Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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177 of 200 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Sound the horns...finally some new music that doesn't suck, March 19, 2004
First off, I'll start out with the obligitory fair warning: You'll hear Franz compared to almost every band that has had some success in the past 2 years...everyone from The Strokes to Interpol and beyond.
Truth is, although Franz Ferdinand pays an agreeable nod to a few bands that have come before them, they have developed their own unique sound and comparisons will undoubtedly fall short. The best way to judge would be for you to see what kinds of music I really like. If you like these bands too, you'll thank me for suggesting Franz Ferdinand.
I'm kind of bummed that the album finally came out in the states...I imported a copy after hearing a download from the bands website a few months back. Here's to hoping that the band doesn't attract so much attention that their reputation preceeds their musical prowess.
I love the Smiths, first and foremost...I think they're one of the best bands that ever came together to record music. I like The Cure. I like Gang of Four, Neutral Milk Hotel and My Bloody Valentine. In recent years, I like Interpol. And I like The Rapture and even Hot Hot Heat.
The boys from FF hail from Glasgow, a town that has brought us the creative and musical genius that is Belle and Sebastian. I don't know what's in the water over there, but I'm considering importing some of it.
Franz Ferdinand come out on their debut album as a group of artists formed not for the sole purpose of creating music, but creating an atmosphere and a feeling. Fortunately for us, the guys just happen to be top-notch musicians and they've put together some of the best songs to come out in the past 6 years. Poppy? Some of it, yes...but not questionably so. Amazing bass lines, great high hat attacks and solid rhythm guitar lay down the backdrop for a painting that could only be completed by a soulfull, solid voice.
There will be the inevitible comparisons to Pulp, Interpol, Joy Division, etc. but none of them really fit the bill. This album has an overall feeling of coming from The Smiths' era, but not necessarliy a retro feel. Just as everything adds up to be more than the simple sum of its' parts, Franz Ferdinand is a unique combination of artists and musicians that seem to have come together for the perfect approach to inspired, clever lyrics and an original sound. That's right..I said it: orginal. Every band is influenced by other bands...it's how they take that inspiration and use it to their own advantage that sets bands miles apart. These guys are for real...and if you're a fan of good music that entirely eclipses what you hear on the radio in this day and age, pick it up and then email me for an address so that you can send me a Thank You card. Pick it up now before they end up on the cover of Rolling Stone as the band slated to save Rock and Roll. Then you can laugh at people who start to listen to them in July and say, 'My boys from Glasgow! I've been listening to them for like, forever!' Either way, get it now, get it later....just pick it up and decide for yourself whether art influences music or if it's the othe way around.
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17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Unique And Strong Debut!, July 30, 2004
When they released their self-titled debut album in the UK in January 2004, Franz Ferdinand were hailed as the first great new band of the year. Unbelievable hype swirled around the new Scottish four-piece as they burst into the charts with their unmistakable debut. Their debut single garnered many pleasing reviews and made the band one of the most talked about of the year. With heavy-guitars and loveable beats, this is essentially post-pop melodic fun with hints of rock from the punk scene - all mashed together in a rebellious, yet fun-loving, way. The album itself doesn't even manage to make the 40 minute mark, clocking in at 38:49, yet with this album it is definitely more quality over quantity.
Franz Ferdinand have made an impact because they are different from anything else out there. Their beats are repetitive, yes, and their lyrics are simplistic, but it's the way the band are 'marketed', and I use that word lightly, because they are definitely not a manufactured band. They're outrageously camp, eccentric and very geeky - the kind of music you could imagine the high school nerds rocking to, but secretly love yourself. The music is a revelation, and behind that bland and boring, uninspired black album cover lies of a cracking album just waiting to jump into your CD player...
The album opens with "Jacqueline." The song opens softly with a light guitar and the vocals of the lead singer. After around forty seconds the beat kicks in and soon begins a brilliant fast-paced rocker with a definite retro theme. Following this is the excellent "Tell Her Tonight." With David Bowie-like vocals, the band sing about a girl who must be informed of something - the 'something' is rather ambiguous, however, making you think what it could be in the verses. The band's debut single is up next, "Take Me Out," which made it to No.3 in the UK. The song opens loudly and the beat soon kicks in, only to slow down steadily until the soon-to-be-British-anthem bass kicks in around the 55th second. This is by far the greatest footstomper of the year and an awesome hand-clapper! The lyrics are bright and vibrant, as are the vocals and the entire composition - absolute masterpiece!
"The Dark Of The Matinee" is up next and was the second single to be taken from the album. In this song, the band sing of meeting a girl in the matinee. It's very old fashioned in style, but the music is bang up to date and fresh: "Find me and follow me, through corridors, refectories and files you must follow, leave this academic factory, you will find me in the Matinee, the dark of the matinee! It's better in the Matinee, the dark of the Matinee! It's mine, yes it's mine!" The next song is "Auf Achse" which is a great song with a brilliant one-minute musical intro, before the singing starts. The song sings of wanting a girl bad style, but not being able to have her. So near yet so far away! "Cheating On You" begins like some 60's-psychedelia song that you'd hear in Austin Powers! The lyrics are once again repetitive, but who cares when you can nod your head this hard?! "This Fire" is a rather disappointing song that doesn't quite match the others on this album, but is enjoyable nonetheless. "Darts Of Pleasure" is another lyrically repetitive song, yet it has a pleasurable-enough beat to keep afloat.
"Michael" is the third single to be released from the album and has to be a definite album highlight! This is like the true gay anthem of the year! It really is superbly produced and very humorous. The boys sing about Michael, a beautiful boy on a beautiful dancefloor. He has leather hips, sticky lips, and is the most-wanted guy to dance with! The determination in the song is what makes it so hilarious, and it's good to see the band singing about a topic that would make other so-called 'respectable' artists criticised. "Come On Home" has a brilliant and very catchy beat to start off with and continues this through the remainder of the song. The song is similar to the rest on the album, and it might be difficult to distinguish it from the others to begin with, yet over time with repeated listens, you'll grow to love this as an album highlight! The album closes with "40'" which is a rather unusual song compared to the rest on the album. It has a singular beat running all the way through it, which is very catchy, along with the "Lalala" bit!
OVERALL GRADE: 9/10
Franz Ferdinand have certainly created a unique debut album here, which has just picked up a Mercury Music Prize nomination in the UK, and is tipped to win in September. There are a few dull moments on this album, I won't lie, but the good parts far outweigh these. The band at this stage in their careers are in desperate need of progression and development if they are to survive for a long time. They can't carry on making music that is similar to this, as I feel the public would get bored and simply desert them. I look forward to the sophomore album, as it will be interesting to see what they come up with.
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9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Awesome CD, September 16, 2004
Well I love this CD. It is one of the very few I listen to heavily. Here is my track by track analysis:
1. Jaqueline 9/10. I love the soft opening intro. The second part of the song is catchy too, but gets a bit repetitive by the end.
2. Tell her Tonight 8/10: One of the weaker songs IMO. I don't believe the main singer sings this song, and it shows.
3. Take me Out 10/10. Awesome catchy song I can't get enough of!
4. The Dark of the Matinee: 11/10. My favorite song! Fun to sing along with, dance to, and listen to. Be sure to check out the music video too, its on launch radio.
5. Auf Asche: 9/10. good song, not great, but again, I never skip it.
6. Cheating on her: 9/10 Catchy, fun, song, but they have better
7. This fire: 7/10. My least favorite song. The only one I generally skip
8: Darts of Pleasure 10/10. I love this song! The singer does really cool things with his voice.
9. Michael: 10/10. This song took a while to grow on me, but now I really like it. It has some crazy guitar work, and all in all is a very, well, frenetic song. The lyrics are hilarious (though they may offend some.)
10. Come on Home: 10/10. This is a great song. A little more subdued than others, but awesome just the same.
11. 40': 9/10. A good ending song. Doesn't make you think FF just threw it in there to end the album. A stand alone song in its own right.
So all in all, a great album. BUY IT NOW! ;)
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