Before the American Music Press declares something “the next big thing,” the British press has usually covered it inside and out. The same hype machines that generated bands like The Strokes and the White Stripes are now giving us Franz Ferdinand. They were recently declared the best new band in Britain by the hype generator and occasional magazine NME. They have been compared to everyone from Joy Division to The Strokes, and the group is definitely not lacking in exposure. The problem with the media blitz in recent years has been that these groups are often mediocre at best (cough The Strokes cough). Luckily for me (since I am the one listening to these albums) Franz Ferdinand is a fun band with a promising debut.

At some point last year, indie rock kids decided they wanted to dance; or rather they wanted to stand around in skinny ties and pretend to be too cool to dance when dance music was playing. Genres like electroclash (please tell me this is dead by now) and bands like Hot Hot Heat and the Rapture (again tell me they are dead, too) bring pseudo danceable yet boring and annoying records to the table. Yet with Franz Ferdinand I somehow found myself enjoying what I was hearing. Could it be? A band was finally successful in making an indie rock record which wanted to make you dance and was successful at what it wanted to do? Believe me, I was as shocked as you.

Franz Ferdinand’s debut meshes a variety of influences to create a sound both unique and recognizable. The deadpan delivery of vocalist Alex Kapranos is reminiscent of 2002 indie darlings Interpol, only not so downcast. Catchy guitar hooks and syncopated choppy bass and drums fill out the album’s sound. However, Franz Ferdinand does have a few obvious filler tracks. Tracks like “Tell Her Tonight” and “This Fire” could easily be cut from the album as they only take away from the strength of songs like “Dark of the Matinee” and “Jacquelin”. Overall, this is a strong debut from Franz Ferdinand.

I find it difficult to review a band already steeped in so much hyperbole. Sometimes albums lauded by everyone and their cousin age horribly (case in point, when is the last time you listened to Odelay). Only time will tell, but, regardless, Franz Ferdinand has put out a very strong debut showing a lot of promise. If the group can realize their potential, they could have a very long career ahead of them.