Franz Ferdinand, Franz Ferdinand

The debut from this Glasgow art-school quartet is a burgeoning hit in the UK that deserves to be just as big in the States. Franz’s smart, spiky songcraft stakes out similar eighties-retro territory as Interpol, and should appeal to fans of the Fall or Fear of Music-era Talking Heads. But the band’s pop sensibility guides the ship. Catchy hooks abound, and nearly every song is about women they’re dating or would like to (well, except “Michael”). That may be one of rock ’n’ roll’s most basic tropes, but done this well you remember why.