Reviews (page 2 of 15)
First Listen - They are good at what they did but the songs felt a bit similar. It's an album, it is supposed to sound a bit similar; but I think they overdid a Touch Too Much. Every song sounds like a variation of the last one to the point were it's not bad. It's just a bit frustrating because I wish the songs sounded a bit more different. It is still a very good album. Second listen - It is only the baselines and the drums that are similar, they are very similar but it is only the baselines and drums. I actually like how the album progresses and in Auf Chase (which is no where near my favorite song on this album) they use a keyboard for only that song. I really like how the Album is not first half carried and is good throughout. I really like that they threw in Michael randomly because of how different it sounds. Still a bit too similar for my liking though. Highlights - Take me out, Jacqueline, The Dark of the Matinee, and Michael. I will end up listening to this album every once in a while. 3 stars P.S. My first of 1001 albums!
It was fine
For a matinee
I really enjoy this style of indie rock. It’s really cool. This album has some fantastic stuff but more forgettable songs, but overall it’s pretty good.
3.6/5 - Something just sounds slightly off about the vocals to me, but otherwise the vibes were generally good. Nothing more to say.
Sneaky very very solid
Oh my god. Is this my last 90s/2000s British indie album of the project? I'm looking at the 8 albums I have left after this, and this appears to be the last one! Let's go!! Yeah, there are a few too many of these kinds of albums on this list, and a ton of them just have no reason to be here. I'll say this though. Franz Ferdinand isn't to blame for that. This one actually makes sense to be here. Franz Ferdinand were decently popular in their time and have at least one song that people still care about! And the album itself? It's pretty good! I liked this one. It's not perfect, I'll admit. It is a tad repetitive in both the lyrical and musical front, but when it's all as good as it is and the album's under 40 minutes in length, I can't complain that much. Besides, the good stuff here is really good. The energy and the guitars are great. Alex Kapranos is a solid frontman. None of the songs here are bad, and the best ones are classics. "Take Me Out" is the huge hit everyone remembers, and it is a great song. It's got to be one of the best songs to come out of the 2000s post-punk revival. "The Dark of the Matinée" is pretty cool as well, as are other singles like "Darts of Pleasure" and "This Fire." Lyrically, the album has a focus on things like relationship struggles, and it's done decently well. As stated earlier, the album's runtime is tight, so it's kinda hard to get tired of the band's sound. Overall, Franz Ferdinand's self-titled album is quite impressive for a debut. It's not the best indie rock debut album of the 2000s, but it's a damn good one regardless. 4/5.
I have knowingly and sought out one song by FF - Take Me Out. It’s an upbeat danceable and rock tinged song that I really like. This album is all of that. I learned today they are out of Glasgow - I had assumed they were a California band. Overall, an enjoyable album.
I appreciate that this is executed well, which is why I'm giving it the second star, but the 2010s style of indie/guitar music was awful to listen to then and still is now. Sure it's catchy, but it's a full album of two-dimensional riffs over the same drumbeat.
Definitely took me back to the mid 00’s. It’s an uneven album but the hit is so good that it makes it a joy to listen to.
I say, take me out... Tananana tananana tananana nananata
Listening session: september 20th, while getting ready in the morning Listened to before: listened to one song before Thoughts: fun indie album with a really distinctive sound Favourite tracks: Take Me Out, The Dark Of The Matinée & Michael
Started out ok but everything starts to sounds the same.
Not my favorite, but some bangers
Great guitar rhythms. Very catchy and easy to move to.
There are some great songs here, and the riff on Take Me Out is timeless. But there's too much filler here for such a short record. They showed so much promise here that I don't think they ever lived up to.
אלבום פשוט וכיפי עם קצב ואופי אחידים. בשלב מסוים טיפה חזר על עצמו, אבל נהניתי לאורך כל הדרך.
ikke dårligt
This is a now classic album in the alt rock thanks to the success of hit single Take Me Out and it's inclusion in mainstream video games like NHL '05. It's literally still being played in hockey arenas everywhere and that is why it has also become one of the most annoying songs of all time, right up there with Happy by Pharrell and Somebody That I Used To Know by not even the actual artist. This is something I enjoyed back in 04/05 but not now and I could not sit through the whole album.
This album's a party starter, no two ways about it. Spins: 2 Playlist Additions - Jacqueline - Take Me Out - The Dark of the Matinée - This Fire
Always loved Take Me Out. And the whole album lived up to that!
3.5
9.1
this was an incredibly formative album for me. still love it and have it downloaded on my phone so i can play it at any time. perfect album
I haven't listened to this in years. Had it on CD back in the day. It still sounds great and some of the lesser known songs are bangers
I was so happy to have this today. It just hit right. I never got fully into this group. Definitely was aware. But my lack of real knowledge is going to change. Thank you 1089! 4 Boolean: True
Bit of nostalgia and national pride with Franz. A good album
Reminds me of my 20's, saw them tour this album with my now wife. Catchy but empty songs.
My personal indie / alt era was more like 2007-2011ish, so I guess I missed this album. Too bad, it would've had a sacred spot in my CD wallet lol. I am having a blast listening to this.
couldn't make my mind up about this one, which means it inevitably becomes a 3 until further notice
Holy Sh**! This is a LOT better than I remembered
It is this album. Favourite track - This Fire
I used to like this album a lot more. It’s got an e interesting twists and turns, and Take Me Out is phenomenal. As a whole it’s not suuuper engaging - definitely solid songwriting and nothing to turn up your nose at but it’s a solid b tier album.
it was surprisingly great and of course the single is iconic
Funnnnn
good
I was thinking this album was really just a single with a lot of B sides, but after listening again it is actually a really good, well rounded album.
incredibly millennial (thus boring)
I simply can't fault this album. It's loud and sexy, full of groovy bass lines and hooks that just dig into in the best way possible. An absolute joy from start to finish, and influences so many rock/indie bands since. Favourites: Take Me Out The Dark Of The Matinee Michael
Me gustó, ya conocía el álbum pero no había escuchado todas sus canciones
Another one thats absolutely ok but thats about it. Of course there are some catchy hooks and Take Me Out goes hard but the whole thing as an album just seems so bland to me. After 2 songs I lose focus and it becomes background music everytime. I feel like I should like the sound more but it doesnt click for me sadly. Im starting to get the feeling that indierock just isnt really my thing it was the same with The Killers. But at the same time I consider "Is This It" by The Strokes an absolute masterpiece is this album just that good? Anyways the mood isnt the best the past few days maybe there just isn't enough headspace for new music I will for sure try again because I have some Franz Ferdinand in my playlist and refuse to believe that I dont remember a single song other than the hitsingle here. 3,0/5
Not bad. A decent indie-rock album with nothing terribly bad. However, there are 11 songs on this album and probably only 42 distinct lyrics. I know it's very common in popular music but they tend to repeat themselves more than most they tend to repeat themselves more than most they tend to repeat themselves more than most
Braderie
This reminds me of my old CD player. Spin it up and hope your parents chose a long enough drive for me to listen to the whole thing.
Honestly this has aged really well. Franz Ferdinand were always one of the more interesting indie bands of the 00s and this relisten was a good reminder of that
the instrumentals never missed but i wasn't the biggest fan of the singing personally. best songs: "The Dark Of The Matinée", "Come On Home"
#9 I've never felt like a rock album is truly for me but this one is different. All the songs clicked with me in some way. Nothing sounds forced or weird. Take Me Out is one of the catchiest rock songs I've ever heard.
A few really good tracks. Enough variety to remain interesting.
Very solid, definitely a very fun, very summer record. Did not know too much outside of this fire and take me out but I was pleasantly surprised.
Yea I don’t really care for this. Feels kinda boring and uninspired.
One hit wonder TS not good
Just like take me out, this album has a great start to every song with a solid basis, but doesn’t come to fruition in any form of payoff. No wonder there’s only one song anyone knows.
Reheating strokes nachos
So much energy. I was just the right age when this came out. Fun to hear music you can just about pull off when you’re starting to play guitar etc yourself.
Gillar verkligen take me out!! Kan definitivt höra the Strokes och Arctic Monkeys liknelserna, tyckte specifikt att sångaren lät som Julian i Eternal Summer verserna i nån låt. Kul att hitta ett nytt band som liknar andra band jag redan gillar.
Если честно просто заебись альбомс а хуле тогда не 5? не знаю!
Take Me Out is great! Halfway through the album and it sounds like most other early 2000's bands 40' has a great guitar line Really liked 2 of the songs on this album. Solid 3 rating
Day 388 An album I never gave a chance to when it came out, really enjoyed it. Highlights Take me out Dark of the matinee Michael
Would it be crazy to say that Take Me Out is the second most important thing to be a direct result of the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria? I don't think so, because I listened to alternative stations on the radio growing up, and they played that song non-stop. I don't think that's necessarily a bad thing, despite what some people may say. Even if it was a bit overplayed it's still my favorite song from this album by a decent margin. It's not like the rest of the album is mediocre either, some standouts include a killer intro in Jacqueline, the massively underrated homoerotic anthem Michael, and an equally killer outro in 40'. I would be lying if I said the songs didn't feel a little same-y as the album went on, but I still think this is a very solid debut album, and an essential listen for fans of post/dance-punk. 7.5/10 Favorite tracks: Jacqueline, Take Me Out, This Fire, Michael
I'd only known the radio hit before this, but this slaps!
FIND ME AND FOLLOW ME THROUGH CORRIDORS, REFECTORIES AND FILES YOU MUST FOLLOW, LEAVE THIS ACADEMIC FACTORY YOU WILL FIND ME IN THE MATINÉE, THE DARK OF THE MATINÉE IT'S BETTER IN THE MATINÉE, THE DARK OF THE MATINÉE IS MINEE3EEEEEE I have such a stron nostalgia for this album it blinds me. Only thing stopping a 5 is the two albums after this one from them are better 4.5
First off, track 1: I do NOT like this song at ALL. Please let it end, for god's sake. Oh, side note: I do know one song off this, and that's Take Me Out. It's an ok song, so not sure what I'm going to think of the rest of it. Not good so far lol. Ok, I HATE this album. Why did they say "MATINEE" like that in that song? FUCK, I am so annoyed. omg shut up. This is objectively not a good album. This is the first album that I need to shut it off and maybe come back to it later because it's so bad. I have come back to finish this once and for all. I am over halfway through the album, and it really is truly so bad. This is getting 1 star, and that 1 star is for part of the song called Take Me Out. Truly terrible album.
Great album with some bangers on it.
These guys sure know how to write a guitar line
Some is brilliant, some is proper landfill indie. Pick your poison
I think I wanted to like this more than I did. It was intriguing throughout but don’t know if it’s got the kind of longevity that means you’ll want to be listening to it spontaneously. Some great tracks but also some stuff feels under baked.
Listened before?: yes, at least once. i've heard Take Me Out many times more than the full album, but i remember there were some fun tracks here beyond that Jacqueline - 4/5 Tell Her Tonight - 3/5 Take Me Out - 5/5 The Dark of the Matinée - 3/5 Auf Achse - 4/5 Cheating on You - 3/5 This Fire - 4/5 Darts of Pleasure - 4/5 Michael - 5/5 Come On Home - 4/5 40' - 5/5 Average score: 4/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ yeah, it's about as good as i remember it, and i think it held up well since it came out in the early 2000s. these guys walked so Arctic Monkeys could run
2-3 / 5 This is my FIRST album of this challenge :D However, I have to admit, it really doesn't stick with me. I feel like with the first half of this album, I tried too hard to like some songs, but I really don't resonate with the indie-rock that this album goes for. While the intro seems like a solid first song for this type of album, with its rampant guitars, I personally don't like the vocals that much. I prefer strong, female powerhouses rather than the typical British band-style that this album has The song-writing is alright on some songs, but often seems like it just repeats a core phrase of the song, and after the first 5/6 tracks I completely lost momentum with this album, and it kind of all sounded the same and redundant to me. Favourites: Jacqueline - Very rampant and energy inducing, The Dark of the Matinee, Take me Out TLDR: I dont like indie, I dont like rock, and this album did not change that perspective
Really good album, perfect example of a four. Some solid bangers on there, but not necessarily a perfect album.
Great album! Almost a 5 but tracks are a bit samey
enjoyed it more as time went on, still didn't love it though, closer to a 4 than a 2
I expected a lot of unmemorable snoozefests but it was pretty decent.
Enjoyed more than I expected to (thought they only had one song).
I used to like this, but I think I've matured since then and realized there's more to life than indie rock. It gets three stars for the nostalgia though.
Kinda generic early 2000s rock. Didn’t really like the guys voice
It’s aight
I loved the rythm it's like Green Day lowkey 💖
Franz Ferdinand is an album I absolutely loved when it came out. It felt exciting, fresh and ridiculously good fun, and listening to it again today reminded me just how much I enjoyed Franz Ferdinand at the time. They were a band that never seemed to take themselves too seriously and just knew how to make brilliant, energetic indie rock. Of course, this is the album that gave us “Take Me Out”, one of the biggest indie anthems of the 2000s, and it still sounds fantastic today. What I'd forgotten, though, is just how much strength in depth there is beyond that one huge song. This album is absolutely packed with great tunes. There's so much energy running through the whole record. Great guitar riffs, catchy melodies, clever lyrics and songs that just make you want to get up and move. It rarely misses a beat from start to finish and is a great reminder of just how exciting British indie music was in the early 2000s. More than 20 years later, it has barely aged at all. I've always had a soft spot for Franz Ferdinand because they're simply a fun band. An honourable mention also has to go to their collaboration with Sparks as FFS. I went to see them on that tour and they were absolutely superb. Two brilliantly eccentric bands coming together shouldn't necessarily have worked as well as it did, but it was fantastic. Listening to this again has been a real nostalgia trip. It's every bit as enjoyable as I remember and easily one of the standout indie albums of its era. Favourite tracks: “Take Me Out” and “This Fire” are brilliant. “Michael” is another great tune, but there are plenty to choose from on here. Least favourite tracks: Nothing. Everything on this album is worth a listen and there really isn't a weak track. Album artwork: Love it. Simple, bold and effective, and instantly recognisable.
I was into this album when it came out. I didn't stay regular rotation after a couple years but I think it holds up nicely.
7/10
I was expecting less actually. I went to one of their concerts and didnt enjoy it much. It was an ok listen but bonus points for take me out!
Surprisingly good album for this era
I aaaaalmost kind of like it but at the end of the day it’s gotta be a no from me, dawg
Fav song: Take Me Out
take me out es un himno realmente
me coparon unos cuantos temas, es algo que re escucharía pero lo sentí pesado. no creo que lo vuelva a escuchar
Derivative experiments in the crucible of landfill indie
Meh. Didn't like them then, and don't like them now. 1/5.
Well done
(4/7) certainly representative of a brand of 2000s rock
Was better than I thought it would be
3 songs I liked but I've never really got on with this band
Pretty listenable but still just generic indie really. I don’t really get why it’s on here
This one helped me through six months in Japan.
Cool album . Good tones .
Review - now this is a quintessential '00s indie rock/post-punk revival album. I had this on CD and used to listen to it whole playing Incredibles on PS2. This band are a lot better than they get credit for, and they should get more respect than I see them get from Americans on the internet. Their non-single tracks on this album rival a lot of singles from similar American bands like The Strokes or Interpol in terms of quality, listenability, and certainly in terms of hooks. A good record. Score - 8/10 Need to listen? YES
Take Me Out is the definite star of the show here but the rest reads like a pretty decent Talking Heads album.
Meh. I like Take Me Out but the rest all sounds the same.
these guitars rock
The dry and unadorned sound of this record is not only off-putting, it's frankly unpleasant to listen to. The band churns through assorted guitar riffs that never coalesce into actual songs (with the exception of "Take Me Out", an even-a-blind-squirrel-finds-a-nut-once-in-while miracle). Singer Alex Kapranos' voice is OK in small doses but an album's worth of his theatrical posturing gets wearisome quickly.
3.3
These dudes looked at Gang Of Four and wondered what they would be like if you could dance to them. The result is a high energy disco-inflected new wave indie banger of a record.
Franz Ferdinand one hit wonder song really stands out on an album that otherwise was pretty underwhelming. Competent indie album for sure, and the instrumentation is pretty creative, but it’s not grabbing me at the moment. I’ll make a note to revisit this one some time, but for now it’s a 3.
The best album of all time. That’s a lie but it’s meant to be a thing to say it’s good.
fantastic aughts album with varied sound, take me out is legendary
Hold up surprisingly well. Album sounds like multiple versions of the same song, but it’s a good song.
Take me out
This takes me back a little. The massive single of "Take Me Out" obviously looms large here, but the rest of the album was pretty enjoyable too. I know these guys had a few more hits, but can't help but feel that they may have been overshadowed a bit by the bigger garage rock revival bands of the 2000s. Just some fun, punchy pop-rock tunes.
peak
Funky. When indie had something about it. Like the bass parts. Pulsing. Only knew take me out + this fire but enjoyed a lot of the album tracks
Nah
An alright band. Variation indeed. As a result, some tunes more interesting than others. Overall fine to listen. Not too memorable.
Decent vibe. However all the songs blend together uncohesivly, kinda drags on. Best as background music when your busy or better as singles as part of a playlist.
amo muito este!! 9/10
Ось і вони)
Take me out
The combination of post-punk and indie rock gives the album a personality that still holds up brilliantly. It also made a huge impact on release, reaching No. 3 in the UK Albums Chart and winning the 2004 Mercury Prize. Not quite a five-star classic for me, but there's very little to dislike here
Not my choice of music in general, but they were a positive surprise for sure, cheerful and vivacious! ✨
The teenage nostalgia! Best song was Darkness of the Matinee
Has not aged well. Arctic Monkeys but without a drunk man on the cover. Not a big fan of them either mind. A weird era for music. Take Me Out is still an unashamed classic though, for better or worse.
Meant to listen to this album for 20+ years, and I finally did! Liked it a lot. “Take Me Out” was my anthem for high school, and it’s the clear stand out. I could imagine this being a favorite of mine when I was younger, and even though it’s very good, I think they did even better with their second album. In any case, glad I listened. I’m a fan now.
Good Album, pretty solid 10
Such a strange album start. Literally always loved what I’ve heard from them but never listened to this album.
one hit
chalk fulla fueg
I once got in a shouting match with a friend - I was insistent that Franz Ferdinand was some shitty two-hit-wonder band being exhumed for the Edgerunners anime. I'd been a massive fan of Take Me Out as a kid and I assumed that that was all they had to offer. Well paint me green and call me a pickle - they're awesome. The early 2000s was flooded with dozens of bands trying to do the indie-alt rock thing to capture the success of The Strokes, and FF does it better. They're not tearing down the musical establishment with wild sonic experimentation (you get a little synth fun at least), but they discovered one really good sound that works and doubled down on it like a shot to the head from a Bosnian nationalist. The really sick basslines from Bob Hardy get a LOT of mileage getting to sit at the front of the mix. Take Me Out still gets my toes a-tapping every time I hear it, but it's surrounded by an impressively strong and consistent tracklist. It's not quite as true-punk as Wire and Gang of Four (the clearest inspirations) but it's also much more likely to appear on the radio. Fav tracks: Take Me Out, This Fire, Auf Achse, Cheating On You, Jacqueline
It was alright. Nothing of real note other than the one song everyone knows.
Ouvir me teletransportou ali para a meiuca dos anos 2000, onde um monte de banda indie, rock alternativo e principalmente bandas emos aqui no Brasil estavam em ascenção. Eu era criança, e não gostava de nada disso, escutava só Metal/vertentes, e RAP, e tudo que me remetesse a esse rock um pouco mais indie nunca passava nos meus fones de ouvido. Bom, passar dos anos, eu escuto/escutei muitas coisas dessa época, e realmente há várias coisas boas, anulando todo meu preconceito da época, mas esse disco em especifico não é uma das razões. Achei bem simples, há algumas músicas marcantes, mas ao todo, faltou substância pra mim, achei seco demais, algo demasiadamente rock indie, não tem nada que por exemplo, The White Stripes viam fazendo, ou até Arctic Monkeys. Até por isso, a banda não teve uma vida tão longa, no sentido de marcante nos dias de hoje. Valeu por conhecer e dizer que já escutou, mas só também.
Great debut album. Such a unique, crisp, clean sound. Great upbeat vibe with awesome music and vocals.
maybe more like a 3.5 for me. i liked this one more as it went along but definitely in the beginning i was thinking "i kinda just want to listen to take me out".
My Glasgow guys! 40’ haunts me even though its lyrics are almost entirely “la la la la la la la la”
Good rock, although I am becoming increasingly aware that this is just not my genre
Har ikke hørt denne plata siden den kom, og det er like greit. Take Me Out er fremdeles en gøy låt da.
Hadde CD’en. Var egentlig aldri fan. Nok et band som var «verdens beste» i sin tid. Nok et nonchalant britisk band som spiller dansbar rock. For all del en ok skive. Er kanskje bare ikke så fan av sjangeren.
Sterk åpning med mange hits og godt driv. Mot slutten begynner de å gå på tomgang, dessverre. Så dem på Roskilde i 2004 da plata var fersk.
take me out is the best song ever (probably). the rest of the songs are pretty good
An sich alles geile songs, nur wenn man das ganze Album am Stück hlrt fehlt mir die Abwechslung
Not bad.
These guys surely like Talking Heads and The Stokes huh. Maybe there are some moments where they sound way too similar to these bands, but they also are quite good at writing very memorable, catchy and infectious songs that are very fun to listen to. As an indie rock release from the early 2000's, it features that particular garage rock style of production that is very distorted, has a nice tone and adds a bit of attitude, and also those very particular guitar and vocal melodies that are easily engraved in ones head. Maybe this makes them sound like they are too standard, but everything here is very solid. The Talking Heads comparison comes from some moments sounding very similar to them, specially the track "Tell Her Tonight" where everything, and specially the high pitched voice, sounds extremely close to something that band would come out with. Overall, a very fun album. Maybe the last songs are not as impactful as the first ones, but still a great experience.
Capaz si le escucho más tiempo, me comience a gustar más. Me gustaron mucho dos canciones, una de ellas ha sido una que escucho por ahí y otra nueva que estuvo linda.
In mid-2003, after a soundcheck at the Menagerie - we were playing with The Throes and Three Tales, I believe - I found a copy of The Fly lying on a table. It proudly proclaimed the arrival of Franz Ferdinand. They weren't wrong. Darts of Pleasure would be out before the end of the year; by the beginning of 2004, Take Me Out would be a hit, and their self-titled debut would reach number three in the UK. I was interested. I'd only recently started listening seriously to Gang of Four, Wire and The Monochrome Set, and it was exciting to think that this strange, angular music might represent the next turn in popular culture. That was certainly how it was sold: a revival of post-punk. The idea that a niche moment of populist modernism might itself have a populist moment seemed thrilling. Twenty years later, the idea sounds awful. Perhaps that is inevitable. What else can follow a revival of a niche movement except a slightly more popular imitation of the imitation? There is a strange problem here of musical ancestry: are the bands whose fans are fans of bands I like my friends or my enemies? Are they part of a lineage or pretenders to the throne? Franz Ferdinand achieved their prominence, and they dragged a considerable amount of the underground into the mainstream with them, although presumably without intending to. Interpol became more prominent in Britain, despite having initially been filed alongside The Strokes and Yeah Yeah Yeahs. The Zutons turned out to be less Beefheartian than their name promised and more an imitation of post-punk; The Coral were more Teardrop Explodes than Beatles. Kasabian and Kaiser Chiefs, and from America The Killers and The Bravery, all sounded different, but they all sounded as though they'd been reading Simon Reynolds's Rip It Up and Start Again - which wouldn't come out until the following year. There is a survivor-bias problem here. The interesting records from yesterday's underground survive, while the mediocre records that once surrounded them disappear. A later generation encounters the survivors, mistakes them for the representative sound of the period, and makes a slightly more commercial version. Most of that will be toss, because most mainstream music is toss. Of the early-80s mod revival, we remember The Jam. Who now remembers Secret Affair? The Throes probably could have made it during that particular rush of post-punk-inspired bands. They subsisted almost exclusively on the Velvet Underground and the Pixies. My own band, rightly, had no place in it, despite what I listened to privately. Franz Ferdinand was the only British band of the revival I would have put anywhere near this list. Even so, hearing The Zutons and The Coral recently has already made me suspicious. The nostalgic rush you get when an old radio single you dislike suddenly reminds you of where you were twenty years ago never arrived. What about radio singles I did like? Listening to Franz Ferdinand now, without nostalgia to do the heavy lifting, makes the limitations more obvious. There are still some excellent little shock tactics. The tempo change in Take Me Out is fun. The homoeroticism is cute. Singing in German is funny. The Terry Wogan reference is satisfying for one of a certain age. None of these things was particularly original - Bowie, The Monochrome Set and various strands of ironic youth culture had already established the territory - but in 2004 they gave the songs something to distinguish them on the radio. The band understood that a pop song needs a few objects sticking out of it. The problem is that, listened to closely, the playing isn't particularly interesting or distinguishable from song to song. The twin guitars clutter more than they interlock, and the rhythms repeat themselves without developing. This Fire is a slog; Auf Achse isn't much better; Come On Home and 40 make the same point. The first four singles are still pretty good, but placed together they flatten out. Shorn of the clever gimmicks, you'd find largely the same engine beneath each one. The album begins to resemble a Constructivist cut-out: angular, stylish, historically literate, carefully arranged and rather flat. This is the curious fate of a revival. Gang of Four weren't interesting merely because they used angular guitars. Wire weren't interesting because they had discovered minimalism. The Monochrome Set weren't interesting because they were arch. The styles were attached to particular problems, ideas and possibilities. Franz Ferdinand inherited the solutions after the problems had become history. They knew what post-punk looked like. They knew what it sounded like. They were less interested in why it had needed to exist. This can make one unfairly critical of the imitator for mishandling something you like. And yet they were right about the moment. Something was happening. They made post-punk legible as pop again, and they did it with enough wit, sex and confidence to make the whole thing seem less like homework than a good night out. The record was successful because those distinguishing touches worked. But gimmicks work on the radio, because they held your single standout. On an album, they work against each other a bit. Still, this album is a clever, handsome document of the moment not particularly worth remembering. 2.5 The child slept well enough last night but woke up groggy and reluctant to face the day. After she was brought downstairs and given some breakfast she declared that today she wanted to ‘stay in my cosy house’. She has nailed Franz Ferdinand there. They were clever enough, talented enough, and musically literate enough to do great things - but they knew that people don’t always want to dance to great things. So they stayed in their cosy house. The first two Franz Ferdinand albums are equally good - the second even a little better I think. The third is shite. There is nothing much to remember now about FF - no drum pattern that recommends itself to the memory beyond the even thumps of the kick in Take Me Out, no particular guitar part beyond the mechanical 4 note riff of Take Me Out, no lyric or vocalisation beyond Alex Kapranos shouting ‘TAAAAAKE ME OUT!’ Well they were genuinely better than that. Take Me Out isn’t even the second best song on this second best album of theirs. That’s how it goes sometimes when you decide to stay in your cosy house. I don’t blame them though - who knows better the true value of a cosy house than Scottish people? 2.5/5
Impressive restraint to make an album under 40 minutes in the CD era.
Easy listening
Alright album, expected to like it more
Brilliant. Concise. Every track has something special and this album still sounds fresh 22 years later.
I kinda went in blind to the album, just based on the name I was expecting some folky, or even jazzy sound. I was pleasantly surprised by the album subverting all the expectations I had based on the tittle lol, real fun stuff
Awesome
Enjoyed revisiting this 20 years on.
I have a real problem with this sort of music from this sort of era… i just find it incredibly annoying….
Haven't listened to this album in nearly 20 years. Enjoyed it at the time but found it a bit irritating on returning to it. Very much "of its time"
A funny one, the album is remarkably weak given the promise of the first two singles, both of which are included here, and their b sides, this was disappointing at the time and disappointing this morning…one star. Tom.
Take Me Out could resurrect me from the grave but unfortunately that means that I only want to listen to that track instead of the rest of this album, which I did enjoy!, but left me wanting more, for how good Take Me Out is. A harsh 3.
LOVE THIS. 2004 was my real first musical awakening and when I started to develop my tastes and FF were huge in 2004 indie worlds and so I was very aware of their huge breakthrough. I mean truly Take Me Out is so iconic and complete anthem of that time and this genre (still sounds amazing and really should still be bigger - not saying it should be on Mr Brightside level but certainly up there). The tempo change is a thrill every time. I love how people describe these songs as sounding angular because I really do hear it. Spiky and fun and tight and sound like they're in a hurry? This Fire and Dark of the Matinée are great singles but I'm also a huge fan of Jacqueline, Michael and Auf Achse. Their second album I think is equally as good as this one but they never quite hit the same for me again after that (and they are still going strong).
Album #133: Franz Ferdinand Genre (W): Post-punk revival, dance-punk Singles: Darts of Pleasure, Take Me Out, The Dark of the Matinée, Michael, This Fire I have not listened to this album before. Thoughts?: I love how catchy this album is and the songwriting is so clever! Definitely a solid indie album, I loved every minute of it! Favorite tracks: All of it!!
This was one of my favourite albums as a teen. Let's see how it holds up. Jacqueline is still a banger. So is Tell her Tonight. And take me out. And Dark of the Matinee. Oh and Auf Aches is one of my favourites of theirs still. Oh and This fire. And Cheating on You. Darts of Pleasure. Michael. Great fucking album.
good
Sounds too much like itself and all the other landfill indy.. Bland.
It's alright. I've never heard the whole album before today, only their one hit song from it. The whole album it kind of mediocre to me. I am not a big fan of the vocal style and the music is okay but is kind of the same for all the songs. Kind of lackluster. Not terrible but not something I will listen to again.
When 'the dark of the matinée' dropped in straight after 'take me out' I was flying. Pumplist stuff. Lots of other interesting sounds and ideas. Franz Ferdinand were ahead of the indie resurgence curve by looking further back than most - from the start. Didn't find it satisfying though.
I’m going into this biased. I really like Franz Ferdinand, loved this album, and saw them live. I still listen to them to this day, and really enjoyed their most recent album that came out last year (2025). But, I guess I have to listen to this anyway… so here goes 😉 This has some great tracks on it, and remains a solid listen. It was a great debut and glad it still holds up well.
Great first album
Meh
I was worried that the rest of the album wouldn't live up to the hit factor of Take Me Out, but it does!
Ikke min kop te
Take me out I think I remember listening to this in a bowling alley place or som.
This was amazing
Yep, good solid toe-tapping Indie rock. An extra star for the Terry Wogan line.
Meh. Never listened to this before though it was huge on release as I recall. Every song being of a similar tempo made them all just blend together. By the end, apart from the massively overplayed ‘Take Me Out’ I couldn’t immediately recall any song.
Tempted to give this four stars but it was just a bit unrelenting and needed one or two slower tracks to let the whole thing breath.
Solid entry
I bloody love Franz Ferdinand. One of the best gigs I've ever been to!
What a niche band, I hope they get big some day... This is a very high 4
Great
That's a really good album! you should listen to it before you die
4/8
Pleasant. Not earth shattering.
3/5. Like many people I only really knew Franz Ferdinand for their big hit “Take Me Out.” A song which while fun to play on guitar has never been among my favorite 2000’s indie hits. And my opinion on the album as a whole actually ended up pretty similar. It’s a solid time all around especially on tracks like “The Dark of the Matinée” and “This Fire” but it doesn’t rank among the best 2000’s indie-rock records, at least in my opinion.
7/10.
jacqueline was not convinced at the beginning but i’m enjoying it now. this fire yes yes fun yes take me out this makes sense the album is very one sound but not a bad one fun drums i wanna play this i zoned out a bunch come on home fun this playlist feels like it could be from a musical like the ones where an artist picks a bunch of their songs and makes their own jukebox musical out of them kinda funky drums
Based based based Listening notes: I'm sure Alex Kapranos can sing better than this There will probably be much fewer jokes here than normal because I'm too busy enjoying the album What is this ramones ahh delivery Let's fucking go take me out Immediately followed by dark of the matinée is peak I quite like the countermelody in the chorus Surprisingly funky bassline on Auf Achse I can't listen to the original version of This Fire without thinking about how much better This Fffire is (rerecording of the same song they did later) This song hella gay Not a fan of when singers start to go "la la la" but good song otheriwse Loved this album, I'm a big fan of Franz Ferdinand's sound and they managed to live up to their bigger name songs here. Auf Achse will be going onto my playlist. I probably enjoyed this album more than I Should Coco but I'll give it a 4.75 and say that I ovverated I Should Coco Also: I'm annoyed that there was a joke I forgot to make in my Eminem review. How annoyed do you ask? Well, have you heard of Chris Christopherson?
Fuck yeah‼️‼️ This is the third drink of what's going to be a good night. 4.6/5
This is one of those albums I heard back in the day but kind of forgot about until now. In 2004 The Strokes debut album would have been very much on everyone's radar particularly in the UK where they made an even bigger splash than in the US. You can certainly hear that influence here with the processed vocals, hook laden guitar lines and fairly lo-fi aesthetic. The big difference is the use of disco/dance beats to accompany the rock guitar licks, which works surprisingly well. Take Me Out is the big hit that I remember, The Dark of the Matinee, This Fire, 40' are all outstanding tracks.
This Scottish band delivers a unique yet familiar sound with their self-titled debut that I found to be pretty enjoyable overall. As a first impression, this almost feels like a brighter version of the self-titled from The Strokes we heard somewhat recently. It’s more fun and danceable, but I think I’m still a little less into this sound overall. It isn’t by much though now, as this is growing on me as I listen more. I love the riff in 40’. 1 listen Favorite Tracks: Take Me Out, 40’, Auf Achse, Jacqueline, The Dark Of The Matinée
An unknown that I find enjoyable, fun. 3
Fresh and original-great voice.
Post punk twangy guitars find a tune. This is a great collection of pop songs presented with style and cool. I enjoyed the return to FF's debut album.
It’s a good upbeat album. Take me out is great but lacks a bit of depth.
Liked this more than I thought I would, despite owning the album. Pacey, catchy tunes kept me interested throughout. The guitar is especially distinctive and reminds me of Wilko Johnson's attack, if not his note choices. A maybe slightly generous 4.
Fun! Includes a top 40 hit I favored!
Look mom, another one hit wonder. This one gets brownie points just for having that super iconic 2000’s indie sound. The run from Tell her tonight to Auf Achse is peak on this record. This is a pretty neat record all things considered. Kinda feels diet strokes with a lot more danceability, and a little bit of a punk edge. As far as what I enjoy personally, it lands a little basic and flat lyrically, and just reminds me of a lot of other shit that was going on in the scene at the time. Because of that, I don’t find myself reading for this one as often.
Take me out and millennial core. This is an album like Nightvisions by Imagine Dragons that is iconic and good yet where does it really stay on the most important albums of all time. Middle of the pack this fire and take me out it’s all good but I’ve heard too many strokes want to bes in recent times and this is no different even if it is Cheating on you feels so vapid and forced like a throw away strokes track there are moments of greatness which all that matters
From the doldrums of early noughties music came some guitar music. Is it the best album in the world? No. Was it part of the movement to bring back some indie guitar music to the fore? Yes. Kaiser chiefs, arctic monkeys, Franz Ferdinand were all part of this, and whatever you think of their work since, they managed to save us from sugababe domination. This album is catchy, guitar riff centric with a good beat throughout. Jacqueline, Dark of the matinee, 40’, Michael all great tunes plus the all time overplayed but still fun Take Me Out.
I like this album. I would rate it a 7,5 or an 8 right after listeting it. My fav song is Cheating on You. This album kinda sounds like being a teenager to me. I am one right now and I mean that tipical teenage dirtbag.
Loved it right from his release! And it still bangs hard from start to finish!
It was ok, but nothing I'd deliberately return to.
Sounds a bit too much like a light version of Muse, not bad but really derivative stuff
An ok record, with a fun strut and occasional sense of drama. Could do with a bit more rhythmic diversity.
Very enjoyable. More than a one hit album
This Fire stood out. Forgot about that one. This album flew by. Really enjoyed it. 4/5
I could listen to more of this
Some catchy melodies but otherwise boring and repetitive. They love repeating lyrics.
Un debut con algunas de las canciones más icónicas de su década, himnos que se siguen coreando a día de hoy acompañados de melodías super pegadizas. Y aún así, me parece que sufre del mal del single, absolutos bangers pero acompañados de canciones que sin ser malas, no llegan a la nivel de las estelares.
Fun grooves, mostly upbeat. Like Auf A and Come on Home, but Take Me Out the best.
3.5? I wonder why I wouldn't listen to the strokes but still like the sound
A friend described them as 'Business students found a band and play "rock"'. I think that is very fitting. It's not really bad. but if you want rock, there's better choices.
OK, if you’re calling this indie landfill in the reviews you’re wrong. You’re either misremembering or you weren’t there. I WAS THERE 👵🏻 indie landfill was the stuff that was coming out from around 2006 onwards, when this genre was getting stale and everyone was running out of ideas. When Franz Ferdinand dropped this in 2004 they were SO FRESH. Sure they were kind of copying some people from the 80s but that is the circle of life and I was 14 and I didn’t care. I remember this album like it was a grenade. And it is just stuffed with hooks and great ideas and random lines that me and my best friend from secondary school still text each other or sing at each other all the time - it’s always better on holiday / SO IF YER LONELYYYY / So I’m on BBC2 now…… telling Terry Wogan how…. I made it and….. what I made is unclear now…… / ICH HEISSE SUPER FANTASTISCH! I love this album. They never quite reached these heights again but it’s OK. They made this.
Some good songs here and there
Bought this CD when I was on my honeymoon and it still sounds great. I can't believe how many of these songs I still remember today. 8/10 Been married 22 years this Friday. Top song Take me out
This was the first album for the 1001 albums project. My aim is to gain a deeper understanding and appreciation of music, since I have stopped actively listening to anything for a long time now. When Franz Ferdinand popped up, I was flooded with nostalgia. I remember stealing my dad’s copy of the album a few years after it released and listening to it on my portable CD player on the 3-hour drives we took to visit relatives. On relistening to the album, it’s still great. I love the visual language of some of the lyrics and find them simple, sometimes poetic, and always punchy. The guitars have this biting, bouncy energy that creates this rising momentum and are a great contrast for the softer moments. Favourite song: The Dark of the Matinée Least favourite Song: None
Half of the songs are brilliant.
Has some nice and chill vibes. Classic and recognizable hits as well. Doesn't stand out too much, but a pretty good addition to a playlist.
Take me out och cheating on you är ju pangare, men ja inte kanske min tekopp
A Billion Play song with "Take Me Out", This album is fun, diverse, and different
This is a good album but come on, one does not NEED to hear this before one dies. It's a good rock album with fun danceable tracks but there are dozens of those released every year. I feel bad being so negative but the idea is these are albums you NEED to hear before you die and you don't need to hear this. Your life is probably improved by hearing it because it's good, but it isn't unique in that way. Is it a better album than "I Used To Believe In The West" by Songs for Moms? No. This is here because the author was a certain age when it came out and read NME religiously. A good rock album that could be replaced by a hundred others.
Standouts Take Me Out The Dark of the Matinee 40'
Рок неплохой, но на этом всё
I wanted to like it more than I did, but it came off as kinda hokey.
Yeeeeassss I love this guy. I haven't listened to the album in a while tho. Easy 5/5
What a great record! Loved every song!
Some stronger hits from a competent band, but the album’s biggest weakness is its repetitiveness. That goes for the lyrics too. Rhyming Matinée with itself four times in a row might be memorable but it also might just be a bit shite.
Listened. I dig it!
This album was a good change of pace as I expected it to not have much beyond its main single 'Take Me Out' but it ended up being a solid record throughout. 8/10 [KEEP]
Me gustó pero no es mi estilo.
I like this better than expected. Solid bass and drums and Take Me Out is a really fun song.
Post-punk revival, dance-punk.
i wish i enjoyed this one more, but i find it difficult to connect and appreciate their music. idk why
Solid album. I remember enjoying it when it came out, but I never revisited the entire album since, just Take Me Out. Tell Her Tonight and Come On Home have been added to my library. I’m glad I listened to this again. 4 stars
I was surprised by how much of this album I already knew. Teetering between a 4 and a 5 for me.
Fire
some time around the year 2000, indie music took a disappointing turn, and has yet to recover Something about this style of music and that style of singing just pisses me off Thanks, but No!
Catchy nostalgia. 9/10.
8 / 10
Ta bueno
if i listened to this when i was in middle school, i would’ve had this on CD
Just as brash and full of the same driving beats that define their later efforts, Franz Ferdinand's self-titled debut hits just as hard as it did 20 years ago.
Great rock record. Fresh sounds and good tunes all around. Although i would struggle to remember any other than the hit
It’s ok, I like take me out, but not that keen
7.5/10 not really my genre but not bad at all :)
Franz Ferdinand is a Scottish dance-punk, art rock band with angular guitar riffs over energetic dance beats. Alex Kapranos and Nick McCarthy are both good guitar players and singers that sound good together. This is a great album! One could argue the songs are similar but who cares when they're all good? Take Me Out and Michael are especially good. Warning - these songs become ear worms.
Album #147: Franz Ferdinand – Franz Ferdinand ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 2004 was probably the first year of my life where I really started pursuing my own musical taste. It was the first time I was buying albums with my own money and discovering bands for myself. I remember this album coming out, and I remember the avalanche of five-star reviews it received. It was a genuine critical darling. But, outside of Take Me Out, I completely ignored it. That song was absolutely everywhere at the time, and because of that I think I just got sick of it. I dismissed Franz Ferdinand almost entirely on the back of how overplayed it was. It never really did it for me. It’s a fucking crying shame, because I would have absolutely loved this album in 2004. There’s so much more to it than Take Me Out. This thing is hook heaven. It was my first time hearing the majority of these songs, yet I was practically singing along to 80% of them before each song was over because the hooks are so ridiculously strong. It’s a wonderfully energetic record, full of humour and confidence, and above all it’s just so danceable. They wear their influences proudly. You can hear plenty of post-punk throughout, bands like Wire, and there’s definitely a gothic streak running through parts of it too. The biggest influence I hear, though, is Talking Heads. Ironically, the band that kept coming to mind while listening wasn’t one of their influences at all, but Arctic Monkeys. I know they arrived a couple of years later, but I’d be amazed if this album wasn’t hugely influential on them. I can hear the connection all over it. Personally, I actually think this is better than anything the Arctic Monkeys put out, and I’m a fan! More than anything else, though, it reminds me of Entertainment! by Gang of Four, an album I hold in extremely high regard. It’s difficult to explain exactly why. It’s not the tempo or even the style. It’s the sheer energy of the performances. There’s a constant sense of momentum that never really lets up. The whole thing feels alive. At just 38 minutes, it felt closer to 20. I spent most of the album dancing around the house while doing house work, and I had a brilliant time with it. The only reason it doesn’t quite reach five stars is that there are a few dips. 40’ is a fairly weak closing track, and, funnily enough, I think Darts of Pleasure is the weakest song on the album. As the lead single, it seems like such a strange choice. They could have picked virtually any other track and it would have been a better choice. To think I was sitting around brooding to Interpol in 2004 when I could have been dancing to this instead. What a shame. That’s life I suppose. Probably the strongest four-star album I’ve heard on this list so far.
19. jul 2026. 16.08h nisam nesto prije bila fan FF (osim sto je take me out bio SVUDA) ali samo me je podsjetilo na how we used to eat so good
not as good as Joni Mitchell’s Blue
A bop
genuinamente me gusto mucho! no sabia que me estaba metiendo
Better than I expected, if largely homogenous.
These dudes were probably the best of the Euro-imported Strokes clones that came out after the explosion of rock music in 1999 and 2000, mostly because they made post-punk a fully danceable proposition. Not that post-punk wasn't already danceable, but it wasn't exactly going to burn up US charts. But despite how catchy they are, Franz Ferdinand don't have any of the substance of their other counterparts, and the gimmick wears thin as the album goes along.
Incredible first album. Really fun throughout and a totally new sound at the time. But I don't really have a personal connection to it so fuck it 4 stars.
This one brings me back to my 20s when in addition to metal I dabbled in hipster bands, too. This is a very solid record. Even more so than I remembered.
love u!!! 🥰
not bad but not the best
Love the music, don’t necessarily love the voice, but overall loved the album? Bonus points for being Scottish, and for take me out - nostalgic AF. Michael is also v fun. Really the whole thing is v fun.
Jacqueline - 4/5 Tell Her Tonight - 3.5/5 Take Me Out - 5/5 The Dark of the Matineé - 4/5 Auf Achse - 4.5/5 Cheating on You - 4/5 This Fire - 4.5/5 Darts of Pleasure - 4/5 Michael - 4.5/5 Come On Home - 4/5 40' - 4/5 The prime suspect of "indie band puts out their debut and it's unfortunately their best" of the 2000's and later. They put out a fairly fun album, with Take Me Out as the obvious standout song, though some of other songs are good enough to stand out on their own (though I do prefer the re-release version of This Fire over the album version). They spawned a million other indie bands trying to do the same thing, but like every other indie album the first one is the best. This was teetering between a 4 and a 5 but I think it's more of a 4 due to most of the songs being relatively same-y. Overall: 4/5 Favorites: Take Me Out, Auf Asche, This Fire, Michael
Favorite Track: Take Me Out
Classic 2000s indie album. Chef's kiss.
In 2004, the idea of mixing distorted guitars with a disco beat literally blew my mind
Wasn't bad
I like Take Me Out, but the problem I find with this album is there are so many songs that are similar to it, as if they had a formula for writing a song that suited them - repetitive lyrics, quiet part towards the beginning to build tension, loud bit where we can all jump around. That's most of the songs, and it was OK for Take Me Out, but becomes tedious. The Dark Of The Matinee and Come On Home are better for being a bit different and it sounds like they're having fun, but this is a bit of a let down to be honest. Two stars.
Good stuff
***An ok album
Take Me Out stands out of course. But then every other song sounds like a song that’s on the same album as Take Me Out. I wanted to like it more :(. Thank you!
Loved this
not a masterpiece but i cant deny i had a great time. just a rly rly fun record, raw enough to have some grit but hi fi enough to have real definition to the sound...at its best, like a playground for ur ears, albeit with a few more layers of 2000s indie Light Irony. but what are u gonna do. so if youre lonely.....
I’m of mixed opinion on these post-punk revival bands - as someone who loved the original I was optimistic, but FF wouldn’t have held a candle to Echo, Siouxsie, JD, Wire, or any of the other bands they are ripping off here. Fun, but a trifle.
Enjoyment: 8/10 Replayability: 6/10 Cohesion: 6/10 Flow/Pacing: 8/10 Artistic Merit: 7/10 Weighted Average: 7.05/10 Review: This album wanted me to travel back to early 2000s Austria, stay at a hostel, and go clubbing to these songs. Liked Song(s): Take Me Out, The Dark Of The Matinée, This Fire, Darts Of Pleasure Disliked Song(s): Auf Achse Recommend? Yes Heard Before? Partly
Franzu ferdzinanzu. Tätä tuli hitusen kuunneltua kun levy ilmestyi aikoinaan, ja kyllä se jammauttaa vieläkin.
Aivan kuulosti Franz Ferdinandilta. Bändi tuttu lähinnä hittibiiseistä, mutta levyn muut biisit kuulosti hyvältä. Ei mitään päräyttävää, mutta mukavasti menevää.
I hadn’t listened to this album in 17 years. Great when it came or and still holds up! Made me kinda miss when bands like this were popular. 4⭐️
Take me out is really good The album has really great guitar work, it’s inspiring me to make something Second half is kinda boring me
So, so fun
I’ve already listened to this I love this album Michael and take me out are bangers
good stuff! not transcendent but i will likely listen to this again. above average for how much i enjoy rock
Classic. I’ve heard Take Me Out so many times, and the transition never fails to hype me up. Somehow have never heard a single track off the rest of the album before this. Very Strokes-adjacent
Placeholder
This one's a banger. I recognized Take Me Out but the rest was new to me. Pretty strong for a debut. I listened through a half dozen times, solid upbeat rock.
It’s ok. One catchy, good song does not make a good or great album though. 🤷♂️
4-star songs across the board but nothing to transcend to 5 stars.
I had only heard Take Me Out before, which is a great song. But this album has a lot of other good stuff too. Impressive.
loved the whole album, big Franz Ferdinand listener, though I don't go out of my way to listen to full albums typically, so I'd never heard most of these songs but it was totally worth doing it now best songs imo (that i haven't heard B4) are Tell her tonight, Jacqueline and Michael though the others are good too
Very good, the sound is very unique in its kind of rock feel. Overall very good album, take me out is definitely the best song.
Good. didn't hit me much but I liked it. 6/10
nawet buja prawdopodobnie do niego kiedyś wrócę
bangery
Man, what a nice record. Just all-around good vibes. 'Take me Out' is one of the all-time festival favourites for me. It just takes me out (sorry...) to a festival field, jumping around to that song when I hear it. The rest of the album is very nice as well. 5/5
This album is just a bunch of uninteresting background music for me. While listening I felt mostly bored and indifferent. It sounds exactly like something that was made to play in football game menus or Nike adverts — fine for a few seconds, but the longer you listen, the more it becomes a chore. The songs have that typical post-punk dance-rock energy, but nothing really sticks. The riffs are repetitive, the hooks are weak, and the lyrics feel like they were written just to fill space rather than actually say anything meaningful. I tried to pay attention to them but quickly gave up. I’ve never understood the massive hype around this band. To me they’re pretty rubbish — style over substance, all pose and very little real personality or quality. This debut especially feels massively overrated. One listen was more than enough. Hard skip.
Listened to this for the first time two years ago, when one of my now-best friends professed his love for this band, and this album especially. The man has good music taste, what can I say. “Take Me Out” is handily one of the best songs of the 21st century, and the rest of the first side is up there too. “Jacqueline” is a crazy fucking opener, really gives you the right impression of what the album’s going to sound like. It’s aggressive yet catchy, punk-adjacent but nowhere near abrasive. “The Dark Of The Matinée” is the other heavy hitter on the album in my opinion, attractive and charismatic. “This Fire” is the most insane moment in the album, I mean obviously it would be with the “fire” metaphor. Generally, the only real objection I have is “Cheating On You,” which is a pretty unremarkable song to be so far into the album, and “Michael” is a kinda weird song to hear, just the term “beautiful dance-whore.” Overall it’s a wonderful album though. 9.0/10
350/1089 I think the hit is the clear stand out but the album’s still pretty solid and fun. it lost some steam towards the end but i enjoyed it still faves: Take me out, Jacqueline, Darts of pleasure, Auf achse, The dark of the matinee 73/100
This is some excellent early 2000's indie rock. Whereas Interpol went the way of Joy Division, and The Strokes were more into that 1st wave of punk, FF leaned more towards disco. And it really works - that marriage of garage rock and dance just kills. I was the prime audience for the 8th note bands of the early 2000s, and though I heard "Take Me Out' 10,000 times on the radio and MTV, I never listened to the album, which is a shame. I would've loved it. <Strangely enough, though I had never heard any of their records until today, I ended up seeing them live when they opened for Pixies a year or two ago. They were phenomenal. If you have the chance to see them, take it!> FOUR STARS
Great post-punk fun. This band is always showing up on “Influenced By” playlists by some of my favorite bands from the late 70s/early 80s, including XTC, so I’m glad this band lived up to that. At least 3.5 stars
Never heard of this guy. By track 4, I was hooked.
3 1/2 stars, fun pop rock music but i wish it was a little deeper
I have always liked this album, but I was kind of surprised to see it on this list. 1001 is a big number to fill up I guess
What a bop!
*Take me out got overplayed but it is still a pretty good song *I heard lots of Beatles sounds and other nods to UK artists of the past
What a solid debut. Well written, thoughtful songs with lots of hooks. It was very enjoyable. Liked Songs Added: Jacqueline Take Me Out The Dark Of The Matinèe Come On Home
Got a bit of whiplash seeing this not long after I found out about the allegations against Alex Kapranos… Odd timing. Regarding the music itself, I used to like this more when I was like 17 or something. On relistening after having not heard the full thing in ages, there are a lot more weak tracks on here than I remembered. It seems the songs on here are either really good or meh. At one point, I may have given this 5 stars but not now. I was actually motivated to remove a few downloads off my phone because I remembered a few songs on here that I always tend to skip if they come up on shuffle. That said, I did keep quite a few
Inoffensive pop rock. Sharp guitar sounds. Take me out is an all time classic
I don’t think I’ve listened to this album since Take Me Out was first released! Great trip down memory lane
Just ok for me, I hadn’t heard the whole Album before and only knew “take me out” which is definitely the best song.
Couldn’t get into it.
i would rate it 9.1 out of 10 because this band had greater success with their most popular song Take Me Out and their opening song Jacqueline, which i would say this would be a great album for anyone who needs that 2000s rock.