Franz Ferdinand Rethink

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I really like them now. Go figure. Also, if this has been widely discussed elsewhere, my apologies etc

― Donna Brown (Donna Brown), Monday, 1 March 2004 15:58 (twenty-one years ago)

dude's voice is just a touch too stroke-ish for me.

― dyson (dyson), Monday, 1 March 2004 16:00 (twenty-one years ago)

Less keen, funnily enough. The word "Menswear" keeps popping in. Also the idea they are "guitar band for girls to dance to" is too 'knowing'. But heck, the single is still great and the album is too, so I'm still in there...

― mark grout (mark grout), Monday, 1 March 2004 16:00 (twenty-one years ago)

I'm diggin'em.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Monday, 1 March 2004 16:30 (twenty-one years ago)

"Take Me Out" is awesome...there's a Paul Haig thing going on (maybe 'cause they're Scottish).

― Donna Brown (Donna Brown), Monday, 1 March 2004 17:04 (twenty-one years ago)

well, I've got nothing against them but apart from "take me out" - which I find rather fun - , I think the rest of the album is pretty boring...and one thing is for sure : it's not worth the (british) fuss at all... (I've read the NME for the first time in ages and I almost got sick with their overexposure...).
much ado about nothing !

― AleXTC (AleXTC), Monday, 1 March 2004 17:08 (twenty-one years ago)

I've been trying to like them, having listened to a four or five song single. It reminds me of the first time I heard The Hives, whom I liked but quickly got sick of.

― Kate Silver (Kate Silver), Monday, 1 March 2004 17:20 (twenty-one years ago)

the video of "take me out" is nice, though...
but yeah, I can relate to the hives comparison (where could my Hives cd be by the way !?)

― AleXTC (AleXTC), Monday, 1 March 2004 17:24 (twenty-one years ago)

dude's voice is just a touch too stroke-ish for me.

No way! It's David Gedge-ish!

― JoB (JoB), Monday, 1 March 2004 17:25 (twenty-one years ago)

yes. i've been comparing them to the wedding present a lot, but no one is listening to me.

― cutty (mcutt), Monday, 1 March 2004 17:28 (twenty-one years ago)

The Wedding Present weren't quite so foppish. Gedge's voice is a bit more gruff, as well.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Monday, 1 March 2004 17:31 (twenty-one years ago)

i'm digging them, too, even with my initial sceptical reaction to anything that's too hyped-up. haven't listened to the album, though, i just know take me out.

― joan vich (joan vich), Monday, 1 March 2004 17:39 (twenty-one years ago)

well, "take me out" is all there is !
and apparently, they aren't very good live either...

― AleXTC (AleXTC), Monday, 1 March 2004 17:50 (twenty-one years ago)

that may answer my "should I go see them" question, then

― Donna Brown (Donna Brown), Monday, 1 March 2004 18:02 (twenty-one years ago)

there are two songs that i really like on the album, aside from 'take me out": one that sounds a lot like apb's "shoot you down," and one that sounds a lot like "disco 2000". i don't know the names, because i have a burn w/out a track listing.

― lauren (laurenp), Monday, 1 March 2004 18:04 (twenty-one years ago)

I don't like "Take Me Out", so if that's the best thing on the album ...

― Barry Bruner (Barry Bruner), Monday, 1 March 2004 18:07 (twenty-one years ago)

Saw one of them do a DJ set (at Ladytron's Liverpool night). He seems to have an affection for straight-faced camp German techno. Which, if you listen carefully, you will hear on Take Me Out.

Not a great DJ though.

― Jim Robinson (Original Miscreant), Monday, 1 March 2004 18:13 (twenty-one years ago)

I think they're a bit more of a singles band than album band, cos put next to one another their songs can get rather dull, but when taken in isolation they're very nice indeed.

I saw them live, they were a bit on the rub side. The singer's continual raising of his eyebrows is irritating.

― William Bloody Swygart (mrswygart), Monday, 1 March 2004 18:16 (twenty-one years ago)

i'm completely addicted to the album, and indeed must track down a copy of the special UK edition that came with the bonus live CD. the album's out in the US next week, but i can't wait that long after having borrowed it from someone else recently and then having had to give it back.

i'm also seeing them on the 26th; have already got tickets. other friends of mine have said the live show was quite fun, actually.

― janni (janni), Monday, 1 March 2004 19:09 (twenty-one years ago)

I've got the live cd aswell absolutely amazing! they also play a couple of the b- sides aswell which is really good.
great band, great album. with only one week track 'this fire'
best tracks: 'michael' and 'dark of the matinee'
great live aswell

― mick pack (mick pack), Monday, 1 March 2004 19:16 (twenty-one years ago)

Not so wild about "Dark of the Matinee," but I'm quite enjoying "Michael", "Darts of Pleasure" and "Jacqueline".

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Monday, 1 March 2004 19:18 (twenty-one years ago)

This Fire is my favourite on the album that isn't Take Me Out or Matinee. If anything, they could do with being MORE camp.

― Matt DC (Matt DC), Monday, 1 March 2004 19:22 (twenty-one years ago)

""Take Me Out" is awesome...there's a Paul Haig thing going on (maybe 'cause they're Scottish)."

Yay for that ! I thought as much the first time I heard FF. Paul Haig's time may have finally come at last. He remains the only man I have ever asked a hairdresser to try and make me resemble (the back sleeve of 'Rhythm of Life', FYI).

― darren (darren), Monday, 1 March 2004 19:47 (twenty-one years ago)

Every song on the album is good... it's quite strong, actually.

― morris pavilion (samjeff), Monday, 1 March 2004 20:33 (twenty-one years ago)

What actually are they meant to be, though? I mean, we've had hype for yards slung at them this past month, and we're still not 100% sure what on earth they're meant to be. A British Strokes? Standard-bearers of the Scottish indie flame? Next-level of garage rock? The fact that the single sounds like all things to all people as well (Early 90s German Techno? Red Hot Chilli Peppers? "Come On Eileen"? Lovin' Spoonfull? I've heard all of these suggested)... Are they some of triumph of blank slate promotion?

But, yeah, they just make me think of The Bluetones.

― Dom Passantino (Dom Passantino), Monday, 1 March 2004 20:39 (twenty-one years ago)

what happened to them?

― Donna Brown (Donna Brown), Monday, 1 March 2004 20:40 (twenty-one years ago)

dude's voice is just a touch too stroke-ish for me.

His voice is way more flexible, he's got more range, much much better falsetto (almost Thom Yorke-ish), more acrobatic, less laissez-faire-- but you're right, when he's got that effect on there a la Strokes, it's really distracting and lame. I so wish bands would stop doing that. I like the good songs on the album an awful lot, like "Jaqueline". Then there are the songs that sound self-consciously trying-to-sound cool.

― scott m (mcd), Monday, 1 March 2004 20:42 (twenty-one years ago)

one of the things that amazed me most about this album was that alright, they included "Darts of Pleasure." which on first glance (without listening) kinda made me wonder...is the rest of the album not so strong? i mean, i thought the "Darts of Pleasure" EP was good, but not great. nothing to make me coo.

the album, however, quickly put that notion to rest. "Jacqueline" is AMAZING. "Take Me Out" is still my favourite, and i couldn't believe it when i was reading something about how it's truncated for radio airplay---the whole beginning section NEEDS to be there. argh! i hate radio edits most of the time anyway, but that's really...stupid. more stupid than many, and that's saying something. but the thing is, "Darts of Pleasure" is easily equalled and/or overshadowed by the rest of the album in terms of quality! plus, the way it skates into "Michael" (which is another favourite) is absolutely fantastic.

"This Fire" gets kinda old, i'll agree, but it amuses me that a friend pointed out how much the chorus sounds like...Bis. XDXDXD

in conclusion, i sold my soul to Glasgow long ago. XD

also, i came to these conclusions without having read anything about them. conclusions above are based solely on music, not on hype. mostly cos hype pisses me off, and usually makes me less inclined to want anything to do with whatever's being hyped. but i'm trying to get over my tendency to shut things out merely because of such things, and judge them instead on their actual merit.

that being said, that Strokes comparison is JUST. PLAIN. LAZY. seriously, do people not have a pop cultural memory that lasts longer than the past 2 years or so?

*shakes head sadly*

― janni (janni), Monday, 1 March 2004 20:42 (twenty-one years ago)

please tell me what would i say about his voice and why it bothers me if i wasn't lazy, then.

― dyson (dyson), Monday, 1 March 2004 20:47 (twenty-one years ago)

I like reading Americans talking about British indiepop. It's a defamiliarising experience.

― Jerry the Nipper (Jerrynipper), Monday, 1 March 2004 21:13 (twenty-one years ago)

I liked Franz F. well enough at the beginning of our relationship. A little sexy, a decent sense of humour. We have now divorced and avoid each other at parties. These days I find his voice more laughably, embarassingly bad each time I am unluckily enough to hear it on the radio. The beats seem repetive, forced, the guitar queasily "of the moment" the whole package positively un-fresh. I don't know what went wrong. I'm embarassed we ever got together. Franz, I hope I didn't catch anything. I'm heading to the Clinic, now.

― Thea, Tuesday, 2 March 2004 00:07 (twenty-one years ago)

"Take Me Out" is a fun single but there is no catchy melody to speak of (which is what the Strokes have in spades) - and there weren't any on the first half of the album that I listened through.

― Spencer Chow (spencermfi), Tuesday, 2 March 2004 00:13 (twenty-one years ago)

Fun when you're out at the club but when you get home with Franz and you relax, take yr shoes off...it's pretty whiffy.

― Thea, Tuesday, 2 March 2004 00:42 (twenty-one years ago)

What's wrong with having a fling? Clearly, FF are good for a wet weekend, but The Strokes are for life.

― Dave M. (rotten03), Tuesday, 2 March 2004 03:52 (twenty-one years ago)

FF>>>>>>>Strokes

― anode (anode), Tuesday, 2 March 2004 04:00 (twenty-one years ago)

that being said, that Strokes comparison is JUST. PLAIN. LAZY. seriously, do people not have a pop cultural memory that lasts longer than the past 2 years or so?

No. No, they don't.

I also don't think FF sounds terribly Strokes-ish. I am really enjoying them. I was skeptical of the hype, but FF is really quite fun.

― Kent Burt (lingereffect), Tuesday, 2 March 2004 04:47 (twenty-one years ago)

Paul Haig is the Man. We must put Franz Ferdinand in perspective in this manner. That said, I still really like them :)

― Donna Brown (Donna Brown), Tuesday, 2 March 2004 05:05 (twenty-one years ago)

Yes, as I said, they are fun. A "fling" is the perfect word. Polygamy is healthy when it comes to music, but you can't marry everybody.

ok, enough of this particular metaphor.

― Thea (Thea), Tuesday, 2 March 2004 18:26 (twenty-one years ago)

...but The Strokes are for life.

Yeah, a life sentence!

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Tuesday, 2 March 2004 20:49 (twenty-one years ago)

I like Franz Ferdinand (the "singles band vs. album band" comment above is spot on I think). The funny thing is that they have been compared to so many other bands that I inadvertently gotten into a whole slew of other bands that I'd never heard before: Sparks, Orange Juice, Wire, Josef K, the Desperate Bicycles, etc... although I honestly don't see a Strokes connection at all, unless you are comparing the hype around the band or something else like that. Those fricken disco beats get me EVERY TIME.

― scottontharox (scottkundla), Tuesday, 9 March 2004 04:44 (twenty-one years ago)

I was SO workin' my booty to "Take Me Out" not five minutes ago

― Donna Brown (Donna Brown), Tuesday, 9 March 2004 04:48 (twenty-one years ago)

I think I figured it out -- if you took the arena-disco/Sparks-inspired bits of the Franz Ferdinand song and smashed it into wossname from the Darkness, then you'd have a Queen tribute band. Maybe.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Tuesday, 9 March 2004 04:51 (twenty-one years ago)

OMG THEYH ARE TEH SUCK!!!

― strongo hulkington (dubplatestyle), Tuesday, 9 March 2004 04:52 (twenty-one years ago)

STUART MURDOCH DISCOVERS FIRST NY DOLLS LP AND BELIEVES REINVENTION OF WHEEL HAS OCCURED

VEINS EXPLODE IN SCROTUMS OF NME WRITERS

AMERICA YAWNS AND GOES BACK TO LIL JON

― strongo hulkington (dubplatestyle), Tuesday, 9 March 2004 04:54 (twenty-one years ago)

STUART MURDOCH

Give 'em a touch more credit.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Tuesday, 9 March 2004 04:55 (twenty-one years ago)

okay, Justin Hawkins, then :)

― Donna Brown (Donna Brown), Tuesday, 9 March 2004 04:56 (twenty-one years ago)

I already made that joke!

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Tuesday, 9 March 2004 05:02 (twenty-one years ago)

oh, oops :)

― Donna Brown (Donna Brown), Tuesday, 9 March 2004 05:02 (twenty-one years ago)

yeah, i don't get it. funny, tho, i can think of an earlier me (like ten years ago) when this would have been perfectly up my alley, right down to the prim smartyboy name.

― g--ff (gcannon), Tuesday, 9 March 2004 05:06 (twenty-one years ago)

They actually remind me a TON of the Monochrome Set. Only with more disco-rock beats. But the guy's voice (& their general attitude): SO Monochrome Set.

― Douglas (Douglas), Tuesday, 9 March 2004 05:39 (twenty-one years ago)

No, seriously: go A/B them with like the Monochrome Set's "Alphaville" and "He's Frank (Slight Return)."

― Douglas (Douglas), Tuesday, 9 March 2004 05:40 (twenty-one years ago)

Hm! I can see that, actually (though admittedly right now I have more Orange Juice on my brain).

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Tuesday, 9 March 2004 05:42 (twenty-one years ago)

This band does everything a rock band can do to make me happy -- be occasionally gloomy, churn out fast stupid energetic riffs, bring the 4/4 disco beats, have really striking cover art -- yet they bore me to tears. They're like the Strokes, but only as surrogates, concocted for all the people who hate everything that make the Strokes great (teetering sloppiness, a feeling of being firmly in control yet on the borderline of a shambling fuckup stumble off a cliff, mumbly pathos).

― Nate in ST.P (natedetritus), Tuesday, 9 March 2004 06:32 (twenty-one years ago)

Yeah like he said. They are nice in theory.

― christhamrin (christhamrin), Tuesday, 9 March 2004 07:22 (twenty-one years ago)

the album sounded better after seeing them live. anyone else at the maxwell's show? clearly there were a lot of ex-pats, and the about-face in 'take me out' seemed to have people feel real drink-swinging, this-is-a-moment release. and there was even a ruckus up front and they did their best altamont "people people why are we fighting" thing. they were convincingly able to hang with the beery, jersey good time pace suggested, i thought. no mean feat. belle and sebastian could not have hung. maybe the new Police??

― duke duke goose, Tuesday, 9 March 2004 08:03 (twenty-one years ago)

Blah. Like Nate says, I should like them, but they're just not very interesting. Even Take Me Out gets boring after the first minute and a half.

Strokes comparisons are surely the result of the first section of Take Me Out, which def does sound like them, and is actually quite good.

― Ricardo (RickyT), Tuesday, 9 March 2004 10:39 (twenty-one years ago)

VEINS EXPLODE IN SCROTUMS OF NME WRITERS

Yeah, because it takes something quite special to get the NME excited nowadays.

― Dom Passantino (Dom Passantino), Tuesday, 9 March 2004 10:49 (twenty-one years ago)

like i read the nme

― strongo hulkington (dubplatestyle), Tuesday, 9 March 2004 14:02 (twenty-one years ago)

a life sentence.

― RJG (RJG), Tuesday, 9 March 2004 14:06 (twenty-one years ago)

The NME doesn't even really exist anymore, be honest

― Mr Mime (Andrew Thames), Tuesday, 9 March 2004 14:09 (twenty-one years ago)

I was expecting great things in view of some of the comparisons that have been made and supposed influences but was unimpressed the first time I listened.

Unfortunately I couldn't really hear much similarity to The Fall / Joy Division / Orange Juice / Josef K / Magazine / Simple Minds / Wire or indeed any other of the punk / post-punk bands that are currently unexpectedly (and probably briefly) back in vogue - and yes, that includes The Monochrome Set too, I'm afraid Douglas!

Maybe it will grow on me too.

― Stewart Osborne (Stewart Osborne), Tuesday, 9 March 2004 15:27 (twenty-one years ago)

Was your stereo turned on?

― scottontharox (scottkundla), Tuesday, 9 March 2004 16:23 (twenty-one years ago)

franz ferdinand are an empty shell band...people can hear whatever they want to.

― strongo hulkington (dubplatestyle), Tuesday, 9 March 2004 16:27 (twenty-one years ago)

they're like those robots from Futurama that you can copy Lucy Liu onto

― Nate in ST.P (natedetritus), Tuesday, 9 March 2004 16:33 (twenty-one years ago)

Lucy Liu is a robot? I thought it was only Beyonce....

― M@tt He1geson (Matt Helgeson), Tuesday, 9 March 2004 16:41 (twenty-one years ago)

And Baby Doll.

― Dom Passantino (Dom Passantino), Tuesday, 9 March 2004 16:44 (twenty-one years ago)

i'm liking them a lot better after the Monochrome Set comparison.

― badgerminor (badgerminor), Tuesday, 9 March 2004 17:03 (twenty-one years ago)

I'm not at all pissed I stayed home the night they played TT's in Cambridge. Wait, should I be?

― nader (nader), Tuesday, 9 March 2004 18:34 (twenty-one years ago)

FEAR

― Nate in ST.P (natedetritus), Tuesday, 9 March 2004 19:52 (twenty-one years ago)

"Damon Albarn's beloved melodica"!!

― Nate in ST.P (natedetritus), Tuesday, 9 March 2004 19:53 (twenty-one years ago)

If that phrase is in there I refuse to read it.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Tuesday, 9 March 2004 20:23 (twenty-one years ago)

Honestly, I've made the decision to immediately stop reading any music review that uses made-up "dialogue"....I think this is a wise decision on my part.

― M@tt He1geson (Matt Helgeson), Tuesday, 9 March 2004 20:43 (twenty-one years ago)

what about this one, matt?

― cozen (Cozen), Tuesday, 9 March 2004 22:34 (twenty-one years ago)

I've come to really dislike the single, unsurprisingly.

― Tico Tico (Tico Tico), Tuesday, 9 March 2004 22:36 (twenty-one years ago)

what about this one, matt?

I don't know, because if I read it I'd be breaking my rules and I'd have to ground myself (no tv for a week!)

.....seriously, I'm sure it can be a good device in the hands of a capable writer, but I'm certain that the amount of good reviews I'll miss because of this law will be far outweighed by the amount of terrible ones I'll miss (heck I don't know if the pfork Franz review was bad because I stopped reading at first sign of dialogue)....

― M@tt He1geson (Matt Helgeson), Tuesday, 9 March 2004 22:42 (twenty-one years ago)

DaVID, you shouldn't read that stuff.

― jed_ (jed), Wednesday, 10 March 2004 02:20 (twenty-one years ago)

two weeks pass...

I've been reading lot's of comparisons of Franz F anf the Monochrome Set. I can hear it as Douglas points out...especially on the early songs like He's Frank and Alphaville (Mr. Bizarro? yes!). There is a relation between Bid and Alex Kapranos, they've recorded together.

Did you guys know Bid of the Monochrome Set is touring in May? He's teaming up and performing with local band in different cities and playing old Monochrome Set songs... far out! see: www.scarletswell.co.uk

― Brian, Saturday, 27 March 2004 17:27 (twenty-one years ago)

one month passes...

So, I finally picked this up today at lunch at Target...So far I AM LUVVING IT....more fey and english foppy vers. of the strokes with just a touch of new wave bunnymen action?? How could this be bad? Good songwriting too, prob. more diverse than the strokes (who are great, too!) I don't understand the hate.

- I think LL Cool J and Canibus are both fantastic,
Matt

― M@tt He1geson (Matt Helgeson), Friday, 21 May 2004 18:45 (twenty-one years ago)

HOW ARE THEY DIFFERENT FROM THE LIARS FIRST ALBUM? I DONT GET IT.

― David Allen (David Allen), Friday, 21 May 2004 19:02 (twenty-one years ago)

From: Katie
Date: Mar 11, 2004 08:49 PM
Subject: Franz Ferdinand!! (soo rockin!)
Body: Ok, so my good friend turned me onto this new band Franz Ferdinand. And may I say... freakin' AWESOME!! It has been so long since I heard songs sooo good and sooo rockin' that I have to blast it and actually jump around and dance and shake my booty! Seriously, this band rocks, and I mean that cool old fashioned funk edgey raw type of rock, with the catchiest hooks, but pure music all the way thru. An album that will make your head bop and foot tap involuntarily, for sure. Everyone should run out and buy it NOW!! You will NOT be dissappointed!

― Be sure to Loop! Loop, Loop, Loop. (ex machina), Friday, 21 May 2004 19:09 (twenty-one years ago)

i dunno, they didn't remind me of stuck us in a trench at all...much more gay-ey and roxy music to me...

― M@tt He1geson (Matt Helgeson), Friday, 21 May 2004 19:17 (twenty-one years ago)

plus, i mean, who cares really? it's all 10th generation retreads of post-punk era stuff at this point anyway...ferdinand is making me happy right now, that's what counts...

loop! loop! loop! you should get down with the freedom from squad in my city....

― M@tt He1geson (Matt Helgeson), Friday, 21 May 2004 19:22 (twenty-one years ago)

bands that lame girls like: classic of dud?

(disclaimer: i donut hate franz ferdinand)

― bill stevens (bscrubbins), Friday, 21 May 2004 19:25 (twenty-one years ago)

donut hate. band name.

― myke boomnoise (myke boomnoise), Friday, 21 May 2004 19:34 (twenty-one years ago)

"HOW ARE THEY DIFFERENT FROM THE LIARS FIRST ALBUM? I DONT GET IT."

FF are pop music, Liars are not. Clear?

I really like both by the way.

― Crackity (Crackity Jones), Friday, 21 May 2004 19:35 (twenty-one years ago)

I've had this for a few months now. I'm literally falling asleep half way through every time I give it a listen.

One of the songs did sound nice in a DJ set I heard recently, so maybe they are more of singles band, as someone mention upthread.

― kickitcricket, Friday, 21 May 2004 19:48 (twenty-one years ago)

f.f. are nothing like liars! it would never occur to me to compare the two. have you heard both albums?

― lauren (laurenp), Friday, 21 May 2004 19:49 (twenty-one years ago)

M@tt He1geson! What city

― Be sure to Loop! Loop, Loop, Loop. (ex machina), Friday, 21 May 2004 19:58 (twenty-one years ago)

minneapolis/st.paul....that matthew st. germain guy puts on tons of bizarro noise crazed shit on limited edition cds and tapes, promotes alot of show around here....

― M@tt He1geson (Matt Helgeson), Friday, 21 May 2004 20:02 (twenty-one years ago)

jon just lost noise scene cred points.

― hstencil (hstencil), Friday, 21 May 2004 20:03 (twenty-one years ago)

pop music?

― strongo hulkington (dubplatestyle), Friday, 21 May 2004 20:04 (twenty-one years ago)

time to cut another "4 Real" into his forearm

― Yanc3y (ystrickler), Friday, 21 May 2004 20:04 (twenty-one years ago)

i think i've come around to tolerating franz ferdinand again. i dunno what use i have for a power pop pulp in my home life, though.

― strongo hulkington (dubplatestyle), Friday, 21 May 2004 20:05 (twenty-one years ago)

they are playing them on the "adult alternative" channel here, which is a little bit incongruous--they are def. more exciting than anything else on that channel.

― amateur!st (amateurist), Friday, 21 May 2004 22:19 (twenty-one years ago)

. i dunno what use i have for a power pop pulp in my home life, though.

If they really were a power pop Pulp I could see getting excited by them. As it stands, meh.

― El Diablo Robotico (Nicole), Friday, 21 May 2004 22:25 (twenty-one years ago)

those in the philly area should come see them play next month when the Crazy Rhythms DJ Association takes part. While they're playing upstairs, I'll blast my Monochrome Set singles while screaming "THEY SOUND NOTHING ALIKE!"

― Dan Selzer (Dan Selzer), Friday, 21 May 2004 22:56 (twenty-one years ago)

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