Taken from franzferdinand.org:

Franz Ferdinand have given NME the exclusive comeback interview for their second record, revealing the inside story behind making the follow-up to one of the most successful British debut albums in years. The band reveal that the new album will be untitled and only distinguishable from it's predecessor by a change in colour scheme. FF move away from the traditional dark brown, orange and cream to a trio of black, red and pale green.

Speaking to FranzFerdinand.org earlier this week Alex said, "There's something quite bold about that, as if a title is irrelevant." In this week's NME, he explains further: "They will all be identified by their colour schemes rather than a title. The contrast of colours creates a different mood."

The band are currently deciding on which of the sixteen recorded tracks to commit to the new album, due for release in September. Amongst the shortlist are tracks that regular readers to this site will be aware of: 'I'm Your Villain', 'Well, That Was Easy', 'Walk Away', 'Evil And A Heathen', 'Your Diary', 'You Could Have It So Much Better', 'The Fallen' and 'What You Meant' as well as likely contenders for first single 'Turn It On' and 'Do You Want To? and newly named tracks 'The Outsiders' and 'Eleanor, Put Your Boots Back On'.

Alex concludes, "I'm excited by the new album. It's been exhausting producing it, like the most exhilarating experiences in life can be, but that's great."

Pick up this week's NME (Coldplay at Glastonbury cover, dated 02 July) for the full article and exclusive studio photos and annotation for the new album's highlights.
[Edited 7/2/05 5:00am]

Hope it's good.

it will die on its arse.....they are an average band who got lucky.....if it sells a million copies, i will run down glasgow's sauchiehall street bollock naked

blackbob said:

interesting. very interesting.

While I enjoyed the debut, it didn't grab me nearly as much as it did some other folks. I can't wait to hear it and find out if they were just a one-album wonder if the debut was just step one of a blossoming band.

With the whole 'no-name, new color scheme' party, I'm a bit worried. We'll see what happens...

endorphin74 said:

same here, haven't listened to their music in over 9 months....saw them live before the big break, which was fun.....I don't think you'll keep lasting!

Their first was a fun album, but it's also one that I've not listened to since the first few weeks I had it. Unless this one offers something different, I probably won't be getting it.

Wow. I see I'm not the only one. I haven't listened to Franz Ferdinand album in months. In that time the album went from "GREAT" to just "good." With this upcoming record, we'll see if they're more than just a one-worthwhile-album band.

endorphin74 said:

[Edited 7/1/05 11:42am]

JANFAN4L said:

Same here. My brother and I played it a lot from May when we got it through the summer. I haven't listened to it in nearly a year now though.

endorphin74 said:

mmhmmm.... seems kind of odd for them to be saying "a title is irrelevant" for a band that so painstakingly worked to come up with such a cool name for their group


hope this doesn't mean they're already disappearing up their own ass for their sophmore effort.

So I see I'm the only one excited about this.

Update: There is more info now and the album is slated for a release on October 3rd.

In an interview with MTV, the band have spoken about the plans for the video of 'Do You Want To?' all but confirming the song as the band's new single, the first to be lifted from "the green album" which will have a simultaneous worldwide release week commencing October 3rd.

FF have invited hip-hop video Diane Martel on board to shoot the promo for the song, scheduled to take place later this month in New York.. Martel has recently worked with Snoop Dogg and N*E*R*D. The single is pencilled in for release across the globe week commencing September 19th.

Moonbeam said:

'sok kitty. Everytime the Charlatns/Tim Burgess releases something new, I about wanna die with excitement and the whole rest of the world says "What? Who?" and moves on with their day.

At least people are INTERESTED in the new FF album!

I guess the theory that you're only as great as your second album is true.

I'll give 'em this - at least they're not wasting time. I like that.

GangstaFam said:

And they had a fabulous debut and put on an awesome live performance.

Moonbeam said:

Why the mad face? Did I say anywhere that they didn't?

GangstaFam said:

Well, your only comments thusfar on this thread have been ho-hum.

Moonbeam said:

But true in my case. I was instantly hooked on their album and had a blast at their show, but stopped listening to them a few months later. Haven't put it on since. I think the shelf life of these over-hyped, over-exposed bands lately is getting less and less. That's not to take anything away from the music itself. I just don't see returning to most of them like I do my tried and true favorites. That's why I said I hope it's good. I hope they can keep my attention instead of fizzle out like The Strokes and others have for me.

GangstaFam said:

You haven't even given that second Strokes album a chance. You've maybe listened to it twice. And Franz is not over-hyped or over-exposed.

is franz ferdinands' first cd any good i was thinking of getting it

BillieSparks said:

Here's my reveiw: 5 stars

Rarely has hype so enveloped a band as it has with Franz Ferdinand over the past few years. Heralded as the next BIG THING, their self-titled debut had already polarized the public before it was even given a chance to settle, which is unfortunate. Taken as an album without any of the media whirlwind and subsequent backlash, Franz Ferdinand offers some of the most addictive, energetic pop/rock in recent memory.

The album opens with a "false start" acoustic tinge before a Joy Division-like bass punch brings "Jacqueline" to her knees. Right away, it is apparent that Kapranos and Co. are expert melodists and as such, they are able to add a new dimension to their appeal that worthy contemporaries such as The Strokes and Interpol lack.

One of the band's strengths is its understanding of restraint. Consequently, the album's energy rarely subsides, as "Tell Her Tonight" conjures a rather warped, hyper rendition of The Kinks in under 3 minutes, while "Take Me Out" shrieks its unrelenting, primal chug with such hypnotic dexterity that even corporate radio was unable to resist. Rarely has a single had as many ideas while retaining such simplicity. In a span of under 4 minutes, "Take Me Out" combines post-punk pulse with disco flourishes, as well as depicting the duality of romance and danger. As such, the song stands as a double-edged sword both sonically and lyrically, making it an instant classic.

Elsewhere, the band passes a respectful nod to new wave in "Come on Home" with a blurry synth solo reminiscent of Blondie circa 1978. The strident "Cheating on You" and the bizarrely homo-erotic "Michael" showcase Franz flexing its collective muscles, all the while adding a splash of disco for the dance floor. The latter could have easily been a successful camp overture. But this is more than mere flirtation or suggestion. "Michael" is purely carnal- dirty, sweaty and masculine. In "Darts of Pleasure," it is the power of the pen that is the source of inspiration, as Alex expounds on the seduction of words. Perhaps the best track of all is the electronic "Auf Achse," whose exquisite drama and eerie pulse recall the glory of David Bowie's Berlin period.

When the album closes with the eerie, somewhat mythical standout "40'", the elapsed magic is so palatable and compact that it is difficult to not play it anew. Taken as a whole, it is easy to understand why these 11 tracks of winks, whispers and innuendo turned critic and casual listener alike into giggling teenagers.

Darts of pleasure, indeed.

i personally loved the first album. Still listen to it on the ipod. Can't wait for the 2nd.

I was just thinking about Franz Ferdinand this weekend, actually.. i am getting ready to see THE FIXX (can't wait!!!) and it struck me how much Franz Ferdinand sounds like early Fixx stuff. Anybody else notice this?

Moonbeam said:

I only listened to Strokes twice cuz I stopped caring. I hope that doesn't happen with Franz. I still like their debuts, but I'm just skeptical of most of these current bands and whether my interest will stay strong. Most seem good for instant gratification and pretty derivative. It just happens that the styles they're emulating are mostly things I like. Strokes fizzled out for me. Interpol only got better. We'll see what happens with Franz.

GangstaFam said:

The Strokes got better too.

Moonbeam said:

Maybe. They just couldn't hold my interest. It's strange though how this is panning out cuz I thought I hated the White Stripes and now I find myself rethinking things.

The band will be undertaking a tour to coincide with the new album's release. Here are the dates scheduled so far:

SEPTEMBER 2005
20 USA CHICAGO Aragon Ballroom
21 USA MINNEAPOLIS Target Centre Arena
22 USA KANSAS CITY Uptown Theatre
25 USA AUSTIN Zilker Park Austin City Limits Festival
27 USA DENVER Fillmore Auditorium
28 USA MAGNA Great Salt Air

OCTOBER 2005
01 USA SEATTLE Paramount Theatre
02 USA SEATTLE Paramount Theatre
03 USA PORTLAND Rose Garden Arena
04 CAN VANCOUVER Orpheum Theatre
06 USA SAN FRANCISCO Bill Graham Civic Auditorium
07 USA LOS ANGELES Greek Theatre
08 USA LOS ANGELES Greek Theatre
09 USA SAN DIEGO San Diego State University Open Air Theatre
11 USA LAS VEGAS The Joint
16 USA NEW YORK Madison Square Garden Theatre
17 USA NEW YORK Madison Square Garden Theatre

Fuckin' non-Detroit playin' bitches! Pfft.

The title of the new album will be the same as that of their debut: Franz Ferdinand

The artw ork will as well be the same, only in different colours....


Are they trying to tell us something?