Album: Franz Ferdinand, Right Thoughts, Right Words, Right Action (Domino)

The title tempts fate but is entirely accurate.

Which is to say that, after an average third LP and a four-year hiatus, the art-rockers are once again all kinds of excellent. Highlights? The ska skank of “Evil Eye”, cosmically swoonsome middle-eight of indie-disco number “Stand on the Horizon” and Pixies-ish, surf-punk rush of “Bullet”. Broader joys? Alex Kapranos’ louche charm, of course. It’s as if the whole British guitar-music malaise never happened.