Bye, it has been great for the most part but now I am off to annother part of the world to make my f...
Bye, it has been great for the most part but now I am off to annother part of the world to make my fortune.
Member since:24.04.2003
Reviews:383
Members who trust:97
One of the frustrations of being Scottish is the number of crappy bands that come out of the country; I think we are second only to Canada in producing utter rubbish bands. This is a pity as there has always been a thriving underground scene in Scotland with some truly great bands, where people will get punched for mentioning the names of Texas, Deacon Blue, Hue & Cry, Simple Minds, Runrig and let us not forget the Proclaimers. I can't understand why these bands get so much attention, they are rubbish.
Franz Ferdinand on the other hand are not, they are pretty dam good which is difficult for me to say as they come from Glasgow. An other great Scottish band is the Rezillos and they more sensibly came from Edinburgh, but I am not here to talk about the greatness of the Rezillos so I will leave them for another day.......
Let us start with the cover of the album Brown Art deco lettering on a black background, I like art deco so it gets a thumbs up from me and I also like the simplicity of it all. The inner sleeve has pictures of the band posing. This
is why people start bands so they can get paid to pose in a ridiculous manner, and get laid as well. But let’s face it who really give a monkeys about the cover onto the music.
Musically this album is what Art Deco would have been if it was a musical movement. Clean sharp lines which rigidly define each area, whilst providing a unified effect. (Getting a tad pretentious dear boy) I like it and they follow in the footsteps of some great British indie bands such as Pulp for one example. To me it is great also hearing someone sing in a Scottish accent but not be as crap as the Proclaimers (1).
The album kicks off with "Jacqueline" starting off almost folky, until two lead guitar parts kick in and wonderfully fuzzy they are too. The refrain "It's Always Better on Holiday, So much better on holiday, thats why we only work, when we need the money" is a rallying call to the oppressed working classes of Scotland to rise up and destroy their oppressors. (Sorry wrong forum I'll use that on the Marxism forum later). The drumming is wonderfully simple as well this is what I love about British indie music that we seem to thrive on keeping it simple and less is certainly more in this case. "Tell her Tonight" is a great piece of disco funk and a tale of desperation and frustration, something that we all know about, I love stuff like this as you can fit your own Life experience into it which adds to the song.
"Take Me Out" follows and it was when I first heard this song that I knew that this band were going to dominate 2004, it is just a great example of superb songwriting. From the lead hook to the lyrics about social incompetence and talking at cross porpoises it is just almost perfect.
"The Dark Of The Matinee" is when you lot wised up and realised just how good they are another great song about teenage lust and aspiration, you don't get more Rock and Roll than that now do you. Comparing school to an academic factory is absolutely spot on, especially for my age group when schooling was something you endured and something that destroyed creativity.
"Auf Achse" starts off with haunting keyboard work and moves onto an 80's indie grove type thing, and is a tale of unrequited love, something I am not suffering from right now but can definitely relate to. Much as I hated the 80's I can definitely dig this man. "Cheating on You" is a celebration of the nasty act of cheating with superb fuzz guitars, completely unapologetic and oh so wonderful. "This Fire" a song about burning frustration about where you live, again every instrument part is clearly defined but creates a wonderful musical picture this is just simple great Indie rock. "Darts of Pleasure” again is just simply a great bit of indie rock again..............
Rock and Roll has always been to a certain extent about homosexuality. Lets face it a bunch of men playing guitars and singing love songs to another bunch of men has been the main stay of rock and roll for many years and it is pretty gay. Then there is also Little Richard to contend with. Franz Ferdinand sum this up perfectly on "Michael" opening with a superb subtly fuzzed lead into a great disco grove then not so subtle lyrics about gay lust on the dance floor. "Beautiful boys and the beautiful dance floor, Michael your dancing like a beautiful dance whore" is pure lyrical genius......
"Come on Home" and "40'" round of the album perfectly the latter providing great atmosphere...............
You man have guessed that I like this somewhat and not just cause they are Scottish, but because it is simply a collection of great songs done brilliantly. Definitely a cut above the rest......
(1) Every time I hear that band it rips a puss filled gaping wound in my heart as much to my shame I grew up in the same area as those two mutants. I hate the Proclaimers!!!!!!!!!!
* The title is taken from a quote by Otto von Bismarck before the assassination of Franz Ferdinand, regarding his opinions of another war in Europe.
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I have heard about this band before but I had no idea what kind of music they play, so I found your review very helpful, and I liked what you wrote so I will listen to it. thanks, good job!
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