of Nick Lowe....Show # 241

Nick Lowe is known as a solo artist, multi-instrumentalist (guitar, bass, harmonica, piano), and record producer. He formed Brinsley Schwarz 1965 (originally they went by the name Kippington Lodge until 1968). The band would be known as pub rockers, but would also play blues rock and country music. With this group Lowe would compose some of his best known compositions, "(What's So Funny Bout) Peace, Love and Understanding", and "Cruel To Be Kind", the group would last until 1975. "(What's So Funny Bout) Peace, Love and Understanding" would become a hit in the UK when it was covered by Elvis Costello & The Attractions in 1979. "Cruel To Be Kind" would be re-recorded in 1980 for a Nick Lowe solo album and become a UK charting hit as well.

Around this time Lowe began producing bands. He would produce the likes of Dr. Feelgood and Graham Parker. Since Lowe was still under contract that was signed while he was still in his pub rock band Brinsley Schwarz, Lowe composed several singles that were intended to not only flop, but get him kicked off the label. After releasing singles such as "Bay City Rollers We Love You" (which ironically did very well in Japan) and "Let's Go To the Disco", Lowe was dropped from the UA label. The music that Lowe composed around this time was also very different from his pub rock days with Brinsley Schwarz, they were more pop. After leaving UA Lowe signed to Stiff Records as an artist and their in house producer.

In 1976 Lowe released the single "So It Goes" backed with "Heart of the City". The single was seen as a proto-punk single, it did not chart well but received a lot of acclaim. In 1977 the Bowi EP was released. The four track EP's title was a joke in response to the David Bowie album Low. Lowe would also begin producing a lot of bands around this time. He did The Damned's Damned, Damned, Damned, Elvis Costello's My Aim is True, and The Rumour. Nick Lowe's early production style earned him the nick name "Basher". He was called this because the artists would bash out the song then fix it up later. If that wasn't enough he also became a member of the band Rockpile, who were Dave Edumund's touring band. They would also become Nick Lowe's backing band. After touring with the Stiff package tour, which featured Stiff Records artists, Nick Lowe and Elvis Costello left the label and went to Radar Records.

Jesus of Cool and Pure Pop For Now People (1978)

In 1978, Nick Lowe recorded his first solo album which would be titled Jesus of Cool. The album would address themes such as the greed and commercialization of music as well as how shallow pop music can be. The album featured songs such as "I Love the Sound of Breaking Glass" (# 7 on the UK singles charts), "Heart of the City", So It Goes", and "They Called it Rock". While lyrically the album contained many thought provoking and at times humorous themes, the music reflected new wave music. When the album was released in the US, it was retitled Pure Pop For Now People, and had a slightly different track listing. In 1979, Labour of Lust was released. It would contain a re-recording of a Brinsley Schwarz song "Cruel To Be Kind". The song would be Lowe's only top ten US hit. At this time Lowe would also produce The Pretenders single "Stop Your Sobbing" (which was actually a cover of a Kinks song) and marry the step daughter of Johnny Cash. He would produce two Carlene Carter albums Musical Shapes in 1980 and Blue Nun in 1981.

In 1979, since Lowe and Edmunds were still in Rockpile together, they toured together to support each others solo albums. Rockpile would be a double fronted group (by both Lowe and Edmunds), but they would only release one album under the name Rockpile. Seconds of Pleasure was released in 1980, but Rockpile would be the backing band for two Dave Edmunds solo albums (Tracks On Wax 4 and Repeat When Necessary) and on the Nick Lowe solo album Labour of Lust in 1979. In 1980 they would split up. Lowe would do another solo album in 1982 titled Nick the Knife. The album did well on the album charts in the US and the UK, but no singles charted that high. The only exception was the song "Stick It Where the Sun Don't Shine" which was a top 40 hit in Canada. After releasing one more solo album under his pop musical style format (The Abominable Snowman in 1983) he would then go into more of a country music oriented direction. In 1984 he released Nick Lowe & His Cowboy Outfit . The bands 1985 album Rose of England, produced some of Lowe's last high charting hits in the UK ("Half a Boy and Half a Man") and the US ("I Knew the Bride (When She Used to Rock and Roll)).

In 1986, Nick Lowe began producing other bands again. He produced Elvis Costello and The Attractions album Blood & Chocolate. He would also produce work by The Fabulous Thunderbirds, Paul Carrack, and John Hiatt. Lowe would also become a member of the studio band Little Village. This group of musicians which included Ry Cooder and Jim Keltner played as the backing band on John Hiatt's album Bring the Family. Released in 1987, the album was Hiatt's first album to chart on the Billboard 200 (it was in fact his 8th studio album). In 1992, Lowe's song "(What's So Funny Bout) Peace, Love and Understanding" was covered by Curtis Stigers on the Bodyguard soundtrack. As a result Nick Lowe received a lot of financial compensation due to song writing royalties; The soundtrack sold more than 15 million copies.


In the mid 90s Lowe returned with the Country album Impossible Bird. He also toured to support this, which was his first tour in five years. In 1998, he released Dig My Mood. It received good reviews. The Convincer came in 2001, Untorched Takeaway in 2004 (it was a live album), followed by At My Age in 2007. The albums are seen as a trilogy (starting with The Convincer) in a Country/Rock music format. Lowe is now on Yep Rock Records in the US. Jesus of Cool was remastered/re-issued in 2008 with bonus tracks. In 2009 they released a double CD greatest hits collection titled Quiet Please...The New Best of Nick Lowe.


Play List:

1. The Hentchmen - Psycho Daisies
2. The Strange - East Side Crush
3. Obits - Pine On
4. Lowlife - Leader
5. Private School - I Wanna Know
6. Bureaucrats - Today & Everyday
7. Ex-Boyfriends - The Secret of Immortality
8. Nick Lowe - Heart of the City
9. Nick Lowe - When I Write the Book
10. Radiohead - Talk Show Host
11. The Slickers - You Can't Win
12. Joe Strummer - The Harder They Come
13. Flag of Convenience - Shut Out The Light
14. The Teardrops - Colours
15. Buzzcocks - Ever Fallen In Love
16. Grape Digging Sharon Fruits - Shouting At Cars
17. Supergrass - Mansize Rooster
18. Evaporators - Shakin' With the Shaggy Shaker
19. The Spys - I Wanna Be Be Like You
20. Sloan - Living With the Masses
21. Sloan - Emergency 911
22. Raconteurs - Headin' For the Texas Border (Live)
23. Johnny Thunders & The Heartbreakers - I Wanna Be Loved
24. The Hives - No Pun Intended
25. The D4 - Exit To The City

To download this week's show visit the CJAM archives and select the files 10:00 AM and 11:00 AM on March, 24th 2009.

Lowe Videos:

Heart of the City (Live 1977)
So It Goes (Live 1978)
Cruel To Be Kind (TOTP 1979)
I Love The Sound of Breaking Glass (TOTP)
Teacher, Teacher (Rockpile 1980)
I Knew The Bride (Rockpile)
(What's So Funny Bout) Peace, Love and Understanding (Live Jimmy Kimmel 2007)
Hope For Us All (Live 2007)

Justa Nother Rebel...The Outcasts Story....Show # 240

Forming in Belfast, Northern Ireland in 1977, The Outcasts started out playing cover songs by bands such as The Clash, The Damned, Sex Pistols, Ramones. The band consisted of the Cowan brothers, Greg on bass/vocals, Colin on drums, and Martin on rhythm guitar and Colin Getwood on lead guitar. Initially the band had Blair Hamilton on vocals, but he left the group shorty after its original formation. The band, who apparently got their name by being turned down at numerous live venues, released their first single "Frustration" in 1978. This would in turn catch the attention of Good Vibration Records, who would release their second single "Justa Nother Rebel" in November of 1978. In 1979, Self Conscious Over You, The Outcasts first full length album was released. Just before the albums release, Gordy Blair replaced Greg Cowan on bass due to the fact that he was involved in a automobile accident and was unable to play bass. The band also got a new drummer at this time, Raymond Falls. The band would then be dropped from Good Vibration Records, but this would not stop them. The Outcasts released their next single "Magnum Force" independently on their own label GBH in 1981.

Following the "Magnum Force" release, The Outcasts had their first appearance on John Peel radio show. An EP titled Programme Love came next. In 1982, The Outcasts single "Angel Face" charted on the UK indie charts at number 21. Following this brief success the band was struck with a shock when Colin Cowan was killed in a automobile accident. Greg Cowan cited that his brother Colin was not only the person who gave the band their name, but also a key member to the band in the beginning. The band played a tribute gig shortly after this and received such a positive reaction, that they decided to carry on. The band then recorded another session for the John Peel radio show, and another album which would be titled Blood and Thunder. Released in 1983, Blood and Thunder came out on Abstract Records. The album climbed to number 20 on the UK Indie album charts. The Outcasts released a few more single and the Seven Deadly Sins album in 1984, but the band was essentially over. In 1985, The Outcasts official split and three members of the band formed another group called Time To Pray; They were only a band for one year. In 2003, Greg Cowan formed another band with other members from Irish punk bands.

Play List:

1. MC5 - Tutti Frutti
2. The Bohemians - I Need You Baby
3. The Meligrove Band - Monkey Mask
4. The Outcasts - Justa Nother Teenage Rebel
5. Undertones - One Way Love
6. Stiff Little Fingers - Gotta Get Away
7. Ruffians - I Never Will Marry
8. The Pogues - If I Should Fall From The Grace of God
9. The Wolfmen - Cecile
10. XTC - No Thugs in Our House
11. Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds - Deanna
12. The Locust Have No King - Anna's Smoke
13. Dishrags - Bullshit
14. Active Dog - Fun While It Lasts
15. The Diodes - Time Damage
16. Cardboard Brains - Living Inside My Head
17. The Government - Zippers Of Fire
18. Talking Heads - Mind (Alternate Version)
19. The Police - No Time This Time
20. Klark Kent - Office Girls
21. The Normals - Almost Ready
22. Elvis Costello - Less Than Zero
23. Ramones - Surf City
24. Sex Pistols - Don't Give No Lip Child
25. Wire - 12 X U
26. Damned - Fanclub (Live Paris Theatre, London 1977)

To download this week's show visit the CJAM archives and select the files 10:00 AM and 11:00 AM on March, 17th 2009.

Built For Speed... The Stray Cats Story...Show # 239

The Stray Cats formed in 1979. Consisting of Brian Setzer (vocals/guitar), Slim Jim Phantom (drums), and Lee Rocker on bass, the band originate from Long Island, New York. The Stray Cats were influenced by bands such as Elvis Presley, Gene Vincent, Bo Diddley, Eddie Cochran, and Chuck Berry. The music of the band was heavily influenced by 50's rock, but this did not go over well in New York. With and emerging 50's revival scene going on in the UK, The Stray Cats moved there. Along with the Teddy Boy youth subculture (which was a 50's revival scene there), The Stray Cats fit right in. Drawing all these influences the group played their rockabilly music with the energy of punk that was also emerging in the UK at this time.

While in London, the band met Dave Edmunds after a gig. Known for his work with Rockpile and for being a roots rock enthusiast, Edmunds offered to help the group record and album, they accepted. The result was Stray Cats, released in 1981 in England on Arista Records. The album was a hit. It contained three of the bands best known songs, "Stray Cat Strut" (#11 on the UK singles charts), "Rumble in Brighton", and "Rock This Town" (#9 on the UK singles charts). The album also contained "Runaway Boys", which was a hit in the UK (#9 on the UK singles charts). The band released Gonna Ball in 1981 next. The album did not do very well and was not as successful in the UK. Despite this fact, this was enough proof for EMI to sign the band in America.


Built for Speed was released in the US in 1982. The album was a combination of songs from the bands first two UK albums. The album took six tracks from Stray Cats ("Rock This Town", "Stray Cat Strut", "Rumble in Brighton", "Jennie, Jennie, Jennie", and "Double Talkin' Baby"), and five tracks from Gonna Ball ("Baby Blue Eyes", "Little Miss Prissy", "You Don't Believe Me", "Rev It Up & Go", and "Lonely Summer Nights"). The album also included the title track "Built For Speed", which at the time wasn't available in the UK. The album was a big hit in the US, "Rock This Town" went to #9 on the US singles charts, and "Stray Cat Strut" went to #3 on the US singles charts; The band also got a lot of airplay on MTV. The bands second album released in the US was Rant 'n Rave with the Stray Cats. Released in 1983, the album produced a top ten hit with the song "(She's) Sexy + 17".

In 1984 after the band had experienced their new success, tensions and conflicts built amongst band members. This would lead to the band splitting up the very same year. The band would go onto to other musical projects, but in 1986 they reformed. They recorded an album primarily consisting of cover songs called Rock Therapy. The album did not sell very well and the group would split up again going on to their previous post-Stray Cats musical projects, but it would not last long because the band would reunite yet again in 1989. They recorded the album Blast Off and supported it with a tour. The band released an album in 1990 titled Let's Go Faster (it was the bands first album not released on EMI America). In 1992, the band released Choo Choo Hot Fish, and a covers album Original Cool in 1993. The band called it quits again after this, but have reunited sporadically ever since. In 2002, Forever Gold was released, it was an album of live tracks and acoustic recordings. In 2004, Rumble in Brixton was released which was an album of live recordings taken from their 2004 European tour. The Stray Cats are an energetic exciting Rockabilly band that continue to tour.

Brian Setzer released his first solo album The Knife Feels Like Justice in 1986. In the 90's he formed The Brian Setzer Orchestra, they are a big 17 piece band who had a hit in 1998 with the song "Jump, Jive, an' Wail!". Setzer has continued to release both solo albums and Brian Setzer Orchestra albums sporadically. Other Stray Cats members have also been in other groups. Lee Rocker and Slim Jim Phantom formed the Swing Cats and have both released solo material. In addition to this Phantom also plays drums in 13 Cats, who are a rockabilly band. He has also played with the band The Head Cats, with Lemmy Kilmister (Motorhead) and Danny Harvey (13 Cats).

Songs Played This Week:

1. Them - I Can Only Give You Everything
2. The Remains - Don't Look Back
3. The Count Five - People Hear What I Say
4. The Black Lips - Take My Heart
5. The Howlies - Dirty Woman
6. The Velvet Underground - What Goes On
7. Painted Ship - Little White Lies
8. Tom Northcott Trio - Just Don't
9. 49th Parallel - You Do Things
10. Main Line - Don't Wait Around
11. The Haunted - Shake
12. Lilly Allen Featuring Mick Jones - Straight to Hell
13. The Rapture - Heaven
14. The Kooks - Victoria
15. The Kinks - Don't Ever Let Me Go
16. The Beatles - If You've Got Trouble
17. The Cramps - Garbageman
18. Vince Taylor & His Playboys - Brand New Cadillac
19. The Stray Cats - Runaway Boys
20. The Ugly Ducklings - Gaslight
21. The Gruesomes - You're Not the Boss of Me
22. The Hellacopters - Gotta Get Some Action Now!
23. The Stooges - Down On the Street
24. The 13th Floor Elevators - You're Gonna Miss Me When I'm Gone
25. New York Dolls - Trash
26. The Pretty Things - Midnight To Six Man

To download this week's show visit the CJAM archives and select the files 10:00 AM and 11:00 AM on March, 9th 2009.

Stray Cat Vidoes:

Rock This Town (Live Fridays 1981)
Baby Blue Eyes (Live Fridays 1981)
Stray Cat Strut (Live 1981)
Rumble In Brighton (Live Rockpalast 1981)
(She's) Sexy + 17
Look At That Cadillac

This Fire...The Story of Franz Ferdinand....Show # 238

Forming in Scotland in 2002, Franz Ferdinand had its beginnings amongst other bands. Alex Kapranos (who would be the lead singer/guitar in Franz) was at one point in a local Scotish group called Yummy Fur with Paul Thomson (who would play drums with Franz). The two began to write songs together and Kapranos would teach a friend (Bob Hardy) to play bass. Nick McCarthy then came into the picture. He returned to Scotland after studying classical piano and double bass. The seeds of the group began to grow and then the band named themselves after Archduke Franz Ferdinand. Franz Ferdinand is cited as a major cause for World War One. Originally the groups name was inspired by a race horse name The Archduke, after some discussion with other groups members, their conversation drifted towards the discussion of The Archduke Franz Ferdinand. The group thought that the name Franz Ferdinand sounded good and that a bands name should sound good, as should a song.

The band then rented an abandoned house where they would rehearse and have big parties celebrating music and art. In the summer of 2002, Franz Ferdinand had an EP's worth of material that they intended to be release themselves. Word of mouth spread as did the bands reputation, and in 2003 Franz Ferdinand signed to Domino Records. Darts of Pleasure was released in September of 2003 in the UK and November in Canada and the US. The EP contained three songs "Darts of Pleasure", "Van Tango", and "Shopping For Blood". The bands sound has often been described as post punk influenced. Listening to their early material an ominous Gang of Four influence is present, but the bands sound is more elaborate than that. They also draw in influences from David Bowie, Joy Division, The Fall, Talking Heads, Sparks, The Kinks, Buzzcocks, and electronic music.


In 2004, Franz Ferdinand released their first self titled album. The album was recorded in Malmo, Sweden with producer Tore Johansson (The Cardigans). "Take Me Out" did very well in the UK (#3 on the singles charts) and was one of the first singles to be featured from the album. Other singles from Franz Ferdinand were "This Fire", and "The Dark of the Matinee". Other interesting tracks include "Jacqueline", "Auf Achse", "Cheating On You", and 40". The album received high critical acclaim and eventually climbed the US Billboard charts. Franz Ferdinand incorporated intelligent literary topics into their music along with the music itself to create a unique, catchy combination of words and music. The band also has an art element to their music. Their videos have displayed this as well as their album artwork, which often reflects Russian Avant-garde imagery. Critics have gone on to say that Franz Ferdinand has the same feel as albums from bands such as The Beatles, Roxy Music, Wire, Blur, The Who, Duran Duran who all started bands influenced by art school. The album has since then gone on to sell over 3 million world wide.

In 2005, Franz Ferdinand released their second album You Could Have it So Much Better. Produced with Rich Costley at the bands own studio in Glasgow, the album took on more of a rock based influence as opposed to the bands first album which had elements of disco within the music. The first single "Do You Want To" was more reminiscent of the bands earlier sound, while the bands second single "Walk Away" was a more morose track. "The Fallen" was a song that is a good representation of the album, loud fast, and catchy. Other great tracks on the album include "This Boy", "Evil and A Heathen", and "You're the Reason I'm Leaving". Apparently the song is believed to be about a rivalry between former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair and the current UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown. The album is a personal favourite of mine, it definitely takes on a 70s punk/post punk influence. The album debuted at #1 on the UK album charts and in top ten all over the world. The album was not only the first number one for the band, but also for Domino Records. The album art for this album reflects the artwork of Russian Avant-garde photographer Alexander Rodchenko.

After a long tour and a break the band reconvened to begin work on their third album. The band had material written in 2005 in preparation for their next album, but scrapped the songs because Kapranos wanted the band to take their time and develop the songs more. Beginning in 2007, Franz Ferdinand worked on material for what to was become Tonight. They worked with producer Dan Carey (initially the band was going to work with producer Brian Higgins before switching to Carey). The album was released in January of 2009 and all of the songs are based loosely, around the concept of a night of partying and the morning after. The first single from the album was the song "Ulysses". The song is apparently about someone who is lost (it also draws upon the literary reference to the story by James Joyce titled Ulysses). Other interesting tracks include "Turn it On", "Bite Hard", "Lucid Dreams", "What She Came For", No You Girls", and "Kiss Me Katherine". The album draws more on the bands earlier sound, bringing in elements of electronica, dub/reggae, 80's synthesizer music. The album debuted in the top ten on album charts across the world and was well received by critics and fans of the band. The album artwork was made to look like crime scene photos and comes off having a very Berlin-era David Bowie vibe.

Franz Ferdinand are a band that mix musical influences of post punk, 70s punk, disco, electronica, dance, indie rock, and elements of art into their music. They currently have touring plans which has included the Glastonbury Festival and Coachella music festival.

The Play List:

1. Beck - Leopard Skin Pill-Box Hat
2. Polymorphines - Call of the Sparrow
3. The Perms - As You Were
4. Chuck Berry - Beautiful Delilah
5. James Brown - I'll Never Let You Go
6. Smokey Robinson & The Miracles - Get Ready
7. REM - See No Evil
8. Hot Nasties - This is Unlove
9. Ride Theory - Parking Ticket
10. Mink Devile - She's So Tough
11. Richard Hell & The Voidoids - Going Going Gone (Time Version)
12. The Real Kids - All Kindsa Girls
13. The Tighe Brothers Band - Thinking Too Much
14. The Mark Inside - Carousel
15. The Marble Index - We Can Make It
16. Hairspray - The Ridge
17. Dum Dum Boys - Let There Be Noise
18. White Stripes - Jolene
19. The Steps - Cold Floors
20. Von Bondies - Shut Your Mouth
21. Franz Ferdinand - Call Me
22. Yeah Yeah Yeahs - Sheena is A Punk Rocker
23. Franz Ferdinand - Send Him Away
24. Franz Ferdinand - Turn it On

To download this week's show visit the CJAM archives and select the files 10:00 AM and 11:00 AM on March, 3rd 2009.

Franz Videos:

Take Me Out
Darts of Pleasure
Michael
The Dark of the Matinee
The Fallen
Walk Away
Eleanor Put Your Boots On
Do You Want To
Ulysses