Franz Ferdinand, ‘Franz Ferdinand’
By user • Apr 22nd, 2004 • Category: Album Reviews
Thank God for Franz Ferdinand and its self-titled debut.
Bands such as Hot Hot Heat, IMA Robot, The Rapture and The Sounds are just a few of the influx of acts with obvious roots in seminal new-wave acts The Smiths and The Cure.
But when The Darkness reached back and cherry-picked the sound of Poison, it seemed all was lost for the retro movement.
Luckily, Franz Ferdinand is here to resurrect the memories of Joy Division. Unlike Interpol, who overtly worships at the temple of Ian Curtis, Franz Ferdinand does so with clever restraint.
The Scottish foursome combines the best elements of industrial post-punk and dance savvy.
Alex Kapranos’ crooning vocals are borderline haunting. His melancholy approach on songs such as “The Dark of The Matinee” and “Cheating On You” seem more atmospheric when coupled with Nick McCarthy’s aggressive, up-tempo guitars.
Songs such as “Tell Her Tonight,” “Take Me Out” and “Auf Achse” are undeniably groove-friendly. The rhythm section of Bob Hardy on bass and Paul Thomson on drums possesses as much of a dance-club sensibility as a live band possibly can.
The opener, “Jacqueline,” is the album’s best track. After nearly a minute of Kapranos and an acoustic guitar, the band joins in with a thunderous ode to life being “better on holiday.”
Though the record becomes repetitive toward the end, individually, the songs can stand up against any, proving that going retro is not a thing of the past.
Northern Star, April 22, 2004
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