Critics' Choice 2004

1. Franz Ferdinand Franz Ferdinand [Domino]
Franz’s first album was a geometric aggregation of jagged guitars, Germanic rhythms, sharp suits and sharper cheekbones. From the nervy homo-erotic thrust of ‘Michael’ to the Gang Of Four kinetics of ‘Take Me Out’, from the Smiths-ian wit of ‘Matinee’ to the modernist manifesto ‘This Fire’, Franz opened their account with a collection of single standard songs that spawned countless imitators - and a boom in business for skinny tie manufacturers.
2. The Killers – Hot Fuss [Lizard King]
3. The Streets – A Grand Don’t Come For Free [Locked On/679]
4. Interpol – Antics [Matador]
5. U2 – How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb [Island]