Album Review: Franz Ferdinand - Hits to the Head

Our writer Hannah Ross listens to Franz Ferdinand's new compilation album....

Hannah Ross
23rd March 2022

3 Stars

Prepare for a nostalgia trip as Franz Ferdinand release some of their greatest hits all in one album. Usually, I question the use of compilation albums as they can seem like a bit of a money grabber when very little new content is added. However, in this case I am willing to forego some such qualms as lead singer Alex Kapranos explains how he always wanted to make a 'best of' album saying 'they were such a big part of my life growing up'.  

The album begins with their first ever single from 2003 Darts of Pleasure. I feel like this transforms the album into a sort of storybook of the progression of Franz Ferdinand, showing where they began and setting the neo-indie rock base that the rest of their music follows. Whilst a lot of their songs use a similar musicality, Franz Ferdinand have always been unique from the rest of the crowd, and it seems to be the attitude for them that if it ain't broke don’t fix it. Therefore, much of the album is rather one-dimensional, though that does not mean that the songs were not enjoyable to listen to!  

You could not have a 'best of Franz Ferdinand' album without Take Me Out. Hence, it was a great choice to put in second place. At the time, the band battle claims that it was 'one-hit wonder', something they wanted to discourage as it could take recognition away from the rest of their music. That being said, it is the one that everybody knows and would turn up the radio for. It is a shame that other singles like Do You Want To and No You Girls did not gain the same success, however they have still been popular and gained a place on the album. 

The album finishes with one of the band's new singles Billy Goodbye. Franz Ferdinand have given no suggestion that this will be their last album, however this song feels like a proper goodbye, remembering the good times but that 'maybe it's time to go (oh, oh, oh)'. Perhaps Franz Ferdinand have had their day and a compilation album with a couple of new tunes is the best way for them to go, remembering the best bits. This followed by a tour seems like a safe way out, but if nothing else, Billy Goodbye acts as a good novelistic epilogue for their album. 

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