#1 Franz Ferdinand- Franz Ferdinand (2004)
The self titled album by the Scottish indie-rockers always jumps out at me, when I’m thinking about defining music of my generation. 3.6million copies of the album were sold overall, with the band winning 2 Brit Awards, a Breakthrough MTV award, NME Best Album, an Ivor Novello award and the prestigious Mercury Music Prize, all as a result of this album, featuring such songs as The Dark Of The Matinee, This Fire, Tell Her Tonight and the mega-hit Take Me Out.
The album sparked the beginning of a successful career for the 4 members, Alex Kapranos (Lead Vocals and Guitar), Bob Hardy (Bass), Nick McCarthy (Rhythm Guitar, Keyboard, Backing Vocals) and Paul Thompson (Drums/Percussion, Backing Vocals), who have since gone on to release 2 further full length albums. ‘You Could Have It So Much Better’ was released in 2005, with ‘Tonight: Franz Ferdinand’ being released in 2007. A fourth full-length studio album is currently in progress, however, Kapranos is refusing to do any sort of diary in the lead up to it, stating it as a mistake made on the production of the last album. The time it has taken them to already begin recording sets it in good stead they won’t rush it like they did on the second album- this well earned break could indicate a return to form.
The self-titled album debuted at 3rd in the UK charts, but struggled across the pond, in America, eventually reaching 32nd on the Billboard 200. Despite it’s apparent lack of chart success, it’s award show it’s prowess- it may not top the charts like the pop of today, but it’s bouncy, fun nature (that led them to receiving the award for Best Live Band off NME in 2006) showed it’s quality among the public and among musicians, with the legendary performance on Jools Holland coming to mind.
I have been to many gigs in my time, ranging from the folk tunes of Frank Turner, to the hardcore punk of The Bronx, and the metal of Avenged Sevenfold, but seeing Franz Ferdinand, on the 17 October 2009 will always be alive in memory (the fact I remember the exact date I think is hard evidence for this). Luckily, playing more of the first and third albums, they owned the stage. With Music Go Music warming up the stage, they took it by storm, with the show culminating as Alex Kapranos jumped into the crowd for during This Fire (so close to me!!) leading to the crowd collapsing, and the show being stopped, as Kapranos was dragged out the crowd, with no tie and a broken guitar.
A true classic, in every sense of the word, that has changed my life.
This is the beginning of a series; check back every week to see what’s next.
#1 Franz Ferdinand- Franz Ferdinand
Next week- #2 ???
