Blue Plate Special: Franz Ferdinand
Franz Ferdinand, a dynamic Scottish rock band formed in Glasgow in 2002, quickly rose to prominence as a key player in the post-punk revival movement. The band was originally made up of Alex Kapranos (lead vocals, guitar, keyboards), Nick McCarthy (rhythm guitar, keyboards, vocals), Bob Hardy (bass guitar), and Paul Thomson (drums, vocals). Following McCarthy’s departure in 2016, the lineup expanded to include Julian Corrie and Dino Bardot, and later, Audrey Tait replaced Thomson in 2021.
Franz Ferdinand burst onto the music scene with their debut single, “Darts of Pleasure,” and gained international fame with the hit “Take Me Out,” which became synonymous with their distinctive art-rock sound, and what made me a fan the very first time I heard the song. Their eponymous debut album won the 2004 Mercury Prize and earned a Grammy nomination, setting the stage for successive acclaimed albums like “You Could Have It So Much Better” and “Tonight: Franz Ferdinand.”
The band is renowned for integrating avant-garde Russian art into their album designs and has won multiple awards, including a Brit Award for Best British Group. Over the years, Franz Ferdinand has maintained its artistic vibrancy, evolving with changes in lineup and continuing to influence the rock genre with their innovative music and style.
Some of my favorites from their catalog:
Turn It On – from the album Tonight (2009)
Take Me Out – from the album Franz Ferdinand (2004)
Katherine Hit Me – from the remix album Blood (2009)
Outsiders – from the album You Could Have It So Much Better (2005)
Feel The Love Go – from the album Always Ascending (2018)
Michael – from the album Franz Ferdinand (2004)
Bullet – from the album Right Thoughts, Right Words, Right Action (2013)
