Big Hanz For Franz
I�ve not yet reached my 30th year but in many ways I�ve felt like a premature fogey when it comes to new-fangled music for well over a decade now. It�s not that I’ve not liked a lot of new bands in that time, but I�ve generally found them pale in comparison to their influences and forbears. Heard it all before mate. I�ve certainly taken a lot of pleasure in trashing flavours of the month too.
But I�m willing to make a fairly big exception for Franz Ferdinand. I really liked their last album; and I�m very keen on the new one too; having played it constantly for the last two weeks. The sound is harder than last time; the cynical decadence that bit more ennui-charged and poison-edged. The hooks are very much in place; and the first six songs in particular are excellent. There�s still a sense they�re just a tiny bit too clinical, a slight element of soullessness that prevents immortality, but its certainly a thrilling ride. I don�t have the time and energy to do a proper review, but consider it recommended.
In a great month for music, there�s new albums by my old fave-raves The Fall and Half Man Half Biscuit out too; Fall Heads Roll and Acthung Bono respectively. I�ve only just got hold of them, but rest assured I will find time to do proper reviews of those. The old un�s are the best. Fogeyism strikes again.
Other Splinters posts of interest:
- My Picks Of The Year - Music
- Its Cliched To Be Cynical At Christmas
- Antifamily: free music
- The Fall, The Blondes and the Biscuits
- Music: Now’s The Time
