FRANZ FERDINAND

Like the assassinated Archduke Ferdinand, after whom they're named, Scottish popsters Franz Ferdinand are indeed arch and not at all pretentious. Trailing postpunk influences from Talking Heads and fellow Scots Josef K and Orange Juice to Chic, their strident, angular guitar pop is by turns visceral and wistful. Since they formed in 2002 they've sold more than 3m albums and made a bigger impact in America than Oasis and Robbie Williams. They've landed two Brits and an Ivor Novello Award to boot. The band were signed to Domino Records in 2003 and their second single, Take Me Out, released in 2004, shot into the UK Top 5. Their eponymously titled debut album followed, receiving widespread critical acclaim and fizzing with angular guitars and hook-laden choruses. 2005 follow up You Could Have It So Much Better proved sufficiently anthemic to please both the pop crowd and the art-rock hardcore.