Reviews (page 8 of 14)
One of the defining albums of the 200's indie movement. Franz Ferdinand immediately set themselves apart with razor sharp out fits, razor sharp cheekbones and razor sharp disco beats which immediately set them apart from the hundreds of "landfill indie" bands around at the time. The standout is of course take me out which is so much fun it has the power to stop you in your tracks to make you listen. But the rest of the album is packed with great tunes, dark of the matinee and auf achse are some favourites.
come and dance with me MICHAAAEEELL
Love the vibe, change of pace. Very instrumental heavy with the vocals taking a backseat at certain times. The lead singer has a very iconic voice on the song Take Me Out, the smash hit that put this group on the map, a song I've been listening to for a while now. Other highlights include: The Dark of the Matinee, This Fire, Michael, and Come On Home, as well as the title track Jacqueline. Overall 8-8.5/10 In my opinion
Solid early 00's alt rock album. "Take Me Out" major hit but the rest of the album keeps the vocals-driven feel throughout.
4 Fun
Good niche rock
Now this is more my type of music. Still not 100% my taste, but I did really enjoy this one. All of the songs were distinct from each other while not being incohesive and the melodies were really catchy. I think this might be my favorite album from this project so far. I think that if I listen to this several more times, I might even add all of these songs to my playlist.
Good stuff. I am a sucker for this kinda indie rock so of course I'll like it. Although it's great it doesn't soar as some of the other indie rock albums I love. Still a great listen. 4.5/5
iconic
Enjoyable alt rock album with a sound typical of the early 2000s. Great runtime and overall catchy and entertaining songs
Classic of that era, shame they couldn't follow it up
Finally one I have actually listened to before, it's been a while. I do enjoy this album though.
There’s no question that the legions of unspeakably dull, Primark clad, middle-class art school indie bands this album spawned would be good enough reason on its own to absolutely pan Franz Ferdinand’s debut effort. It happens so often however that the progenitor of a musical movement or style actually has relatively little to do with the imitators which follow. I was so pleasantly surprised by how well these songs hold up now that the Topshop indie movement has finally been buried. The heavy debt owed to the likes of Josef K and Orange Juice for their blend of post-punk hooks and dancey rhythms is immediately apparent. But , for better or for worse, this album belongs very much to its own time. Tracks like “Michael” still pack a punch, and the songwriting on numbers like “Dark of the Matinee” and “Take Me Out” have deservedly cemented their status as floor-fillers in any genre of the 2000s. I want to hate this record. But I can’t. It’s just really great.
I mean, just a classic of 2000s rock revival. Not quite as good as You Could Have It So Much Better, but still a classic.
No, there had never been an Archduke Metallica. It was Franz Ferdinand and apparently his name "sounds good" so that particular band adopted the name. Lame choice, not gonna lie. But boy how their punk-fuelled indie rock hit hard like a thick history book.
I had already listened to this album a while ago, as I bought a CD copy from a secondhand store nearby. While I generally liked the album, the only track I really remembered and went back to was “Take Me Out,” but upon listening a second time, I like the rest of the album a lot better, and I will definitely be coming back to it.
I think I still have this CD lying around somewhere. This is just a fun, raucous, legit rock n roll album. Such a great album and great debut.
really liked this one, a lot of catch little parts in most songs. the intro track was BALLER
loved it when it came out. still ok.
muy bueno
Lekker energiek en makkelijk weg te luisteren. Altijd wel een leuk bandje gevonden, en dit is denk ik wel hun sterktste album.
Brings me back to Cul the sac. Heerlijke nummers staan op dit album. Fijne stem ook.
An album which was everywhere when first released with its punchy guitar stabs, charismatic front man and catchy choruses, perhaps a little shine has faded with time but still an enjoyable listen with Take Me Out, Come on Home and Michael particular highlights.
Richtig gute Musik! "Nur" 4 Sterne weil das Nachfolgealbum "You could have it so much better" nochmal besser ist.
I liked this when it came out but it's been a while since i listened to it. Held up really well.
I must have missed rating this (I thought I did first time through.) I really enjoyed it, I hadn't listened to this in quite a while, but it holds up really well. Good times, will be adding it to my listening rotation.
Very refreshing britpop music, wonder why their albums later cannot replicate this kind of success.
I really actually enjoyed the music. Very upbeat, every song is different and sometimes somber. I enjoyed it, but I don't feel it's something I will return too. I wonder why. Maybe because it feels like it's speaking to a past version of myself.
This album is a perfect time capsule for the 2004 that I experienced.
Rock indie.
Fun album. The front half is strong!
Un clasicazo de los dos miles. Siento que Franz Ferdinand, después de esto, tuvo un par de sencillos más pero nunca un disco tan completo y bueno como este. Ahora que estamos oyendo todo lo que sucedió en los ochenta ya cacho la influencia gigante que tuvieron en Franz Ferdinand, pero cuando los oí cuando salieron me parecieron innovadores, tal vez más de lo que en realidad son. Lo anterior no les quita mérito. Es solo estar más consciente de el trasfondo.
Wicked album, really enjoyable they are a good band
It's a good indie rock album. Mad that it's nearly 20 years old and there really haven't been many good indie rock albums since. Not hugely surprised it's left the book as for all it's qualities, aside from Take Me Out it's not that outstanding/noteworthy in this context. Michael and Darts of Pleasure my favourites.
Classic indie disco
Great album. Need to add to my collection
Take me is an absolute banger. Haven't heard the rest of the songs but some of them are also pretty good. Checking these out.
listen
Nostalgic
very fun, punky rock and roll
Alltid klar for litt Franz Ferdinand,
Franz Ferdinand <3
Tremendous album. Bridged that gap between The Strokes and Arctic Monkeys
Was good!
Il faudrait inventer une note entre 3 et 4
Hee, dit is heel leuke muziek en een gevarieerd album. Vrolijke melodie, lekkere zangstem. ****
Good album that was able to compete with it's big hit.
I don't mind ol' Franz and this album's pretty ok. Not quite a 5 but a fairly solid 4. Faves: Take Me Out, This Fire, Michael
Yeah ok post-punk revival. I missed out on it at the time, but it's definitely in the spirit of post-punk.
Genre: Post-Punk Revival 4/5 Another mid-aught’s British rock album that I listened till I knew every cymbal crash, and for what I believe is good reason. This is a 4 not *purely* out of nostalgia, but because I truly feel there’s an undeniable joy within this project. Franz Ferdinand is a band, and an album, that has since faded with the times, leaving little behind as a collective beyond their earth-scorching single, Take Me Out. The reality is that these guys have a fairly respectable body of work, as far as decent rock albums go, but the unfortunate reality is that they never topped their debut. A few songs later in their career are great (I’m QUITE fond of Do You Want To from the album after this one), but they did truly bust their nut here. Starting with Take Me Out, which is probably the best rock single of 2000s (???, I can’t think of a better one), this was a tune that was both familiar, yet fresh to so many listeners. Its brilliant riff, and its distinct disco feel with punk-style vocals on top, made it immediately one of the catchiest songs of the decade. BUT, what lies within is a more-than-decent collection of similar style jams. Tight disco riffs mingle with heavy drum and bass, the vocals stay relentless, loud, and energetic, and it makes for a damn good dance party. Dark of the Matinee and 40’ are my favorites outside of Take Me Out, but cuts like Jacqueline and Michael, showcase all sides of Franz Ferdinand, showing how their particular brand of rock sounds good any way you slice it. Really killer album that, like I said, I think may have died with the times, but this is one that I’ll play forever.
Its unapologetically getting a biased 4. I have weird (maybe Freudian) memories of this album so was impossible to listen to objectively....
Such catchy guitar licks – the guitar sound reminds me of Gang of 4. One can rant (as I often do) about “what’s the purpose of releasing a post punk/rock LP like this in 2004, so late in the game, blah-blah-blah” but if the song-writing is good, nothing else really matters. “Take Me Out” is epic and since I don’t listen to Indie 88, I still have a few hundred listens left until I’m sick of it. There’re a handful of catchy tracks, though some sound like revisions of the hit. Not a good sign for the band’s longevity. “Darts of Pleasure” I like.
Typical early 2000's indie, which I am a fan of. Though here it sounds like they try to be a bit more unique, like on "Michael", and some songs work better than other. Though "Take Me Out" still my favourite track.
Pretty consistently good all the way through. Revoked good memories
This was fun stuff. I enjoyed. I’ve known and liked “Take Me Out,” but “The Dark of the Matinée” is a new favorite.
Testing notes
Plusik bo wcześniej poza "Take me out" nie znałem nic, a kilka fajnych piosenek jak "Auf Achse" się znalazło. Na minus, że trochę mało różnorodności, czasem mi się wydawało, że wstępu są zbyt podobne w niektórych piosenkach. Plusik, że w końcu coś co można na spokojnie przesłuchać w mniej niż godzinkę XD
When this album came out, I sort of lumped Franz Ferdinand in with The Strokes and The Killers. I really liked both of those artists, but I didn't take much notice of Franz Ferdinand. Listening to this afresh though, it's a really impressive debut. They seem incredibly confident and sure of themselves for a new band, and the songs are really good and well produced. 4 stars.
9/10
Really good. Forgot how much I liked this album.
A rosey glow of nostalgia from this one. This was everywhere when it came out, and I liked it mainly because I loved the bands they were copying, such as Josef K. Now much further removed, there’s another sense of nostalgia for the time I first heard this. This time I enjoyed the energy of this from the start. And always loved the "It's always better on holiday, so much better on holiday.That's why we only work when we need the money” line as it reminds me of the office jobs I had around that time. But the energy did dissipate towards the end, or rather my enthusiasm for the songs. Some great tunes, and they never did anything as good. But, like the album itself, the idea seemed to run out of road fairly quickly.
I like this album...I like it a lot. To me this is to be lumped in with Arctic Monkees, The Good the Bad and the Queen, the Libertines / Babyshambles and maybe even British Sea Power and The Legends. For me this is the best of the bunch (except for BSP, The Decline of British Sea Power is an incredible album). More consistent in its accessibility than the more lauded Arctic Monkeys, Franz Ferdinand has very few missteps and when it hits it's target its a bullseye. A very enjoyable listen. 4 🌟
A shining light in the indie landfill era. I will never get over the fact that what sounds like the greatest song Josef K never wrote ends after a minute of Take Me Out, and becomes another fine but not quite so brilliant song. But sharp suits, tight guitar lines. Good work.
Yeah, great no nonsense indie rock for partying, yet with interesting lyrics. Like it!
8'5
I love this album. Some great tracks
Loved this when it came out. Wonder what they're up to now?
I liked this well enough at the time, and it seems like they did a good job of raising the profile of lurchy angular post-punk as a whole, so hurrah! Still enjoyable to revisit! Fave track - has to be "Take Me Out" - that's an absolute tune. "Michael" and "This Fire" get honourable mentions...
I'll give it a 4.5, really liked it but not one of favorite albums of all time. Hit songs were dope, filler songs were okay
File under “whatever happened to” but If I compare this to yesterdays (“Nowhwere” by Ride), this is sonically pleasing, interesting from song to song and full of hooks. Fave tracks: “Michael” “This Fire” “Take Me Out”
Mostly brilliant - close to a 5 star.
I purchased this at some point, for the U.S.-recognizable hit, and ended up liking the whole thing better than I expected. Finely executed, unique sound.
better than i was expecting. nothing from this era has stood up that well because there was so much paint by numbers in the indie world, however theres some actual content on here. in fact i'll go medium on it, if any of these tracks came on in a random shuffle i wouldn't skip it. i wouldn't have been able to hear it in 2004 but you can very much hear the influences, in the same way you can with oasis.
fairly gooood. would listen to majority of songs again.
Kaks biisiä oli entuudestaan tuttuja, joista toinen aivan läpipuhki soitettu, mut tätä kuunnellessa toimi sekin tosi hyvin. Vekkuli kokonaisuus
Boring outside of main hits
It’s… okay.
Solid album with influences deep in the post-punk of he late 70s/early 80s. Suitable mix of indie/garage rock with a slight dance influence. Forerunners of the garage rock revival of the 2000s
Franz Ferdinand is the first album on this list that I'd already played in its entirety, and what a banger of an album it is. I adore Take Me Out and played it again several times. It's not quite a 5/5 as there is a bit of filler - but a solid 4/5, and I will listen to it again.
Really nice, dynamic. I already knew some songs.
Love the indie vibes, dig the beats but it's a tad too much "pop" for me personally. Take me out is definitely the top for me though and very catchy.
Talking heads on television.
One of the best debut albums of all time
From when I first heard, Take Me Out in 2004, I became a fan. They lit up the dance floor of ever indie club across the world. Them touring this album in Australia was a special time as it coincided with the opening of Spectrum, a venue I would go on to do the art for over the next 6 years. I still love the rest of their work but none could ever match this debut
Good stuff, interesting, spunky and very youthful and alive. I always loved Take Me Out, the lyrics are so good, the sound, the voice and sharpness of the overall sound. Nice one! And the dark of the matinee! What a song.. Sublime lyrics.
Stort plus för längden på albumet. Så ska det vara
Wow. I remember hearing/watching Take Me Out on MTV. Has it really been 17 years? At the time I was 14 and didn't really understand Franz Ferdinand or their music and wasn't a big fan. Now I think I understand and like them a lot better. Hard to believe this is a debut album, as sophisticated as it is. I was pretty torn between rounding this up or down from a 4.5, but in the end I'm rounding it down because there are a couple of songs on here that really aren't very good. But there are no really bad ones and I really enjoyed The Dark Of The Matinée and Darts Of Pleasure very much.
Fun, guitar indie. Taking a lot of queued from late 70s/early 80s. Quite knowingly arty - like a punkier Pulp.
Sixth form vibes, still holds up!
inga dåliga låtar, dock svänger inte höfterna till alla
Fan fina ju, en redig banger
Classic
alright ma n
yabanci athena. begendim
5e o kadar yakin ki
Mukavaa rokkimusaa, hittibiisin olen kuullut tietysti aiemmin, mutta levyllistä ei ole tainnut tulla koskaan kuunneltua, eikä oikein ole yritystäkään ollut. Tämä yllätti positiivisesti. Mukavaa menoa, kivaa kitarointia. Ei ehkä ihan vitoseen saakka, mutta vahva nelonen nyt ainakin.
I had this one on CD back in the day, they were quite hot then and I remember they didn't shy to that rock& roll stardom position (at least Kapranos), I remember the Mercury price and how they were suposed to save rock & roll (same as the Strokes or Interpol a couple of years before). they had a couple of other fairly good records and then dissapeared (I think although I saw them live just in 2019). I had not listen to this one in ages, it is quite good an a good print of its time, I think I should buy its vinyl
First day of 1001albums, so it started off great. Tons of bangers on here, definitely enjoyed the whole thing.
A little repetitive but good and largely lived up to the popular single !! Like if the strokes were more dancey. 8/10
8/10. Quite enjoyable for the most part some songs were a fair bit better than others
I never realized that this band was so Scottish. Pretty quality 2000s alt-rock but nothing earth-shaking. 7
Buen disco
Nikad mi nisu toliko legli kao tipa Arctic Monkeys ili netko iz tog vala. Okej su, ali nikak da dođu meni do tog levela gdje bi ih pustio da mi svira. ___________________________________________ Nakon slušanja dva puta, mogu reći da sam dosta pogriješio i isprike na tome. Album je super, čista četvorka, iznaneđen sam zapravo koliko ovaj album može parirati Interpolov - Turn on the Bright Lights i od Arctic Monkeysa - Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not.
Ja kažem, teikmiaut
Great album
Everyone knows that song but honestly this album is great all around. FF are super underappreciated in the indie rock canon. This album rocks.
Great album. Singles are great and album altogether is solid. Some Skippable song but nothing bad.
Great early 2000s alt-rock statement. Sharp instrumentals and arrangements complement witty lyricisms for an incisive (if sometimes repetitive) LP.
Loved this one when I was a kid. It still holds up quite well
Loved this, was a bit skeptical with this one. Was nerve a fan of Take Me Out (on this album) but loved it!!
Not bad. Lots of interesting syncopation. The more I listen to it, the more I can hear the Smiths influence and British New Wave as a whole. It's not a straight rock album as it contains, punk, funk, and art music influences. The song structure here is varied with lots of good breaks. The rhythm section drives the whole band with moments of great syncopation and wonderful high hat work layered over a thumping bass.
Undeniably catchy indie rock, in the vein of the Strokes, the Rolling Stones, and Blur.
d
I was pretty familiar with this record. It's got some good tracks but the commercial ones stand out the most to me unfortunately
a wicked blast! great punky pop
-great rock album -I liked "Take Me Out," "The Dark Side of The Matinée," "Auf Achse," "This Fire," and "Michael"
An exciting, energetic album. I would kind of describe it as guitar disco rock. Some amazing standout tracks, that almost make the rest of the album feel like filler, even though most of the other songs are ok in their own right.
Outstanding debut album with the outstanding Take Me Out song (I like the Scissor Sisters cover version even more). Matinée and Michael are also splendid.
Reminds me of the white stripes, good instrumentals and feel, 7.7/10
Can't beat take me out.
“Take Me Out” is still a banger! Love their dancey post-punk with a kiss of late stage Beatles sound. This whole thing takes me back to high school.
enjoyed a lot more than just Take Me Out
All of them are bangers, not a personal 5 but 100% deserves to be someones
4
Despite its slight unevenness, Franz Ferdinand ends up being rewarding in different ways than the band's previous work was, and it's apparent that they're one of the more exciting groups to come out of the garage rock/post-punk revival.
Whenever I hear the influence of the Scottish indie band Orange Juice in anything else, I'm immediately onboard. What's wild is that when I was a tween, I had never heard of Orange Juice, but I sure loved what Franz Ferdinand was delivering. It was that same indie sound, but adapted for the stadium rock tours that defined the late 90s/early 2000s alt rock scene. Franz Ferdinand succeeds here with their duelling guitars, tight production and witty turn of phrase. Fav tracks: 40", Michael, Take Me Out and Jacqueline
This one's a bit of a nostalgic listen for me. Ultimately, I think I prefer their next two records over this one, but the energy here is undeniable. From the spiky riffs and vocal flourishes to the clever, sardonic lyrics, Franz Ferdinand cut a striking figure. Drawing on Orange Juice and other influential UK bands, they also produced something that felt really of its time and like a shot of espresso today. Favourite tracks: Take Me Out, Jacqueline, Michael, Darts of Pleasure
This album rocks, especially Take Me Out
Solid and catchy wave of mid 00s blokes with guitars
The best example of an Album with a name that is also the band name and also has alliteration. Other examples include ‘the good, the bad and the Queen’. Weezer had An album called Weezer and Greenday had an album called greenday but despite these being repetitions they are not alliteration in my humble opinion. Therefore Franz Ferdinand is the champion!
"Oh, but for chips and for freedom, I could die" (Jacqueline) "Michael, you're the boy with all the leather hips Sticky hair, sticky hips, stubble on my sticky lips" (MIchael)
Great debut has a song named after me
Entretenido. Muy guitarrero. Buenas melodías
Take Me Out is a personally formative rock and roll tune. Funk roots and grooves sort of blend the first 4 tracks in my mind. Cool theramin into Auf Achse, which is a great track. Michael hits the right vibes. 40' is a great closer.
Tainted love song
This such a solid album front to back.
I liked most of the songs but none of them were really able to compete with “take me out”
More than just one song. Enjoyable and influential.
personalità!
a staple of my middle school/high school years
Familiarity: 0/10 Notes: This album is a bop. Dance all day. Dance all night Real Rating: 7/10
First half really good, shirt snappy rock tunes. Tails off towards the end bit overall enjoyed i
Super fun... reminded me of college
This was fucking great. I’ve only kinda heard the singles before.
Average pop music. Nothing stands out, but is easy to listen to.
3.5! Brings me back to middle school and high school. Take me out is a classic.
Take Me Out
Chill and decent to work to
3.5 stars.
Nice rock.
Pretty Decent, fun and Poppy
Un 7,8
Really fun, really smart. Best track: Take Me Out
good
I didn't listen to the album today, but I have heard it before. Good stuff
Franz Ferdinand drags post-punk kicking and screaming into the more receptive new millennium and gets it to loosen itself up after decades of shriveling into dust in the farthest corners of the rock world. While still lumped amongst their fellow contemporaries making waves in the rejuvenated indie sphere, Franz Ferdinand does its best to differentiate, remaining in tune with who they are yet staying ahead of the curve with the music. At least they won't set off wars with their heads blown off. Favorites: Jacqueline, Tell Her Tonight, Take Me Out, Auf Achse, This Fire, Michael, 40'.
4
Infectiously catchy throughout, can't really find a fault with it, but it isn't quite a true classic.
Hold up surprisingly well. Album sounds like multiple versions of the same song, but it’s a good song.
An alright band. Variation indeed. As a result, some tunes more interesting than others. Overall fine to listen. Not too memorable.
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
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.
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".
Good rock, although I am becoming increasingly aware that this is just not my genre
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.
Not bad.
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.
Alright album, expected to like it more
Enjoyed revisiting this 20 years on.
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.
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.
Take me out I think I remember listening to this in a bowling alley place or som.
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
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
An unknown that I find enjoyable, fun. 3
Fresh and original-great voice.
It’s a good upbeat album. Take me out is great but lacks a bit of depth.
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
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.
It was ok, but nothing I'd deliberately return to.
An ok record, with a fun strut and occasional sense of drama. Could do with a bit more rhythmic diversity.
I could listen to more of this
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.
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.
Some good songs here and there
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
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
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.
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.
i wish i enjoyed this one more, but i find it difficult to connect and appreciate their music. idk why
Ta bueno
if i listened to this when i was in middle school, i would’ve had this on CD
It’s ok, I like take me out, but not that keen
7.5/10 not really my genre but not bad at all :)
genuinamente me gusto mucho! no sabia que me estaba metiendo
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.
not bad but not the best
Wasn't bad
***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!
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.
Placeholder
It’s ok. One catchy, good song does not make a good or great album though. 🤷♂️
Good. didn't hit me much but I liked it. 6/10
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
Inoffensive pop rock. Sharp guitar sounds. Take me out is an all time classic
Couldn’t get into it.
Liked this a lot more than I thought I would - will want to revisit!
This record holds up surprisingly well, although it is a bit monotonous. Enjoyable listen. Is it one of the 1001 albums you MUST listen to? I don't know about that. But it's a good listen.
I LOVED this album in high school. Particularly Take Me Out, The Dark of the Matinee, Auf Achse, This Fire, Darts of Pleasure and 40’, and while I’m somewhat nostalgic about this album still I won’t lie and say that I think it’s held together. It wasn’t an all timer even back in 2004.
i don’t mind this. feels like something g you hear on the cw during its gossip girl era. or maybe like something you’d hear in an art gallery. idk. pretty solid either way.
Not bad
TAKE ME OUT
Decent, obviously best song is "Take Me Out" but he had some others that weren't bad either. 3.5/5
It’s got their best song on it so auto 3. Not sure the rest of it was enough for a 4 though…
Kinda wanted to hate this more than I did, as I really don't like "Take Me Out". I still didn't like it that much but the whole thing is less than 40 minutes and the tempo alone keeps it energetic enough to not get too boring. I think about a third of the songs on this album are just versions of take me out, but in a different key and mood. The drummer really likes his hi-hat taps and barks and he doesn't know too many other tricks. This in itself is fine but it lends itself to making all the songs sound like this rock-disco hybrid which is not my thing. One of the songs sounded so much like the Strokes that I thought the album had finished and my spotify was on shuffle. This isn't a bad thing but it was odd how similar it was until the singer started going. Anyway it's fine. Not my thing but like I said, it wasn't boring at least.
Kind of a miss for me. A couple good songs, but the style is off for me. Too busy, too much production, too dance hall.
Yeah, okayish...
I didn’t mind this at all, not bad and kind of creative.
Ok
Crisp sharp art rock. Ff are great but I prefer them when combined with the silliness of Sparks . that will come later for the band .
Not entirely my thing. Good but not hugely impacting. Might have to listen to it another time or two but for now its just okay.
Flip flopped on how I felt about this album so much. Some of the songs are good and I maybe even really like them but the rest of them are so... Meh. but either way it just didn't feel special
Nice at that time but now seems a bit old and outdated.
Hacía muchísimo no lo escuchaba de corrido y completo, y la verdad que es un álbum muy entretenido. Lástima la grabación. Signo de época. Por momentos se vuelve molesto el sonido que tiene el álbum. 7/10
Loved the reminisce on take me out, small spikes of interest but nothing else grabbed me from the album
Pretty rockin'
Good debut album by a band I couldn't really care less about.
Liked it well enough 3 stars
Not a huge fan it was ok
lots of repetitive guitars and vocals that are just on the line of being either out of tune or just speech. some of it is catchy at least.
By no means bad, but half of the songs have little variation in them
Bought it new, still doesn't disappoint
It's better than most of the indie stuff that was out at that time. But that was not a high bar. It's catchy at times but it's not really my thing.
7/10, liked it
shout out ww1
Outside of the obvious hit, I also liked “This Fire”. The rest was ok.
This is good stuff. Not great. But good. I’ve heard Take Me Out too many times in my life. 3.5/5
Take Me Out is a great song. The rest of the album is fine.
The Strokes influence is palpable. Fun and slightly nostalgic listen. Notable songs: Take Me Out (obviously), Michael
Pretty good alternative. Catch and up beat
An album you thought you never heard before but turns out that you know and enjoy
Don't think i've ever actually listened to this top to bottom. Jacqueline - banger opener. Take me out is nails on a chalkboard to me it's been played that much. Cheating on you just makes me want to listen to electric Who is michael. An enjoyable experience overall!
Fun.
The album was decent, obviously "Take Me Out" was an insane hit. Great still today, but would've slapped if I heard it when it came out. It was enjoyable, but outside of that song for me it was just alright.
Дуже добре знаю цей альбом. Колись багато слухав. Там що не пісня то хіт, але прослухавши його нa плеєр записати не хочеться, на відміну від Portishead.
Not bad actually
Solid
Bit of an art punk revival album with some catchy if somewhat similar tunes. Michael is a bit reminiscent of XTC but Take Me Out or This Fire are the ones I expect most folks remember and are the stronger tracks.
i feel like i dont have much to say about this one. its fine. "take me out" and "the dark of the matinée" are the two i'd heard before and they're both still pretty good (the latter moreso than the former imo) but the rest of the album doesn't really stray far from that. even as a dance-punk enjoyer, it's hard to stay interested for 38 minutes when it's as samey as this. fortunately the last couple tracks do have a bit more of an identity of their own. i enjoy the the much harder lean into synths on "come on home", especially how the stuttering staccato of the keyboard is echoed by the guitars, which i think works well with the rest of their sound. and "40'" has a little bit of swag that's missing from the rest of the album too but i can't really put my finger on what it is... maybe the more bluesy tone or the hard swing on the beat? idk. whatever it is, i wish the rest of the album had it, cos as is the only other thing on this album that struck me was the main guitar riff of "auf achse" sounding almost identical to the opening theme of the 90s xmen cartoon. idk, sometimes i kinda hate that doing this "challenge" or whatever forces me to form an opinion on albums i really don't care much about, and this is one of those times. i guess it can have a very low 3 cos i did like the last 2 tracks quite a bit, it's just a shame i had to sit through half an hour of almost identical songs to get there. whatever......
Insgesamt nettes Album würde mir aber wahrscheinlich nichts in die Playlist machen.
I’m too tired to write anything. Three stars on the high side.
Good eats
you know it does get annoying but there's enough that I like from this to fit it at a perfect 3. like very solid right in the middle for me personally
things I knew before this: archduke got blasted 💥 they made “take me out” Pretty much the same now, I liked a couple of songs tho!
I’d never realized one of these songs was one I have heard many times. Didn’t know what I was getting into, not bad. 2.5 star
Pretty alright
In the know post-punk pop. They have a thing. They do their thing. Guitars. Staccato shouts and drums. Icy or standoffish. Smart. Without the feels to draw me back.
Two decades on, this compares favorably to a lot of other albums from bands in the 90s and early 2000s. (Brit pop, I’m looking at you.) It’s moody, sometimes dark, but disciplined and propulsive pop rock.
Pleasant. Mostly dance music
There's some songs that I've heard before ,but not really my thing.
I’m not at all likely to listen to this again, but I didn’t mind it. Some catchy tunes on here.
Some very catchy guitar hooks which make for some excellent songs. Favorite track: 40'
2.8 One absolute corker and then a range of mid to outright bad songs. I could never get into the indie phase that smashed the UK in the mid-00's, and 20 years of hindsight hasn't helped either. Take me out though, what a banger.
Genre defining
Much like how Blur took their love for The Kinks and made something contemporary sounding a decade prior, Franz Ferdinand looked into their Gang Of Four record collection and made something palatable for the masses. They fuse danceable post-punk grooves and angular Wire-esque guitar riffs with singalong choruses and the result is a record that was a smash hit when it hit shelves. The record does stick to its sound and it does feel rather samey, but it is a debut album where the band is clearly finding their feet. For a debut record, the songwriting is exceptionally tight. 'Take Me Out' was absolutely everywhere when this dropped and they influenced a countless amount of indie bands.
I only knew this group for Take Me Out but this album is kinda the same vibe, i like it and i will go back to it when i want to hear rock music.
(The) Franz Ferdinand are firmly entrenched in my mind as one of the The bands that emerged in the early 2000s, their hits hit and the rest is fine. They're not the Strokes or the White Stripes but they're fine.
Meh
Une écoute dynamique et agréable, sans aucun moment d'ennui. Seul le tube incontournable *Take Me Out* sort véritablement du lot. Un projet globalement cool mais qui s'oublie assez vite après la fin du disque.
I don't really care for this band, but the album does have the few iconic songs.
Honestly didn’t enjoy this one as much as I thought I would. :(
This is fine indie rock, but I was perfectly happy when my impression of Franz Ferdinand stopped at their biggest hit "Take Me Out". I didn't need to hear the entire album to know that this band's best piece of music is their most popular single and that the rest of their music doesn't have much to offer anyone aside from their specific fans.
I think I need to listen to this again. Solid early y2k rock sound, nothing memorable other than 'Take Me Out.'
Assssins
Decent rock
Из плеяды брит-рока начала нулевых, вскормленной волосатыми сиськами братьев Галлахеров, передававшимися по кругу от группы к группе, как херово разбадяженный табаком блант на школьной дискотеке, Franz Ferdinand были самыми непритязательными ребятками. Менее хитовые, чем Coldplay, менее находчивые, чем Kasabian, менее сладкие, чем The Killers. Но одного им точно досталось от двух кудрявых отцов по наследству больше, чем остальным выкормышам, — простецких, но от этого не менее заводных риффов. Весь одноимённый альбом 2004ого года напичкан незатейливыми танцевальными ритмами, идеально подходящими к той самой дискотеке обкуренных и обпитых старшеклассников. Неоспоримые бэнгеры Take Me Out, Tell Her Tonight и This Fire, от которых каждый знает хотя бы одну строчку припева, качественно выносят колонки и бросают локти в полёт до сих пор. На удивление, прошедший мимо меня Michael делает это не хуже более известных собратьев. Крикливый и в некоторых местах слегка гортанный вокальчик, как будто бы специально небрежно наброшенный на крепко сбитый в своей простоте и динамичности инструментал, ничуть не портит картины. Чего однако не сказать о более задумчивых композициях вроде Auf Achse и 40' (https://music.yandex.ru/album/5908781/track/44136420), попахивающих то ли плохо понятой и/или переваренной томйорковщиной, то ли влиянием по-британски грустных американцев Mellowdrone, прозвучавших в практически каждом сериале той эпохи. Остальные треки не оставили никакого впечатления, будто первые три выпитых бутылки пива на летней тусовке в 17 лет. Были и были, остальное-то намного интереснее. К сожалению, на фоне в той же моде эпонимичного группе альбома Kasabian и Hot Fuss миловидных Убийц девичьих сердец, которые вышли в том же 2004ом и были заполнены качественной аудиоводярой до краёв, этот альбом заслуживает максимум 6.5/10.
Post-punk revival, this is a genre I like quite a lot. The Strokes are one of my favorite groups. I have always liked Take Me Out, I recognize This Fire, and Matinee was nice. Auf Achse is kind of... droning? This album has a lot of lull periods (Jacqueline, Auf,) that kind of dampens the energy I expect from post-punk. A little disappointing actually, I was excited for this record when I saw it in my queue.
My perception of this band and album is based on when it was released in early 2000s. I liked the single "Take me out" but I found the whole album too energetic all the time. I always thought they were a little pretentious and arty too. But I recently read Stuart Braithwaite (of Mogwai) who talks of Alex Kapranos in a really good light and how pivotal he was in the Glasgow music scene and the support he gave Mogwai and other local Scottish bands through his promotion work. Really impressed by that. Rating a 3 as it's not a stellar album for me but I appreciate that it's trying to do something different and I'm glad they got a break after years in the business.
Better than I remembered.
Pretty good
2026.05.11.
I'm realizing that dance-punk tends to be something I'm not particularly into. At least the revival, cause I think Gang of Four's Entertainment is one of the best post-punk-adjacent records of all time. This comes across as very half-baked and uninteresting to me, which is unfortunate because I really wanted to like this. Maybe I had to be there.
#939. Not great, not terrible. 3/5: acceptable