Franz Ferdinand

On Ugly, released March 3, the medium is most certainly the message, with Slowthai’s post-punk-influenced performances adding another dimension of expression that no mere combination of words could ever do.

After initially calling it quits in 2015, the UK group’s angular sounds have returned just in time to end your summer with some alternative oomf.

Over the course of the night, the Fox was filled with the sounds of not only guitar, bass and drums, but also keyboards, recorder, synth, cowbell, harmonica and various other instruments.

Despite the flood of new noises decorating and garnishing this album, it's built with the same pieces that have constituted every Franz Ferdinand album to date.

Would MGMT be back? Or would the group provide another album laden with overwrought esotericism and culminating in listener disinterest?

As described by former The Daily Californian arts & entertainment editor Jason Chen, “Any conversation about Miguel’s artistry is actually about his abs.

If someone told you they liked pop music with a casual, “I like a chipper synthesized baseline, a plucky electric guitar and lyrics about adolescent life that make my heart tingle, if you please,” you would probably tell them to simmer down.