Reviews (page 4 of 15)
Je m'attendais à détester et en fait c'était très cool ! Après il y a la tax du nom de l'album
I've always liked this album! Super fun sound that's not quite like anything else - not that it's the most unique sound, just that it clearly stands out from most of the other indie rock at the time. Just a really solid album with a bunch of great songs on it - super enjoyable!
Pre-listening: This album shaped the music I listened to in middle school. Take Me Out made me wanna learn how to play guitar. I settled for mastering it on Guitar Hero instead. Should be an easy re-listen. Best: Take Me Out Runner-Up: Cheating On You Third: This Fire Post-listening: It was pretty much as I remembered. Great, upbeat, drum driven music perfect for errands, exercise, and parties. I always envisioned myself listening to this album in a dingy pool hall with checkered floor tiles while drinking cheap beer. Had a harder time finding the pool hall than the cheap beer, but it never hurt to pretend. I think my favorite thing about this band is their minimalist approach where they maximize their sound and layering. The drums always have something going on but never have a choppy sound. The heterophony (new word) is in almost every song on the album but it makes the melody so much more memorable and makes the chorus in each song hit harder. The song styles do get repetitive and that’s the downfall of Franz, but I’ll always love them for what they did for a rap obsessed teen in Iowa; they made rock the focus and opened my ears to show much more. Rating: 8/10 Stars: 4/5
8/10
A really good album. It starts with "Jacqueline", I thought to myself this is gonna be just another slow, boring, around-the-campfire guitar generic thing, but no. It evolved into an aggressive thing, so I am happy with it. As the album would go on, I found out that I want to listen more and more
Awesome 👌
I'd heard this one some time ago and was happy to revisit. Poppy, upbeat and fun, Franz Ferdinand is good time music with an 80s sensibility that I appreciate. Slightly monotonous, but without a necessary skip in sight, this one rounds up from a 3.5/5 and got a couple of adds to my playlist.
211. Franz Ferdinand - Franz Ferdinand (2004) 9.21.26 Variety: 3 Adequacy: 5 Listenability: 5 Uniqueness: 4 Emotionality: 2 = 3.8 rounded up to a 4 "The coldest calm falls through the molten veins/ Cooling all the blood to slush, congeals around again" A few years after I had discovered this rich mine of late 70s and early 80s post-punk to wallow around in, here comes a supposed revival of the same sound. What an embarrassment of riches! Great music coming at me from either end of the timeline! Unfortunately the early 2000s post-punk/ garage goldrush proved a bit more of a mixed bag, with a LOT of generic acts piling on and disappearing just as fast. I think the effects have been sort of ongoing and have mutated quite a bit so that there is still value in them thar hills, even today, but the immediate impact felt more like a bust. The first Franz Ferdinand album, along with the Futureheads ( not on the list but one I think might hold up better) were near the top of the heap of the more post-punk ( read mainly Gang of Four and Wire influences) leaning and the Hives ( one album on the list) and the Strokes ( one album on the list) near leading the more garage leaning bands, though both sides had plenty of elements of each. You also had acts like Interpol ( not on the list) stealing liberally ( though well) from darker acts like joy Division, but I never really saw much Bauhaus, Cure, Banshees, or the like in much of these bands. One trend noticeable about these acts was an almost complete lack of any sort of specific political bent. It was more the sound and in particular the image of those earlier bands that made the most impact ( despite Franz Ferdinand's curious choice of name). So coming from such an outwardly narrow sliver of influences ( there's just as much 60s garage and 70s pub rock influences thrown into this album for good measure) really does give lie to idea of post-punk being any sort of actual genre when so much of it was entirely ignored by these bands. Though I think since then, the vulturism has gone so wide-ranging as to become nearly impossible to pin down a bands influences, resulting in a much wider, but shallower sense of identity, and contributing to the lack of any sort of identifying features for the last few decades. Can you identify what the sound of the 2010s is? I sure can't. Anyway, one thing you'll notice about a lot of the post-punk/ garage revival bands is they mostly have one lone album on the list. I think this is pretty reflective of their impact with almost all of them failing to reach anything approaching the quality of their freshmen attempts. The second Franz Ferdinand album was so disappointing that I just stopped keeping up with them. Ditto for most of these guys. And they were mostly guys. Elastica (one album on the list) was a very early female centric bellwether of the revival, but they fell victim to the same one good album curse. The Hives and Interpol are possibly exceptions as they seem to have been able to continue on with some success even to today, but I still have not heard much beyond the very occasional music video that pops up in my Youtube algorithm. I'm fairly certain I'll enjoy this one though, and it'll likely get me to revisit some of those others who didn't make the list. THE TRACKS "Jacqueline" - One thing that didn't really occur to me when I first heard this album was how influenced these guys were by mid-to late 60s pop. We get just a taste of it before they blast open the gates with their crunchy guitar work and tightly interwoven rhythms. This one's a burner, and does a great job of pulling together those nervy, but danceable Gang of Four influences and injecting some BIG fuzzy garage production into the mix. "Tell Her Tonight" - Speaking of those 60s garage and pop influences, the harmonies and four-on-the-floor beat of the chorus is right out of 1966. I'm betting these guys were just as big fans of mid period Beatles and acts like Johnnie Kidd and the Pirates as they were those late 70s art-punk bands. This is catchy and fun and doesn't overstay its welcome. A pattern that the rest of the album is going to follow without much deviation. "Take Me Out" - This was the big hit and it's still very easy to see why. The whole thing is nothing but hooks, it's incredibly catchy, and has great sing-along verses AND choruses, is danceable, and has a very memorable and hummable core instrumental melody. It's like it was factory made to be a hit. And it was. So much so that in bizarrely ended up being heavily featured in massively selling mainstream football video games, and I think still has an afterlife in sports packages and highlight reels. It's had a pretty constant presence since it's release and still gets a ton of radio play. My kids even know it. Divorced of any of the other songs or the band's name, but still... "The Dark of the Matinée" - I think this was their other, much more minor, hit single at the time. It's got just as catchy, but has a much bouncier, chunky feel to it, and a bit more of a pleasing dynamic between the quieter and louder segments, and probably the best vocal performance, with a touch of humor. It's also a lot more dense, with some electronic touches, and some cool layered harmonies. The bass work on this album is consistently excellent, but deserves a special callout here. This one also puts a highlight on the general level of horniness present in this album ( and a lot of albums from these bands). It's nothing shocking or anything, but feels a bit like an overcorrection form the grunge hangover that seemed ( to me anyway) largely sexless, I guess maybe they were playing catchup to all the hip hop and dance pop stuff where it had reached almost camp levels of representation. "Auf Aches" - Some similar theming going on here in our first real outlier track that embraces some much more apparent electronic sounds. The dance club bass and disco drum beats abound once again, this time over a sweaty, angry bit of longing that nowadays could very well be read as an Incel anthem. It's never really deep enough to be that bothersome though, and the New Order-ish, downbeat dance club feel carries it very well. "Cheating on You" - The garage rock vibe is much stronger on this one, and get what feels like it could have been a genuine cover of some lost Nuggets-era track, with it's basic as hell verse and chorus. I could easily imagine the Troggs or the Pretty Things laying this down. Just take out all those extra notes and slow it down by 10-15% and it's pretty on point. "This Fire" - The band gets slow and croony, a tiny bit reminiscent of the Doors on the verses, but the rest of song hits those early 80s influences rather hard, with the jagged guitars and dance-punk rhythm. This is more of the same, but I'm very much still on board. "Darts of Pleasure" - By this point the band have settled into the high of a solid danceable groove that seems like you could almost take it for granted. There's a much more noticeable vocal filter going on here which adds a bit of flavor, and with the judicious use of some organ, and the German outro bit, it does still stand out. "Michael" - While lyrically pretty interesting, with the ( at the time) unique homoerotic themes, and solid energy, this one falls a bit flat for me as it lacks decent melody, and feels a bit like treading water, especially so near the end. Much more musically generic, than any of the previous tracks, it can't make up for it with all of the busyness, which it tries very damn hard to do. "Come on Home" - This one starts off with some Blondie "Heart of Glass"/ "Atomic" vibes before falling back on being a ( still very good) clone of "Take Me Out", though with a distinct chorus and a pretty damn good synth organ line. "40'" - Easily the funkiest track on here, with it's loose rubberbandy guitars that bring the Specials and English Beat to mind. This one is possibly my dark horse pick for favorite track this go round, and think that's partly because of how different it feels than so much else on the album. It reaches further into the poppier 80s post-punk sound to gather up little pieces of Orange Juice and the Stranglers as opposed to just hovering around Gang of Four and Joseph K. HIGHLIGHTS - "Jacqueline" - "Tell Her Tonight" - "Take Me Out" - "The Dark of the Matinée" - "Auf Aches" - "Cheating on You" - "This Fire" - "Darts of Pleasure" - "Come on Home" - "40'" MIDLIGHTS - "Michael" LOWLIGHTS - FINAL THOUGHTS As catchy and fun as this was to revisit, it's lost a step in the 22 years since it came out. No so much that I'd ever knock it very much, but it feels a lot less innovative and punchy given everything I've since went back and heard in the years since I first heard it. This felt electrifying and so very different than everything else around it that at the time I would have undoubtedly given it an easy 5-stars. Now it feels s little bit more of its time, and its originality has been worn away enough that its got a LOT more in common with the stuff around it than it felt like at the time. There's also a bit of hollowness I felt listening this time. I'm not sure it ever effecting me emotionally to begin with, but it's very apparent how hard the band is leaning into the aesthetic without ever really saying anything ( which is fine) or making me feel much of anything besides how catchy and energetic it all feels ( slightly less fine). I guess it's no surprise then that I never felt enough loyalty to the band, or many of their peers from this period to keep up with their career ( they released an album just last year!). And it doesn't really inspire me to want to go investigate further either. Respectable 4-ish star territory though, and for an act of and from this scene, they did it with a level of craft that was a head above. It's just not music for the ages I guess. They don't quite make it to the level of a band like Big Country, who for my money is much more undeserving of the one hit wonder status unceremonious bestowed on them by the likes of VH1. Besides, that distinction semes to have all but disappeared by the time Franz Ferdinand appeared on the scene, what with simultaneous releases, and licensing deals and such, so while both bands have great albums, the newer one was able to make more out of the resources they had. And yet, both are primarily known for their one big song still. It just didn't hurt Franz Ferdinand to fall out of favor because they didn't have nearly as far to go. And besides, there were plenty of video games and car commercials to lend their songs to keep the bills paid. I'm not sure if the really successful bands of today ever really get numbers approaching the ones of even the most throwaway one hit wonder bands of the 80s. They are certainly smarter about the amount of blood they ring out of those stones though. I've mentioned them a couple of times already in other reviews but if you want to see how this sort of vibe CAN and DOES mix well with some emotionally gripping and more naturalistic and vulnerable vibes - go check out Guitar Romantic by the Exploding Hearts, a criminally underrated band whose existence was tragically cut short, and who I think could have went on to make the likes of Franz Ferdinand and the Stripes look second rate, had they gotten the chance. Possible turn-Offs might include: - unabashedly horny lyrics - disco flavored rhythms - very affected vocals - very simple 60s garage pop aesthetic mixed with very crowded dance punk guitar interplay You Might enjoy this if you: - crunchy but danceable rock - melody forward music - punchy and easily digestible poppy music that still has a bit of an edge - tight, catchy bangers PLAYLIST ALTERATIONS FURTHER LISTENING Precursors: - From Nowhere by the Troggs - Down By The Jetty by Dr. Feelgood - Marquee Moon by Television - Pink Flag by Wire - Entertainment! by Gang of Four - Eat to the Beat by Blondie - The Only Fun in Town by Josef K - Talking Heads: 77 by Talking Heads Contemporaries: - Guitar Romantic by The Exploding Hearts - Total Life Forever by Foals - Futureheads by the Futureheads - Silent Alarm by Bloc Party - Is This It by the Strokes - Veni Vidi Vicious by the Hives - Bang Bang Rock & Roll by Art Brut - Whip It On by the Raveonettes Descendants: - Django Django by Django Django - Tourist History by Two Door Cinema Club - What Did You Expect from the Vaccines? by The Vaccines - Get to Heaven by Everything Everything - This Modern Glitch by The Wombats - Bankrupt! by Phoenix - The Balcony by Catfish And The Bottlemen
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. 4 stars P.S. My first of 1001 albums!
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.
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.
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
Great guitar rhythms. Very catchy and easy to move to.
אלבום פשוט וכיפי עם קצב ואופי אחידים. בשלב מסוים טיפה חזר על עצמו, אבל נהניתי לאורך כל הדרך.
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
3.5
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
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.
Holy Sh**! This is a LOT better than I remembered
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.
Me gustó, ya conocía el álbum pero no había escuchado todas sus canciones
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
#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.
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
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
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
Great album with some bangers on it.
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
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 more than I expected to (thought they only had one song).
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.
Surprisingly good album for this era
Fav song: Take Me Out
take me out es un himno realmente
Well done
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
fantastic aughts album with varied sound, take me out is legendary
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.
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
Ось і вони)
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
Such a strange album start. Literally always loved what I’ve heard from them but never listened to this album.
chalk fulla fueg
It was alright. Nothing of real note other than the one song everyone knows.
Great debut album. Such a unique, crisp, clean sound. Great upbeat vibe with awesome music and vocals.
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
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.
Easy listening
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
good
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
Yep, good solid toe-tapping Indie rock. An extra star for the Terry Wogan line.
What a niche band, I hope they get big some day... This is a very high 4
Great
4/8
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
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.
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!
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
Fun grooves, mostly upbeat. Like Auf A and Come on Home, but Take Me Out the best.
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.
A Billion Play song with "Take Me Out", This album is fun, diverse, and different
Listened. I dig it!
Post-punk revival, dance-punk.
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.
Catchy nostalgia. 9/10.
8 / 10
Great rock record. Fresh sounds and good tunes all around. Although i would struggle to remember any other than the hit
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
A bop
Better than I expected, if largely homogenous.
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 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
In 2004, the idea of mixing distorted guitars with a disco beat literally blew my mind
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.....
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
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
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.
nawet buja prawdopodobnie do niego kiedyś wrócę
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.
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
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.
Very fun record. Was surprised to see that I recognized most songs on the album. Seems like a direct descendent of Gang of Four in some ways. Reminds me of going out dancing in Miami.
Really like this, very unique sound but never repetitive, vocals always make me think of The Divine Comedy for some reason. Really holds up as one of the early noughties guitar bands' finest hours.
They never really matched this debut but it is still a blast, like a more pop-conscious Gang of Four. Full of hooks over a solid funk-rock base and Jacqueline is a terrific opener
Not really my bag, but I really dug the energy of this album. I did recognize “Take Me Out” and sung along with it since I remember it from playing Rock Band. 3.5 / 5
Initially was leaning towards a 3 star, but it picked up in the back half. I knew "Take Me Out" which I like, but is definitely overplayed. The only other song I for sure knew going in was "This Fire", which is fine but not great. "40'" "Cheating On You" and "Michael" were the standouts for me here
Their execution of glam and post punk aesthetic is fun and effective, though a bit silly. I like the seemingly intentional messiness in the production.
So far, most of the albums I’ve listened to on this journey have been either experimental, a big art piece, or historically significant. This album is a well-deserved break from all of that. Franz Ferdinand’s self titled album is fun, relaxed, and catchy as hell. Every song on here will get you moving - or at the very least, your head bopping. The songs on here are primarily carried by the bass providing a driving, chunky rhythm on almost every track, and an emphasis on the upbeat, which I don’t actually hear very often in this sorta 2000s era pop-rock. The obvious standout here is Take Me Out, which really just is a great song and probably THE song for this album. If someone asks, “what genre is this album?”, you just turn that song on and they’ll go “ah, okay, got it.” My other faves from here were Jacqueline, Dark of the Matinée, This Fire, and Come On Home. They’re all fun, free, funky rockers that feel like they belong on a summer playlist. That being said, there are two main things that turn me off a little. The first thing is the singing. Now, Alex’s singing is.. good! It’s emotional, it’s suave, it’s everything it needs to be. My problem isn’t him, but moreso the theatricality of it all. The album incorporates quite a bit of that sing-shout thing that they did back then, which is fun in short bursts, but it’s on almost every track here. At times, I found myself wishing it was just the simple lead vocal without the drama of the backing vocals. It’s not bad! It’s just not really something I can keep listening to for too long without feeling, frankly, annoyed. The second thing is the fact that… well, every song sounds kinda the same! I don’t particularly mind it, but it just starts to feel a bit monotonous when listening to the full album. A softer ballad, a shorter song, maybe some little acoustic thing… i dunno, just a little bit of variety to add some spice would have been nice. But as-is, it’s a good record. Undeniably so. A bit tiresome, a bit annoying, and quite loud - but hey, thats all of us when we’re young, isn’t it?
Que de bons souvenirs du Mexique
I could get used to these guys. Will be relistening.
I saw Franz Ferdinand in 2009 at the same festival I saw Q-Tip. Those were the days.
Great. Kind of sounds like Arctic Monkeys but this came first so big respect. Great loud sound. They have that Panic at the disco sound but only the rougher side. Anyways, I liked this album.
11 songs Apart from Take Me Out, which everyone and their grandma already knows, I really enjoyed the rest of the album as well. Found quite a lot of Muse's sound in plenty of their songs, and for me that can only be a compliment.
Crazy to think he went and got shot by that guy in Sarajevo.
Great debut album with some excellent tracks. The album became the soundtrack of our summer in 2004 and hasn't faded over the years. Good stuff! 4
From a period when mainstream music in the UK was drifting into nondescript landfill, this punchy sound got my ear amongst the increasing bland radio noise otherwise on offer. It on my shelves, although I rarely reach for it these days. Heard before ✅️ Listened this time ✅️ Revisit ✅️ ★★★★☆(7/10) Total reviewed : 355 Already owned : 79 Purchased : 16 To buy : 4 Nope : 256
Good album. "Landfill Indy" naysayers I think are a bit too jaded as this kind of music exploded further in latter 2000s and early 2010s. The production is solid and there is just good quality all around here. I wish for a little bit more though with that being said as some songs were same-ey but not unwelcomed. 4.
Love the album, but their sophomore album is my favorite
Didn't listen to this when it came out for reasons that escape me. So I was pleased to hear it now and discover that it is actually decent. Someone once said to me that virtually every song could be a single, they weren't far wrong.
Excellent. Not a bad track on the album. Very close to the magic 5 stars.
One of the best live acts ever.
C'est bien mais pas mon pref de cette époque de renouveau du rock au début 2000. Rendu là donne moi Strokes ou White Stripes, ou Interpol?
Despite having 6 albums at the time of writing this, Franz Ferdinand is one of the kings of the one-hit-wonder. So this is my first real dive into the band that's not just hearing "Take Me Out" for the 10927722th time on the radio. It's a pretty groovy album. Is it the greatest thing I've ever heard? Nah, but it's got some catchy tracks. I really like the chorus on "Tell Her Tonight." The guitar riffs on "40' " slap. Damn, even "Take Me Out" still makes me bob my head after all these years. It's a good album. Short and sweet. Slightly forgettable maybe at times, but this is one you could go back to. I added a few songs to my playlist. What i thought would be pretty mediocre is a kinda surprising 4/5 for me.
The sweet spot b/w White Stripes and Arctic Monkeys— a bit more dance groove than the earlier, a bit more punk energy than the latter. 4.5 stars
Take me out, Dark of the Matinee and Michael are all great songs! 3.75
I liked it. and I get how it was an important album for its time. Fun play with time signatures and polyphony, and interesting, smutty but not overly amazing lyrics. Some standouts are Take Me Out, This Fire, Darts of Pleasure and Michael.
I had just listened to this the week prior. God, it holds up quite well doesn't it! The mid 2000s was my era! I was 15-20 during these years. Franz Ferdinand was never at the top of my list because "Take Me Out" was such a huge radio hit. I was more into Arcade Fire, Wolf Parade, and Broken Social Scene. I have learned what a critical piece of that sound Franz Ferdinand contributed. Along with Bloc Party and Modest Mouse, you've got the makings of the perfect early aughts indie Playlist.
хорошее звучание не грустно, плотно есть хит однозначно буду переслушивать
I remember not being fussed about this album when it came out, I had seen FF live and they were good I bought the album but I don’t think I ever listened to it in full. On reappraisal I don’t know why it didn’t grab me at the time. The songs are punchy, funky and melodic and it’s a well balanced album. It may have been the Orange Juice comparisons the music press were making at the time but to me this is far better version of art school indie rock. 4.1
11/06/2026 Thoroughly enjoyed this, a lovely little blast from the past. Spotify listeners: 11.7 million
Nostalgia sounds good! Likes: Jaqueline, Take Me Out; The Dark Of The Matinee; Michael
8/10 take me out is peak
Hated them for some reason when they first came out I liked a lot of British indie bands at the time (Maccabees, bloc party) but they rubbed me up the wrong way. Felt like poseurs. But a few of their songs have popped up on playlists recently and I now understand the appeal. This is a really good record, and the singles stand up well after 20+ years. Rated highly. Favourite track: darts of pleasure
Very energetic, catchy, creative, danceable indie pop rock. It just works. Faves: Jacqueline, Take Me Out, The Dark Of The Matinée, Auf Achse, 40'
Your enjoyment of this album may be contingent on whether you liked Take Me Out in 2004 and still like it today. Luckily, I did and do. FF's jaunty, spiky hooks are hard to resist and I find Alex Kapranos' twinkly-eyed innuendos and debonair affectations to be charming and fun. The album tracks are better and more interesting than I remembered.
I only knew Take Me Out from this, and that's such a banger. The rest of the album is decent. Reminds me of other earlier bands, but overall this was a good listen.
Total banger tbh, gave me nostalgia for some reason… What’s really special to me is that the album do not bore me, it ended just as strong as it started!
Very nice, knew some of the songs, the rest of them were a very good surprise.
Good solid band. Intellegent lyrics and thumping beat.
Top tier
Daar word je vrolijk van
Leuk leuk leuk!!
Franz Ferdinand fits into a specific niche of poppy alt rock that I really enjoy. I'd probably put Tonight on here instead of the self-titled album but whattya gonna do
It was pretty solid for #1 of 1001! Take Me Out, This Fire, and Come Home were my personal favorites, all very catchy. There isn't a single bad song on the album, they're all really good. But too many of the songs blended together and I felt like they weren't very catchy. It's a solid B+
I’m revoking this bands one hit wonder status, this thing slapped
Fun 2000s rock, a little loud to my taste.
Have only ever listened to the song 'Take Me Out' before (which is still amazing btw). The album was solid, made me want to be an alt kid in London, skateboarding and shit.
Pretty solid album, not a single skip for me. Favorite track(s) Take Me Out Auf Achse Come On Home
I like FF and this is a good album. "Take Me Out" is a classic. They have a distinctive sound that shines throughout, yet they keep some originality in each track which steers away from monotony and repetitiveness.
This was a big album for me 20 years ago. Haven't listened to Franz Ferdinand in ages, but now that I do, it still works. Take Me Out is the obvious highlight, but the song material is quite strong overall. The same can't be said of the later Franz Ferdinand albums.
Amazing classic, most of the 11 tracks are hit. Hidden gems are Auf Asche and Come on Home.
They got a cool sound I dig it
Quirked up white boy music. Had heard the singles but not the full album, was very fun. Particularly liked the matinee song.
Prime example of maybe the last truly great era of Beritish indie rock. Although I personally prefer Tonight: Franz Ferdinand, this oone is great as well.
Throwback to Grade 8. Take Me Out still goes hard.
Lively spiky indie fun. Enjoyed alot first time around. Slightly repetitive and runs out of steam.
This project is working! Discovered Gang Of Four based on reading comments about this album. Definite similarities to GoF, along with a lot of the indie music that came out in the 00s. It's amazing how so many bands all sound like their peers. Not listened to Franz Ferdinand in a long time - still a good album, even if very specific of its era.
Listened to this all the time when I was younger.
Favorite Tracks: - Take Me Out - This Fire - Darts of Pleasure - Come On Home
Is it for mud-soaked festivals, is it for light up dancfloors, who cares?! 'Take Me Out' stands as a banger today, foot-stomping its way into any house party setlist. Other standsouts for me are 'Come on Home' for the call and response, and 'Tell Her Tonight' for the hi-hat. 4 stars.
Still a whole bunch of silly fun, more varied than I remembered, and with a dose of that nostalgia factor that's pretty irresistible.
7/10
I really enjoyed listening to the whole album, because it's rock music, one of my favorite genres. However, there are some tracks that I had to listen twice, but, either way, also good music. In resume, it's truly worth it! That type of album to listen when you're driving, travelling, or just want to feel cool.
Enjoyable if not really my vibe after the halfway point
This is an interesting band. I didn't like a single song from them enough to add to my "liked songs" but the album as a whole was a great vibe.
Brought me back to the days when I listened to the Smiths & the Strokes and thought about life
stunning 2000s pop rock
My youth! I forgot how fun this album was. Dancey, poppy, dark, academic, scotland, lads, indie sleaze. What's not to love
Soemone recommended this for me. Maybe a love letter from the past
I like Franz Ferdinand, the big hit is a banger, and the other parts of the album hold up as well. This is a British rock album I can get behind.
I owned both this album and their follow-up, so songs by Franz Ferdinand always get jumbled up in my mind. Listening to this today, I'm reminded of how much I either really liked the songs (Dark of the Matinee) or really didn't (Darts of Pleasure).
That's more like it. Something a little interesting. Some variation from song to song. I liked it so much I was sad when it ended.
Despite really really liking that Ike song I’ve never listened to them much so this was good to listen to. Superfluously good indie rock. But it’s still indie rock. That’s an admittedly unfair but excellent as this is in many ways I just don’t find it either super interesting or emotionally resonant.
Listening to this record 20 years after the fact makes clear just how horny these dudes were. The record is smarmy and slick and oily. The musicians are cocksure and cock-driven. That disposition can and has failed on many a record, but it congeals nicely here.
All these years later and i’m still not CRAZY about Tell Her Tonight and it’s kind of a dip after Jacqueline but at least the really heavy hitters are immediately after! I heard this album a lot in passing as an early teen so i knew every song here but just not too deeply. It’s such a solid and fun debut that comes just shy of being great, apart from a few tracks.
Great album. Not listened to it I full in ages. Was a walk down memory lane
Perfectly gritty, musically interesting to listen to, and great vocals. Favorite tracks: - Tell Her Tonight - Take Me Out - Michael
1001 Albums Generator 287 (5/8/2026) I only knew Take Me Out, but there are some other good songs here as well. The thing that struck me consistently was how strange the song structures were on this album. Great post-punk revival or whatever we call this genre, although the end has a few songs that didn't stick with me. Cheating On You was a really cool song though. 3.5/5, rounded up to 4. Favs: Take Me Out Cheating On You 40' Least Fav: Darts Of Pleasure
Ништяковый альбом. Баллежный индироковый постпанк из 00х с таким ироничным звучанием но лиричным вокалом, иногда трогающий веселые, а иногда и печальные струны души. Классный альбом, послушал с удовольствием, много чего себе добавил.
It's been forever since I've listened to Franz Ferdinand! I forgot how fun this album is.
Sounded a lot like a Scottish version of The Killers, which isn't the worst thing to be. I am intimately familiar with their hit 'Take Me Out' from playing about 1,000 hours of Madden 2005, but the rest of this was all new to me. Really enjoyed the whole album! Couple of meh songs, but the body of work was solid and there were a couple of very solid songs ('Jacqueline' & 'This Fire') as well. Soild 4/5, would definitely listen again.
Thought I was going to roll my eyes at this. But no. It’s actually fun. Upbeat pop rock, lots of toe-tappers. They sound pretty good. Catchy.
Full disclosure previous experience of this album. Loved “Take Me Out” on release and subsequently preordered the CD and played it a lot but not for a long time. Revisiting the album still love it, it is obviously a body of work. Whilst some albums are a challenge elections of songs this is an “album” it flows and is never disjointed. Remind me of The Undertones meet Orange Juice and go on holiday with Kraftwork. Whilst being a great album, pick a track at random and you’ll be happy. 8.9 / 10 for me only losing points for lack of any huge change of direction.
Eu gosto desse
Pre Listen: I have no idea who this band is. The only Franz Ferdinand I know was assassinated in 1914, so I have no expectations for this album going in. Notable Tracks: Take Me Out - Hey I know this one. This is the one that made them popular I think. Classic. The Dark of the Matinée - Rather catchy, I like the melody a lot. My favorite track on the album. Cheating on You - Kind of repetitive, my least favorite song on the album. It has a fairly ugly melody as well, but I guess the ugliness fits the message? This Fire - I know this one too, another hit. It's pretty good. Post Listen: I did know more of their songs than I realized, and even the songs I didn't recognize were catchy and overall well made. I enjoyed the swings in tempo that a lot of the songs have and how quickly their lyrics and melodies will change along with it to fit the mood. I give the album a 4/5, I don't think I'll add any songs to my playlist as I'm not much a punk enjoyer, but I appreciate the music for the quality it has.
I like this.
If only every song was like Take Me Out
I only know the hit from this one. Let's see how the rest sounds. A lot of similar energy going through these other tunes. All in all a good album but not really one I feel I need in my collection. Ooh hey, I recognize "This Fire" too. That should've been as big a hit as "Take Me Out".
Really great and holds up well.
It's a surprisingly solid album for me, having only heard of Take Me Out before. The talent of the lead singer and the creative songwriting really sets it apart from other 2000s indie albums.
Solid album with a consistent vibe throughout.
Great album, the songs are as tight as the guitar and bass lines. I like how Franz Ferdinand show that they have a talent for interesting chord progressions and meldodies, which makes it an engaging listen from start to end. Two or three songs are of lesser quality though, which keeps it from being a real classic. Highlights: Dark of the Matinee, Darts of Pleasure 4/5 very good
gut
Great edginess. I am not typically an early 2000s rock fan but liked this a lot. Lowkey emo as fuck, which is not normally my cup of tea, but still upbeat and jam worthy, so I rocked with it. Extremely engaging and kick ass grunge. Would recommend this album. Favorite 2: Take Me Out, Auf Achse
AUF ACHSE 🤘🏼🤘🏼🤘🏼🤘🏼🤘🏼🤘🏼🤘🏼🤘🏼
Déjà écouté. Sorti à la période où j'ai commencé à écouter sérieusement de la musique, le premier album de Franz Ferdinand sonne probablement un peu daté, mais c'est un concentré contagieux de rock dansant et festif qui fait plaisir. Et force est de constater que, même au-delà du tube Take Me Out, toutes ses mélodies me sont restées en tête... Top : The Dark of the Matinee Flop : Cheating on You
Take me out is an obvious hit, otherwise somewhat boring
Great early 2000s alt rock. Not the same staying power as some other albums of that period, but a 3.8.
The song I know best is “Take Me Out,” but for a very weird reason: Dance Dance Revolution! It was one of the songs in whatever PS2 version of DDR we had. I think it’s a great song. The rest of the album is pretty good too! And it didn’t overstay its welcome. Just some pretty good pop rock. 7/10 Quite Likeable
I really like this album, it has a lot of danceable songs. My favorites are Come on home, The Dark Side of the Matinee, and Auf Achse. It’s a fun listen, my only thing is that in some songs it’s repetitive in lyrics and it makes the song drag out.
Almost sounds like a love child of the Doors and Arctic Monkeys. Enjoyed the sound.
I don't have much to say other than I really liked it. Fav tracks: Jacqueline, tell her tonight, Take me out, This fire, and 40'
Pretty good tbf
Haven't listened to this in 20 years. Obviously Take Me Out is a classic however I was surprised by how well this stood up. Better than I remembered. Not quite 5 stars but close
На удивление хороший альбом. Я ждал мерзкого звука нулевых, но то ли я попутал, то ли я стал иначе воспринимать музыку. Больше сказать нечего. Take Me Out <3
i’ve heard a franz ferdinand album before, not this one though. not at all how i expected this album to start. i used to cover take me out with my band. it’s hard not to zone completely in on the bass when i listen to that song now. this is good, i like this. this is very similar to stuff like dead or alive. never noticed that before.
In the past, I've avoided really listening to any post-punk revival because I've thought it was a bunch of dour, humorless Joy Division wannabes. In the case of Franz Ferdinand, at least, that assumption has proved to be unfounded. This is post-punk you can dance to, even, and the band sounds like they'd like you to actually enjoy listening to their album!
Perfect for edits tbh
A very enjoyable listen. I think strong throughout we a few big hits.
I thought that I had listened to this album before, but I had zero recognition of some of the tracks.
Greeeat Indie album. Camp, jazzy, full of bangers and driving rhythms.
Quiero darle un 5 pero sería overkill que no sé si pueda justificar. Gran disco, muy divertido, nostálgico, sólid 4
I liked this quite a bit. Heard the hit before, but not the others. Good jamming rocking tunes.
Excellent album!!!! 4.5
This was a blind buy back in the day and I listened to it so much. Still a great listen!
Pretty good album still though the elapse of time perhaps revels how derivative much of the content. Solid nevertheless.
Aika hyvä "uudehko" rock-levy. Monissa biiseissä käytettiin tanssittavaa rumpukomppia. Radiohitti Take Me Out oli ainoa entuudestaan tuttu biisi. Juuri ja juuri uskallan antaa tälle neljä tähteä.
Banger sur banger
Franz Ferdinand brought the fun into what was left of the corpses of post-punk and revamped the genre - big time. And man, this is a fucking great record to dance to. One of the great and lasting debuts of the 2000s. It still hits as hard as it did back then. The lyrics have a smart sense of humor, and honestly, who doesn’t love Alex Kapranos’ voice? Not a perfect 5 for me, because Cheating on You, Come on Home and 40 feel a tad undercooked. But that’s really nitpicking.
I’m hearing 80’s alternative and pop… and 70’s punk… and 60’s psychedelic rock… And that’s just the second track! This album is a lot of fun, even if only to dissect the musical lineage. But I do admit, it also sounds of its time as an early 2000s album - like the Killers, but more interesting to me for whatever reason. I enjoy the energy, the forward motion. Worth another listen sometime.
This album is a lot of fun! It is exactly what I expected from the title: part pop/rock, part lounge singer/club act with lots of festive flare. It has a clean, distinct production value (more polished version of Modest Mouse, although I don't know which came first). I love music that instantly invokes a film vibe. I feel like I could make a movie to fit many of the tracks. Well, a B-movie, with comeback potential for the lead actors.
4/8
Still sounds great
Listened in the car. Really loved this album back in high school. Didn't love it quite as much this time around. It's still a great record but I feel like I outgrew this one, as pretentious as that sounds.
Rakastan tätä nostalgista fiilistä tässä. Puhki soitetut biisit nyt on puhki soitettuja mut muuten kiva fiilis ja kiva levy! 😍
One of the indie albums that I did get into a bit in the 00s, still holds up pretty well, Take Me Out one of my karaoke standards.
Easily one of the best albums of its era and genre. Stands the test of time very well. Some absolute bangers on here, a bit of German for the Krautrock fans amongst our little group, and enough thumping bass lines to keep me happy for weeks. A welcome rediscovery.
9/10 Really good, but the peaks (best songs) make the rest of the album feel kind of boring.
All the songs are good. No skips.
7/10
Ah, nostalgia. My younger brother had this CD back in the mid 2000s and we both listened to it quite a lot. I was not a big fan of that era of indie, but there was something about this one album that felt different. Now older and wiser I can discern some of their obvious influences, but at the time it felt unique compared with the dreary and repetitive indie bands that clogged up the charts. Those dirty guitar hooks are so damn catchy, and the whole thing is loaded with them. It's hit after hit. It's been nice to listen to some of these tracks for the first time in 20 years. I can't pretend it's an all time masterpiece that will be remembered generations from now, but it is certainly the best example of this type of music.
Some songs are a lot weaker than I remember, it’s probably why I’d forget those tracks, but the good songs are fun, and feel good
FF LOVER
sounds like it could have been made at any point in the last twenty years. Timeless.
Really good to hear this again. Possibly 3 and a half stars but I'm feeling generous!
Has more than just the one ten out of ten banger on it, the self titled Franz Ferdinand is equal parts angular and danceable. Great album +: The Dark of the Martinee
A very good album that helps to lift British music out of its early 2000s doldrums. Some of the more negative reviews of this have half a point when they define this as part of the ‘indie landfill’ of these years, because the sound isn’t completely different from that (it isn’t as unique as say Whatever People Say I Am). But it definitely is a perfecting of that style, with Take Me Out and The Dark of the Matinee still guitar heavy but able to construct great hooks. Unlike a lot of ‘indie’ artists in this era, they don’t overthink it or try to be too clever- they just find a good formula and execute well.
Echt een top indierock album met natuurlijk als gi-gan-tische uitschieter Take Me Out. Maar het is geen 10 in een zee van 5'jes, maar een 15 in een zee van 8'en.
Bangers, bangers en ook een aantal iets mindere bangers. Take Me Out is de obvious highlight, wat een generational slam dunk is dat nummer.
I had forgotten how good this album is. Every track is a banger. This is going straight back in my regular rotation, where it belongs. Great album!
Fun listen
Good funking album
This album is stellar. I had never listened to the entire thing, and only knew the hits. I wish I could have hear Take Me Out for the first time ever at a live show. The gritty british rock is reminiscent of the alternative and indie rock I grew up on and wish I would have had a greater appreciated for this band, and album, at a younger age.
fajne, calkiem w moim guscie, spoko ten zespol jest
I don't remember the last time I listened to this album in full, if I ever have. Franz Ferdinand rode the highs of the NYC bands such as the Strokes to great fame, but it's all backed up by some incredible songs.
Ah catching up on FF today is so electric & emotional for me because what a fine album . Miss them
I've only heard take me out from that album but I just know the rest is going to be amazing!
Iconic album, every track is different but every song is unique to Franz Ferdinand and can most definitely be recognizable as their sound. No complaints. Take Me Out will forever be a no skip track.
Phew, what a debut! Strong, distinctive sound. Banger after banger. High 4.5 stars.
An absolute banger! Even so, dithering between a 4 and a 5 star rating as there are a couple of sub-par tunes in amongst the indie classics. Took the choppy guitar sounds of post-punk (which wasn't particularly popular in the late 70s - it certainly didn't get any airplay outside of the late-night John Peel radio programme) and took them on to the dancefloor and into the charts 25 years later. It's true that there were a lot of bands around at this time using similar influences that all sounded the same and became known (rightly) as landfill indie, but FF had wit and personality to spare. Far and away the best indie band of the period. A big shout out to their forebears The Yummy Fur here as well, a band I absolutely adored at the time and still listen to!
Never heard the whole album. I like the rock-synth vibes.
I was thinking, "huh this band name sounds familiar, I wonder if I know any of their songs." Then Take Me Out started playing.
I liked it, I’m a big arctic monkeys fan and these guys remind me of them, I know a few songs in this album and I’ve heard of them before but I’ve never really listened to them
Only heard the single before but enjoyed the whole album although a bit repetitive in style
beyond it's mediocrity, horrible lyrics and some really great songs like "Take Me Out", it's just a nice album to enjoy overall.
if the strokes were austrian and started a world war
Great debut album, 3 or 4 great songs
Detta var ju överraskande bra! Återigen ett album jag missat eller snarare inte varit så intresserad av och det var ju en miss! Svängigt och kul, blev glad. Låtar jag gillade lite extra Jacqueline och Cheating on You förutom Take me out då. Bra!
classic for a reason
Album pilastro dell'indie rock degli anni 2000. Mi è piaciuto molto
Au-delà de toute la nostalgie de Take me out et des souvenirs de NHL que ça rappelle. Vraiment un bel album d'indie comme je les aime avec de bonnes mélodies accrocheuses et des chansons diversifiées.
I never listened to the full album before this, only having heard the singles. It's radio-friendly, guitar-driven pop and I'm inclined to like this stuff.
Not bad but not my cup of tea
I avoided it when it came out because it was everywhere. It’s a really fun album that holds up
I’d heard the band name Franz Ferdinand before and had fond memories of it. I couldn’t remember anything specific, though. I found the story behind the choice of the band name unusual and interesting, but I would have guessed there was a German or Austrian band behind it. The music wasn’t what I expected. I was expecting German avant-garde, along the lines of Einstürzende Neubauten or something similar. I really liked the music. It’s not as catchy and rousing as I’d hoped. But I’d like to explore the band a bit more. 4/5
It's punchy, it's sharp, it's a bit weird, it's a bit pretentious, I like it. Dark of the Matinee and Take Me Out are brilliant.
♡: Jacqueline
Very pleasant album to listen to bit perhaps a little repetitive
This has the song! With the man yelling before talking about the land of ice and snow. Radical.
Just a fun bunch of lads
turns out the whole album is great, not just that one song!
Who hasn't heard "Take Me Out" at this point? I would venture a guess it's the most iconic rock track of the 2000s besides "Seven Nation Army." That track plus many others highlight this band's really huge strength- THE RIFFS. So many memorable ones all over this record. The production really accentuates them, too, which makes me really happy while listening. The vibes here are so infectious for a pretty perfectly paced 38 minutes.
Such a fun album
God damn fantastic album. Underrated and overshadowed by take me out, which is a good song, but theres so much better on the album Jacqueline, tell her tonight, darts of pleasure,michael, come on home get big top thumbs up.
i dont know what it is about it - maybe the strong vibe - but i like it
Top Songs: This Fire Take Me Out Darts of Pleasure The Dark of the Matinee
Franz Ferdinand - self entitled - My Sonic Tree Review - album 1 There’s a particular kind of electricity that runs through the veins of this record — the kind born not from distortion or volume, but from rhythm sharpened to a blade. In the lineage of post-punk minimalism, the pulse begins with Gang of Four and the nervous geometry of their guitars. It passes through the art-school nervous system of Talking Heads. Then it reaches the dancefloor machinery of Depeche Mode — where groove becomes architecture. Franz Ferdinand translates that heritage into something modern: guitars behaving like sequencers. Each track is built on angular repetition — riffs that lock into motion like gears in a clockwork club night. The defining moment, of course, arrives with Take Me Out — a tempo-switching lightning bolt where indie rock suddenly remembers that movement is the point. The mood of the album is unmistakable: • late-night city lights • art-school irony • sweat on the dancefloor beneath sharp suits It doesn’t brood like many of its early-2000s peers. It struts. Where many revival bands chase nostalgia, this record distills the past into something leaner — post-punk with nightclub DNA. In the family tree of modern alternative music, this album stands as: the moment guitar bands rediscovers the elegance of rhythm. A reminder that sometimes the most powerful sonic statement isn’t volume — but precision.
1: Take Me Out 2: The Dark of the Matinee 3: Michael
it's a rocky album with the tiniest bit of poppy vibe. Listening to this album feels like two eras colliding in the best possible way. Somehow listening to this feels like living inside an early 2000s movie, it's amazing.
Great album
I liked it.
Als die rauskam, hat mich das Album richtig mitgerissen. Geht immer noch gut!
Slight, enjoyable, little boppy bop.
Me ha sorprendido, sus ritmos funky y pegadizos han hecho que lo disfrute bastante
FUCKING GOOD