Always Ascending
by Franz Ferdinand
  • Record Label: Domino
  • Release Date: Feb 9, 2018
User Score
7.6

Generally favorable reviews- based on 73 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 53 out of 73
  2. Mixed: 17 out of 73
  3. Negative: 3 out of 73
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  1. lennycliff123
    Feb 11, 2018
    5
    This is arguably Franz Ferdinand's weakest album to date, though The title track is a brilliant bit of trippy euro disco with a difference. It's just a shame that the rest of the album fails to live up to the promise of that song.
  2. OrenBrown
    Feb 23, 2018
    6
    As a long time fan of Franz Ferdinand, (I believe they were the second gig I ever attended) this album is disappointing. The songwriting is lackluster and the sound of this album comes off as pretentious at times. I found it hard to connect with this album emotionally. All that being said, Alex Kapranos hasn't lost his swagger as a front-man and the album has a variety of moments that areAs a long time fan of Franz Ferdinand, (I believe they were the second gig I ever attended) this album is disappointing. The songwriting is lackluster and the sound of this album comes off as pretentious at times. I found it hard to connect with this album emotionally. All that being said, Alex Kapranos hasn't lost his swagger as a front-man and the album has a variety of moments that are very enjoyable, especially from a technical aspect.… Expand
  3. Badgerrrs
    Mar 3, 2018
    5
    On first listen this album is exactly as I thought it would be. They still sound like Franz Ferdinand but it's a very average album without any standout tracks. Probably the last song is the only one that attempts to break the mould and do something different. Sometimes new is better than just the same old same old. May sound better after a few listens.
  4. HannahK
    Feb 10, 2018
    5
    On first hearing Always Ascending {the title track} I thought that the new album would be an exiting departure for the band. Unfortunately the lead single is the only standout song on the album. Other songs come and go but fail to leave any lasting impression. A bit disappointing.
  5. NeutralMilkH
    Feb 18, 2018
    7
    Track-by-track review
    Always Ascending: At the very least, this track is interesting and truly a test of the band's skills in conveying different emotions. Once the beat kicks in, this song truly "ascends" to be a catchy Franz Ferdinand song with great electronics as well as their typical rock instrumentation. Albeit, the lyrics are a bit nonsensical in my opinion, and it more or less    Track-by-track review
    Always Ascending: At the very least, this track is interesting and truly a test of the band's skills in conveying different emotions. Once the beat kicks in, this song truly "ascends" to be a catchy Franz Ferdinand song with great electronics as well as their typical rock instrumentation. Albeit, the lyrics are a bit nonsensical in my opinion, and it more or less resembles Talking Heads. (8/10)
    Lazy Boy: Sigh... this just sounds poorly mixed in the beginning if I'm going to be honest, all of the elements are here, but they don't mesh... and Kapranos' performance on this track is questionable (in moments). Then the interesting synth instrumentation disappears... well, I guess this track is called "Lazy Boy" for a reason. (5/10)
    Paper Cages: Kind of sounds like "Shout, shout, let it all out" in the beginning except without the inherent catchiness or memorable instrumentation (the latter however does exist later in the track). It does offer original ideas, and the lyrics are stupidly interesting. After a while, this song manages to overcome its cheesy 80's nostalgia throwbacks and relishes in bouncy synths. (7.5/10)
    Finally: Forgettable, but forgivable. (6.5/10)
    The Academy Award: Dark, that's all you need to know... and it works. Lovely commentary on the Oscars. (9/10)
    Lois Lane: Um... how can I summarize this... "quirky in a not quirky way." There you go. I do like the synth instrumentation though. (4/10)
    Huck and Jim: Well, it offers an interesting start... you know what this album reminds me of... Everything Now by Arcade Fire... this is Franz Ferdinand's version of Everything Now... anyway, this song is fine... it's fine... (6/10)
    Glimpse of Love: I like this one... this one actually sounds like a better tribute to the era than most of the tracks so far. It might also be stuck in my head, so yeah. Good enough track, at least in the context of this album. (8/10)
    Feel the Love Go: Vocals...ugh... the instrumentation really does make up for it if I'm being quite honest. (7/10)
    Slow Don't Kill Me Slow: Kapranos sounds good on this one... but... it's... slow... and... zzz... when the instrumentation is all-together, this track is very good, but it's the verses on this track that are just boring. I'll give credit to the ending for at least being the one moment on this album in which the atmosphere punches through. (7/10)

    Final Score: 68/100 or 6.8/10 or 7 by Metacritic standards...

    This is the Everything Now of 2018 (so far)... albeit better... much better than the actual Everything Now album. Quite frankly, these tracks have good hooks and good choruses, and when the instrumentation and vocals all come together, these tracks are relatively compelling... but it's the absolutely lazy, boringly atmospheric (not the good kind that resulted from the last track), and poorly delivered verses that truly bring this album down and make it actually forgettable despite its off-kilter nature. Anyway, if you're a Franz Ferdinand fan like I am, you will probably survive and maybe even like some of the tracks on this album... but if you want an introduction to this band... this isn't a great start (it's a good one, but I highly doubt you'll want to come back to this afterwards.)    … Expand
  6. Bulletboy
    Feb 10, 2018
    8
    Good album, but it isn't dazzling masterpiece. The best songs are : Paper Cages, Finally, Feel the Love Go, The Academy Award, Always Ascending.
    I think that this work is the most important in history of Franz Ferdinand. Because this one is the first with new band members. In my opinion, Always Ascending better, then Right Thoughts, Right Words, Right Action.
  7. Guus2002
    Feb 27, 2018
    9
    I was browsing through my recommendation-feed on spotify and came across the song 'Feel the love go' by Franz Ferdinand and fell in love with the track. This song got me exploring the rest of the band and I found myself loving the mix of guitars and dance-music. So I became excited for their new release 'Always Ascending' and I have to admit: it didn't dissapoint. Let me say: this is a newI was browsing through my recommendation-feed on spotify and came across the song 'Feel the love go' by Franz Ferdinand and fell in love with the track. This song got me exploring the rest of the band and I found myself loving the mix of guitars and dance-music. So I became excited for their new release 'Always Ascending' and I have to admit: it didn't dissapoint. Let me say: this is a new Franz Ferdinand. This album is more synth and disco heavy than their other releases, with some hints of Take Me out and No You Girls sprinkeld throughout. That is going to make or break the album for you and for me it worked. This album is an relaxed and retro take on an great formula. Always Ascending (the song) builds up to this guitar heavy chorus and has some amazing in between. Lazy Boy feels has this great base-line that makes it such an memorable song and it has an chorus that you just have to dance to. Just listening it right now, makes me bop my head. Paper Cages has a good message and has fun in portraying that in the proces. Finally has this amazing chorus and bridge that just make you feel even more connected to the ones you love. The academy award is a slow nice song in between, that offers a nice recharging point for the rest. Lois Lane , even tough it's my least favorite song on the record, has an amazing last minute. Huck and Jim is this amazing anthem with some different styles woven throughout. Glimpse Of Love has a fun, but shallow, feel to it. It could have been a new No You Girls, but it is fine nontheless. Feel the love go is this brassy disco song wich is just awesome. Slow don't Kill me slow is a great closer and feels like asolid ending.

    The album has this great flow. The songs are similair but different enough to feel new. Just great stuff. Even the weaker tracks have some interesting parts in them.

    Overall Consensus: Always Ascending sees Franz Ferdinand taking some new and fun directions, while keeping the best from their succesful formula    … Expand
  8. tosektosek
    Feb 9, 2018
    10
    Always Ascending is just another great album of this great band. How could anyone not enyoy these songs? How anyone could not love Paper Cages? How anyone could not dancing while listening to Feel the love go? How could anyone dislike it? Great come-back
  9. stgrunu
    Apr 4, 2018
    5
    This is Franz weakest album to date. I get the aesthetic is cool but the 90's called and they want their eurobeat back.
  10. RottenDaHam
    May 27, 2018
    8
    this band has learned very much since Tonight, and they feel way more mature on this album, julian corries contributions to album were amiazing and he covers up the missing spot left by nick very well. still some weird vocals and lyrics, but instrumentals are awesome. best tracks: slow don't kill me slow, paper cages, glimpse of love, always ascending. worst tracks: huck and jim, finally.this band has learned very much since Tonight, and they feel way more mature on this album, julian corries contributions to album were amiazing and he covers up the missing spot left by nick very well. still some weird vocals and lyrics, but instrumentals are awesome. best tracks: slow don't kill me slow, paper cages, glimpse of love, always ascending. worst tracks: huck and jim, finally. hyped for next album.… Expand
  11. wowee
    Feb 13, 2018
    10
    Franz Ferdinand (Awesome as always) ..................................................................................................................................
  12. MelancholyHobbs
    Apr 12, 2019
    8
    One of Franz Ferdinand's most danceable albums, and an improvement on the inconsistent 'Right Thoughts...'
    However, the album can come off as a little distant - Alex's lyrics are poetic as always, but seem impersonal in places. But the accompanying music is phenomenal - so many grooves and hooks. A perfect example of a supreme dance album

Awards & Rankings

96
#96 Most Discussed Album of 2018

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
72

Generally favorable reviews - based on 27 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 18 out of 27
  2. Mixed: 9 out of 27
  3. Negative: 0 out of 27
  1. Magnet
    Apr 17, 2018
    60
    It's frustrating, because behind the superficial surfaces, these songs can thrill. [No. 150, p.52]
  2. No Ripcord
    Feb 20, 2018
    60
    Like their past work, subpar filler holds the album back. It’s worth joining them for the climb, just know that it’s going to be an uneven ascent.
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  3. Spin
    Feb 15, 2018
    70
    Despite such surface gloss, it’s clear Franz Ferdinand are still finding their creative footing without McCarthy. The taut arrangements present on previous albums can occasionally give way to moody repetition (“The Academy Award”) or sluggish tempos (“Slow Don’t Kill Me Slow”), robbing the record of immediacy. This is a small quibble, however.
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