so, as expected, the funeral was one part somber and seven parts joyous. the very few relatives who didn't make it in this past christmas made it in for the funeral (except for the two youngest cousins, both in fort lauderdale. the youngest, a five-year-old girlm, instructed her mother: 'if you're going to chicago, you better come back with kielbasa." classic.), which meant that a good time - for the most part - was had by all.

that's not the real reason for my post, although the real reason is considerably less important.

the real reason for the post is this: if you have heard of or been told about or been recommended to purchase the latest record by the glaswegian band franz ferdinand, entitled franz ferdinand, do it. now.

it's alternately moody and aggressive and the guitars are skronky and the vocals are manic. it's like a combination of interpol and hot hot heat which, while a bit odd-sounding, works really really well. you don't find the moodiness that some of interpol's first record has, and it's not annoying in the way that hot hot heat is. it's just really, really good.

the best album i've heard in quite a while, i'd say. although i'm often guilty of hyperbole.

but, needless to say, an a+ effort.

the best i've heard this year. (although i think i've only purchased four 2004 albums: franz ferdinand, the walkmen's bows + arrows, elbow's cast of thousands and john vanderslice's cellar door.)