FM's mid-'70s music focused heavily on the progressive rock end of the musical spectrum, while their transition into the '80s found them slowly drifting into pop/rock, customizing their songs to be radio friendly.
Tonight has this Toronto foursome (who were a threesome in their prog days) laying out a handful of keyboard-shimmering pop songs that put good use to instruments rarely found on three minute banters.
Nash the Slash, the notorious lead singer who always appears wrapped in bandages, plays electric mandolin, mandola, and bouzouki, giving each tune some instrumental dimension. Songs like "Dream Girl" and "Magic (In Your Eyes)" possess sweet harmonies thanks to Cameron Hawkins' assistance on vocals. Hawkins is the only remaining member from FM's start up in 1977, and adds his delicate keyboard work to every tune on the album. The last five songs on the album were added from an earlier album entitled Con-test, including the chilly sounding "Just Like You" and the entertaining "Why Don't You Take It," which has the stern sounding Nash in command.
Tonight has a generous amount of average sounding pop music, but one may feel this band turned to this route just to stay alive, especially after hearing them in their progressive prime. ~ Mike DeGagne