Franz Ferdinand : NPR

Weekend LISTening: World Cafe's 11 Favorite Glaswegian Bands

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World Cafe

Weekend LISTening: World Cafe's 11 Favorite Glaswegian Bands

XPN

July 8, 2016 • Today's World Cafe guest, Frightened Rabbit, inspires this weekend's list of fellow Glasgow bands.

All Songs Considered

Franz Ferdinand, Wolf Parade, Nada Surf

October 12, 2005 • Better dance music from Franz Ferdinand; Unreleased bonus tracks by Talking Heads; Canada's indie pop quartet Wolf Parade; Ancient China and Appalachia with Wu Man and more.

Franz Ferdinand, Wolf Parade, Nada Surf

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All Songs Considered

How the Grammys Work

February 9, 2005 • Hear an interview with Ron Roeker from the Recording Academy on how the Grammy selection process works, plus music from the Best New Artist category.

How the Grammys Work

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All Songs Considered

Bob Dylan, Franz Ferdinand, Modest Mouse

March 16, 2004 • Contra music from the Portland Selection; Hawaiian ukelele master John King; Music of the Smiths by The Ukrainians; Glasgow's art school band Franz Ferdinand and more.

Bob Dylan, Franz Ferdinand, Modest Mouse

Only Available in Archive Formats.

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David Edwards/Courtesy of the artist

World Cafe

FFS On World Cafe

XPN

November 13, 2015 • Franz Ferdinand and Sparks perform together as FFS, recorded live at the Edinburgh Festival Theatre.

FFS On World Cafe

26:35

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Franz Ferdinand, 'Love Illumination' (Live)

Franz Ferdinand's Alex Kapranos and Nick McCarthy during their performance on KCRW. Larry Hirshowitz/KCRW hide caption

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Larry Hirshowitz/KCRW

Favorite Sessions

Franz Ferdinand, 'Love Illumination' (Live)

KCRW

August 6, 2013 • The charming Glaswegian rock band is back with a new album. Alex Kapranos and company give KCRW's Morning Becomes Eclectic a preview, featuring the album's first single, "Love Illumination."

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Andy Knowles/Courtesy of the artist

World Cafe

Franz Ferdinand On World Cafe

XPN

September 6, 2013 • The always fashionable Glaswegians stop by the World Cafe studio to perform songs from their new album, Right Thoughts, Right Words, Right Action.

Franz Ferdinand On World Cafe

22:43

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First Listen: Franz Ferdinand, 'Right Thoughts, Right Words, Right Action'

Franz Ferdinand's new album, Right Thoughts, Right Words, Right Action, comes out August 27. Andy Knowles/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Andy Knowles/Courtesy of the artist

First Listen

First Listen: Franz Ferdinand, 'Right Thoughts, Right Words, Right Action'

August 19, 2013 • Almost 10 years after "Take Me Out" helped the band break through commercially, win a Mercury Prize and craft a zeitgeist-defining sound — and two years after a rumored breakup — the Glaswegian dance-rock outfit returns with its first new album since 2009.

Right Action

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Franz Ferdinand's Alex Kapranos On The Importance Of Structure

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Music Interviews

Franz Ferdinand's Alex Kapranos On The Importance Of Structure

August 24, 2013 • "Too much jamming kills the band," the leader of the Glasgow quartet says. On the new Right Thoughts, Right Words, Right Action, the band tries to lead with good concepts and let the music follow.

Franz Ferdinand's Alex Kapranos On The Importance Of Structure

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Watch The Music Video For Franz Ferdinand's 'Right Action'

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All Songs Considered

Watch The Music Video For Franz Ferdinand's 'Right Action'

July 8, 2013 • The jangly, odd-ball single perfectly sums up reasons Franz Ferdinand made it into our hearts. Now it's got a new video, from the director who made the band's breakout clip, "Take Me Out."

Review

Song Of The Day

Franz Ferdinand: A Mod-Pop Tone-Setter

March 13, 2009 • The Scottish band Franz Ferdinand broke big in 2004, but to whom much is given, much is expected. Fortunately, "Can't Stop Feeling" finds the gangly mod-pop quartet tinkering with its formulas, implementing innovative production and unique instrumentation while retaining its core sound.

Can't Stop Feeling

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All Songs Considered

The Best CDs of 2004: Listeners' Picks

December 29, 2004 • New artists like Iron and Wine; a self-professed has-been with little music ability (William Shatner); old-school artists like Brian Wilson and favorites like Wilco and Interpol ... you picked quite a list. Thanks to all participants and to all the musicians that made 2004 a great year for new music.

The Best CDs of 2004: Listeners' Picks

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Real Media

Music News

Franz Ferdinand's Frontman on Touring and Eating

Fresh Air

January 8, 2007 • Singer, guitarist, and author Alex Kapranos is the frontman for the Glasgow-based indie rock quartet Franz Ferdinand. The band, best known for its single "Take Me Out," has produced two hit CDs. Kapranos has a new book about eating on tour, called Sound Bites.

Franz Ferdinand's Frontman on Touring and Eating

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Review

Song Of The Day

Dirty and Bored: Serge Gainsbourg Revisited

August 8, 2006 • Franz Ferdinand turns "Sorry Angel" — Serge Gainsbourg's tinny, mostly spoken-word meditation on regret — into a mostly sung dance-floor romp, complete with vintage cooing by Gainsbourg muse Jane Birkin.

Music Interviews

Franz Ferdinand's Post-Punk Revolution

October 24, 2005 • The quartet has a passion for crafting pop hooks matched with complex, intimate lyrics — a creative formula that extends to their style, attitude and even the name of the band, named for a minor royal whose assassination sparked global change.

Franz Ferdinand's Post-Punk Revolution

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Review

Music Reviews

Music Review: 'Franz Ferdinand' from Franz Ferdinand

March 29, 2004 • Franz Ferdinand is the name not only of the assassinated Archduke of Austria, considered the trigger for World War I; Franz Ferdinand is now a Scottish band that has made it big in Britain. Reviewer Mikel Jollett thinks the reason they've succeeded is that the group bridges the distance between headphones and dance floor.

Music Review: 'Franz Ferdinand' from Franz Ferdinand

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All Songs Considered

The Best Songs of 2004

December 27, 2004 • Below are the 20 most mentioned songs from both listeners and reviewers with randomly selected comments from some of those who picked them.

The Best Songs of 2004

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Real Media