Franz Ferdinand’s latest album, The Human Fear, undeniably carries the hallmarks of their signature sound: Alex Kapranos’s distinctive vocals, tight riffs, and a confident art-rock attitude. Yet, for all its familiarity, the album feels largely inconsequential. While it’s not outright bad, it struggles to leave a lasting impression.
The opening track, Audacious, is perhaps the one true highlight. It’s bold, recognizable, and unmistakably Franz Ferdinand. But even here, the song stands out more for its title—how often do you hear the word “audacious”?—than for its musical ingenuity. After this strong start, the album begins to lose its footing. The songs that follow are competently executed, with polished production and clear effort, but they lack… More