Franz Ferdinand is profiled in this week’s issue of Newsweek. Maybe now your 40-year-old brother-in-law will know who you’re talking about when you tell him about the dreamiest band in the whole wide world. Some highlights include:
The arty name was bad enough?Franz Ferdinand was the Austrian archduke whose assassination sparked World War I?but the band seemed to be doing that ’80s thing: quavering vocals, spastic rhythms and enigmatic lyrics that bounced around like New Wavers on the dance floor. Still, their songs were good?and their timing was even better. Franz dropped their album just as other nonconformist rock bands, like the White Stripes, were gaining on monochromatic MTV pop-punk outfits.
Since when are historical figures considered “arty?” I mean, Bauhaus is an arty name. Franz Ferdinand was slain royalty.
“I think we have a huge Zeppelin thing going on,” says [guitarist/singer Alex] Kapranos, apparently in earnest. “When we were recording this record, we kept thinking, ‘Does this sound too much like “Kashmir”?’ That’s the best thing that happens in music?when in your head you’re doing something that sounds like someone else, but it sounds totally different when it comes out.”
Zeppelin? Anyone?
“There’s a coldness about the sound of the first record which I always find difficult,” says Kapranos. “It’s like you’re listening to somebody else playing behind a sheet of glass.” Bassist Robert Hardy has his reservations, too. “I would have never bought our first record,” he says. “I would’ve wanted to hate it. Then I would’ve heard it round my girlfriend’s house?it’d be better than I thought it would be, but I still wouldn’t admit it.”
While I don’t agree with Robert Hardy’s assessment of the first album, it’s funny that he would say that.
Read the rest of the profile here.
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I think he’s referring to the hard rock part of “Take Me Out.” It’s a tiny bit similar to Zeppelin’s “No Quarter” Otherwise I don’t hear a Zep influence
I would have thought there’d be a better article from Lorraine Ali…she always seems like she knows her stuff on VH1. But saying that Franz rose to popularity at the same time as the White Stripes? Seems like someone didn’t do their research!
but Erik, “Elephant” was released in 2003…you mean they made other albums before that?
Hmm, I’ve never picked up on Zeppelin before, specifically. A myriad of influences, yes. But never really Zeppelin.
…and I liked their first album. *shrug*
I read both stereogum AND newsweek for the music section.
I am the pinnacle of cool.
Hey–I’m almost 40, read Newsweek and I already knew and liked Franz Ferndinand.
In her defense, she probably didn’t get final edit or say. You write the story and turn it in. After that you’re at the mercy of your editor. And no, from Newsweek’s point of view, the White Stripes weren’t big before 2003.
Nice of Newsweek to hop on the FF bandwagon as their shitty album drops.
its not a shitty album.. not particularly stellar, but definitely not shitty
How about this washington post article?
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/10/04/AR2005100401769.html
The writer asserts that Franz Ferdinand helped to “made way for a new wave of backward-looking bands like the Killers and Interpol.”
That made me pretty mad considering Interpol’s album came out in…2002, God Damn’t. Plus, they may share influences but I’d hardly say Killers, Franz, and Interpol sound similar ?
While we’re talkin’ Franz, I’m not really sure why Pitchfork seperated Franz’s new album from the new Broken Social Scene album by only .1.
It seems like BSS are seriously interested in creating something that might be considered a lasting art form, while Franz Ferdinand are either fooling themselves that they’re interested in that, or resigned to the fact they’re responsible for dance pop rock. I liked the first Franz album, but I just don’t know what to think about the new one. I was surprised Pitchfork didn’t start or join a backlash about it, considering all the hype.
before i ever heard the name “franz ferdinand” (other than history class!) i remember hearing this AWESOME song at the gym all the time that sounded like the strokes (after learning to play their instruments a little better) covering led zeppelin’s “trampled underfoot” … that song turned out to be called “take me out” by my new favorite band!
led zeppelin are much more intricate, artistic and interesting than the 6 songs they over-play by them incessantly on classic-rock radio would lead you to believe! check out some of their later records and i think you’ll find a distinctly similar flavor (if not outright influence) in franz’s music …
“A lot of people had their reservations about Franz Ferdinand. Would they turn out to be a stylized flop like the Strokes?”
What’s up with the Strokes hating?
Agreed Antonio–Room on Fire was disappointing, but this band still has the chops to make some great albums. People are chugging the Hater-ade on SD today.
Arya–I also agree with you. The colelctive orgasm people have over FF is beyond me. I haven’t totally gotten into BSS yet, but at least you can’t figure it all out in one sitting, like FF’s new album, which is still catchy, but so is Wham!, right?
If all you haters would step down from your pedestal of conceit for a few moments, I would hope you realize that the new Franz Ferdinand is an excellent interpretation of the best Kinks songs you’ve ever heard (I noticed this before Rolling Stone pointed out the same thing in their review, in which Fricke also under-rates the album).
If you aren’t familiar with the Kinks and how awesome they were, then that helps explain why you’re opinion is misinformed and premature at best.
By the way, most of you haters are only a step above posers, you’re only redeeming quality is that occasionally you’ll point out good bands before getting ready to trash the followup album.
The BSS/FF comparisons above are a perfect example of why numerical or star ratings are always a bad idea when it comes to music. Discussing which deserved a higher grade is idiotic, because they can’t be judged on the same scale…they were aiming for completely different things.
Why didn’t Rolling Stone run a feature on Franz Ferdinand???? Why only Newsweek?
Like Antonio, I too would like to know what is up with the Strokes hating.
It definitely took me a couple of listens to get into the new Broken Social Scene album. On about the 6th listen I was finally like – Damn!
I agree with APR about the perils of giving an album a number rating.
Rolling Stone, despite giving the album a lukewarm review, will probably give Franz the cover pretty soon when they are even more of a phenomenon that can’t be ignored… Franz’re on SNL in a few weeks…
Is it me, or does the chorus of the first song on FF’s new album sound like “who Needs Sleep” by the Bare Naked Ladies?
i would have compared Take Me Out to Zeppelin’s Trampled Underfoot.
“Like Antonio, I too would like to know what is up with the Strokes hating.”
Everyone just heard Juicebox.
Fucking ageism. I’m afraid I’m going to have to take issue with your comment about 40 yr olds. I’m turning the dreaded 40 in December but I guarantee I’m hipper and know more about new music and and what’s going on than most of the people half my age (i just saw Calla last week for the fourth time and my last two cd purchases were The Coup and Thievery Corp). I know, I know. We old people get Kranky easily.
If you really want to hear some “Trampled Under Foot” copping, check out “I’m Your Villain” on Franz Ferdinand’s new album. There’s a guitar lick that pretty much copies Jimmy Page’s riff note for note.
juice box is great.
i think the strokes could start releasing albums consisting only of the sound of julian coughing, it still wouldn’t matter because of what the strokes did for me, and many other middle class suburban white kids stuck in a world of blink 182. for saving me from that, i will eternally love them.
Actually RollingStone did run a feature on Franz Ferdinand like two weeks ago
y’kno what, I love FF and I love both their CD’s. I don’t think they were comparing their sound to Zeppelin, I think they meant that they were thinking of it the same way Zeppelin did or does, but watevs. And the Strokes are pretty good too. What’s up wit all the hatin?
Interpol is also a lovely band I highly suggest visiting the site. http://www.interpolnyc.com
Okay, what is the deal with the hating?!!!
ff is like one of the most spectacular bands of all time.
and the fact that all bands have to be compared to something else is frustrating. is that really needed? all bands are influenced by something, it doen’t mean they are copying them.
and i did very much enjoy the completely random ff article in newsweek. anything about ff is fabulous, even though the acticle is a bit special…