It's obvious that Franz Ferdinand would be acclaimed by the English press. It couldn't have been otherwise, given the scarcity of valid releases from the British scene, for the local critics to rave about yet another group of newcomers just because of a cute single (Take Me Out) that's a bit alternative but also very catchy and trendy, thus ensuring success.
But the essence of this band is precisely all here: nothing more than songs with easy melodies peppered (but not too much) with rock distortion as is the trend in this era of rediscovery of Rock 'n roll, garage, etc.; of course, Franz Ferdinand is also blatantly influenced by the '80s New Wave, but rather than influence, it would be correct to talk about banal revivalism; especially in the voice, posed and suffering, so much alike thousands of voices from thousands of '80s bands as to be truly cloying; and it's not like the rest is much better, halfway between the sound of the Strokes and that of Interpol, except that indeed in New York, the aforementioned Strokes and Interpol had already had these insights, and at least they reinterpreted them instead of merely being followers.
These Franz Ferdinand really remind us of everyone, from the Beatles to the Strokes, from disco music to Joy Division and their 'followers,' but in reality, they truly feel like a great novelty.
NME, which launched them, chose to define them as the first Art-wave group, I simply say that a small revolution is about to begin.