Scotland’s dance-rock provocateurs, Franz Ferdinand, have been a polarizing act since their debut EP dropped two decades ago. Depending on how arty you were in high school, you likely find each subsequent entry into their discography to be equally insufferable or equally masterful with little to no middle ground.
While there’s no accounting for taste, we can at least be certain that not all Franz Ferdinand albums are created equal. Go dust off your skinniest dress pants and loudest shirt as we rank the studio offerings of Glasgow’s finest export.
5. Always Ascending (2018)
Serving as the most recent Franz Ferdinand full-length and first without founding guitarist Nick McCarthy, ‘Always Ascending’ might be the only true misstep of the band’s career. While the record certainly isn’t devoid of charm, the few and far between highlights are often overshadowed by tracks that sound like amateur remixes of throw-away ideas. Lead singer Alex Kapranos’ reliably bratty voice is confoundingly toothless here, which tragically sounds like an intentional move when considering songs like ‘Lazy Boy.’ Fortunately the band recently released a Greatest Hits record. There you can find the redeemable moments of ‘Ascending’ without having to wade through their unfortunate Talking Heads impressions.
Play It Again: “Feel the Love Go”
Skip It: Most of the record
4. Right Words, Right Thoughts, Right Action (2013)
After releasing three near-perfect albums in a row, it would have been downright rude of us to expect their fourth to be anywhere near as good. Even dance-rock kings need to rest every once in a while. Still, it’s hard to look past the staleness of this record, which constantly seems to be looking back instead of charging forward. Often, the quartet is found rehashing old soundscapes to the effect of an SNL-worthy parody version of the band. You can almost imagine Kapranos breaking and looking directly into the camera like a young Jimmy Fallon, which is obviously not a compliment. When they aren’t cos-playing themselves on this one, they can be heard further experimenting with reggae and dub undertones, but not even in a cool way like on their previous record.
Play It Again: “Bullet”
Skip It: “Treason! Animals.”
3. You Could Have It So Much Better (2005)
Arriving just a year after the band’s massively successful debut, ‘You Could Have It So Much Better’ almost sounds too excited for its own good. Classics certainly abound on this one, but a good chunk of the album’s 41-minute runtime is spent eagerly attempting to reinvent the wheel that is ‘Take Me Out.’ Remember that time your friend told that really good joke and you laughed so hard it made their entire week? Now that you have to hear them repeatedly tell it to every friend that wasn’t there, you can’t even remember why you thought it was funny in the first place. That essentially sums up the vibe of this record. While the album holds a few Bond-worthy ballads to separate it from their debut, they are sadly not enough to bolster it as a unified whole.
Play It Again: “Evil And A Heathen”
Skip It: “Fade Together”
2. Self-Titled (2004)
You probably expected us to put this in the #1 slot like some pedestrian dweebs who still think ‘This Fire’ was the band’s best single. That’s where you’re wrong, buddy. Real Franz FerdiFans™ like us have class. We wouldn’t dare insult the band by suggesting their first try was their best. Still, as everyone certainly knows, this record is a frenetic and undisputed classic filled to the brim with some of the catchiest and borderline annoying songs ever produced in the aughts. There is certainly no doubt the album is excellent, enduring, and a favorite for most fans. Favorite isn’t always best, though. While definitely good enough to gain the penultimate slot in the hierarchy of their releases, this eponymous album was merely laying the groundwork for a future opus.
Play It Again: “Jacqueline”
Skip It: “Cheating On You”
Honorable Mention: FFS (2015)
When Franz Ferdinand first broke through American airwaves around 2004, they caught the attention of the legendary and elusive art-pop duo, Sparks. Immediately a mutual admiration society was fostered, as both acts began sharing demos back and forth from across the pond. Talks of collaboration quickly followed, though conflicting schedules would prevent the culmination of a proper album for almost 11 years. To make up for lost time their collaborative project ‘FFS’ was put to tape in a mere fifteen days, which makes that album you’ve been recording for three years even more embarrassing to talk about. Because this is essentially a split release, we can’t in good faith include this one in the official rankings, but that by no means is a reason to not include it in your next Franz Phase.
Play It Again: “Little Guy From The Suburbs”
Skip It: “Call Girl”
1. Tonight (2009)
The cover of Franz Ferdinand’s ‘Tonight’ depicts a crime scene in which the band appears to be attempting to revive the lifeless body of bassist Bob Hardy. Upon hearing the opening bars of opening track ‘Ulysses,’ it’s easy to imagine his heart gave out after carrying the entire goddamn record. Not to say the other members didn’t contribute, but fucking damnit Hardy, save some for the rest of them. In addition to absolutely stellar bass lines, ‘Tonight’ showcases a darker side of the band. A side that is suddenly obsessed with murky analog synths and understated but heavy rhythmic backings. It’s also the band’s tightest record thematically and lyrically. The tracks on this album loosely revolve around the theme of a single chaotic night on the town as Kapranos and company take us down darkened alleys that previous records quickly ran by. All of these elements weave together to make an outing stronger than anything the band has released before or since. Put this one on and pretend you have some seductive mystique for once in your life.
Play It Again: If you aren’t done simultaneously crying and dancing yet.
Skip It: You would, you tasteless asshole.