FRANZ FERDINAND THIRD ALBUM ANTICIPATION THREAD!

I've always quite liked them, and to be honest this didn't need to be a radical step forward but I think the songs needed to be better than this, only a couple really grab me so far. FF songs are generally pretty immediate and not exactly slow burning growers so I'm not sure if my opinion will change over time.

Ulysses is good btw, I don't really get the hate.

Why is Daniel Craig on the album cover?

Sounds like those who like them still like them, while those who dislike them still like them

Except me.

To ask FF to take "radical step forward" is a serious misreading of their achievements and capabilities. I expect them to grind the same album over and over until they and I get bored.

I was being facetious with the radical step forward thing.

Yeh, so were FF.

I would say the second album was a considerably change from the first one. But of course if you cannot imagine any "radical step forward" without abandoning traditional song structures, then you will mostly get disappointed.

I think I was selling them a bit short upthread, after listening to the second album again, because it is pretty different but sort of... the same. Like their essential blueprint hasn't really changed but it's porous enough to allow other influences to seep in. The taut, faster post-punky material has gone and they're wearing the disco influences on their sleeve more visibly.

I'm not whether this indicates an overall broadening of influences, or whether they've just kept place with the (pretty significant) change fashionable indie sounds since 2005 - a bit of Vampire Weekend in the second half of Send Him Away, a bit of Hot Chip in the opening to Can't Stop Feeling etc.

Still think the tunes could be stronger overall though, although the run from No You Girls through to Bite Hard is terrific. I don't like the electro freakout at the end of Lucid Dreams, it feels tacked on and gimmicky.

"Twilight Omens" is fucking A+ for a start.

Yeah this is OTM. They're better at doing soaring Beatles melodies than most actual Beatles copyists (see also Eleanor Put Those Boots On).

I was a bit pessimistic, but this album is better than I'd expected. I saw them live last summer and they seemed a bit disintergrated, good to hear the contrary of this.
Matt is OTM about the need (or not need) of a "radical step forward": songs could have been a little better, but overall still a good album. "Live Alone" is terrific.

Well up for this - saw them in Berlin in November and the new stuff came across very well, especially 'Ulysses' and the ace 'What She Came For'. First album material's markedly stronger than all subsequent songs though...

Worst pop video ever, probably:

First album material's markedly stronger than all subsequent songs though

Nope. 1st > 2nd > 3rd, easy.

So you're saying no but agreeing with him?

Not sure what's going on there, either.

Haha don't type hungover, kids. Those should have been "less thans".

I disagree, I liked the first album better than this one, but this one better than the second.

great single/video. or at least great at capturing what it feels like to be high at spaceland/ echo parque

why would anyone want them to take a "great leap forward" anyway, when they started out in a state of near-perfection...i just want to see this party keep going, and if that means more eight balls for all in tight tailored suits with predictable synths, then plz don't stop

>I was being facetious with the radical step forward thing.

sorry i'll pretend to read the thread next time

I don't like the electro freakout at the end of Lucid Dreams, it feels tacked on and gimmicky

i like it but it should've been a separate track (part 2 or something) with him singing over it a bit

N1ck just taped a message to my daughter on his guitar while they played Ant & Dec lolololololol

This has held up pretty well over the year, enough little twists and turns to keep it sounding fresh.

I reckons that box of singles version will end up in teh Fopp.

"Katherine Kiss Me" playing at Starbucks. I haven't thought about this album in a looooong time.

3rd pretty much sucks aside from one or two, 4th is a killer IMO probably their best after the debut.

i mean..

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iMfjROpKCnw

3rd is probably my fave FF album lol, love the production

and they're back! touring! new songs! new album!

http://www.nme.com/news/music/franz-ferinand-new-album-song-tour-always-ascending-interview-2153300

New line-up too, since Nick McCarthy isn't in the band anymore.