The Human Fear

The Human Fear was recorded at AYR Studios in Scotland and produced by Mark Ralph, who previously served as a mixer and recording engineer on the band's fourth studio album, Right Thoughts, Right Words, Right Action (2013).{{Cite web |date=11 September 2024 |title=Franz Ferdinand announce new album 'The Human Fear' |url=https://www.dominomusic.com/news/us/franz-ferdinand-announce-new-album-the-human-fear |access-date=12 September 2024 |website=Domino Recording Company}} The album's title refers to the album's primary lyrical concept of fear and "searching for the thrill of being human via fears", as described by band frontman Alex Kapranos. Kapranos further states that the album touches upon certain types of specific fear, including "fear of social isolation, fear of leaving an institution, [and] fear of leaving or staying in a relationship".

The band announced on 9 September 2024 that they would be releasing a new song, titled "Audacious", on 11 September. The following day, fans discovered a store listing for The Human Fear, a new studio album from the band.{{Cite magazine |last=Lapierre |first=Megan |date=11 September 2024 |title=Franz Ferdinand Announce New Album The Human Fear |url=https://exclaim.ca/music/article/franz-ferdinand-seemingly-have-a-new-album-on-the-way |access-date=12 September 2024 |magazine=Exclaim!}} Alongside the release of "Audacious", the band confirmed that The Human Fear would be their sixth studio album, to be released on 10 January 2025 through Domino.{{Cite web |last=Trendell |first=Andrew |date=11 September 2024 |title=Franz Ferdinand return with 'Audacious' and tell us about new album The Human Fear |url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/franz-ferdinand-audacious-the-human-fear-new-album-interview-alex-kapranos-tour-3792487 |access-date=12 September 2024 |website=NME}}

The editions of the album included additional LP of album demos.{{cite web|url=https://www.dominomusic.com/releases/franz-ferdinand/the-human-fear/exclusive-limited-double-lp|title=Franz Ferdinand - The Human Fear - Exclusive Limited Double LP|publisher=dominomusic.com|accessdate=2025-01-14}}

{{Album ratings

| ADM = 6.8/10{{Cite web |title=The Human Fear by Franz Ferdinand reviews |url=http://anydecentmusic.com/review/14167/Franz-Ferdinand-The-Human-Fear.aspx |access-date=13 January 2025 |website=AnyDecentMusic?}}

| MC = 72/100{{Cite web |title=The Human Fear by Franz Ferdinand |url=https://www.metacritic.com/music/the-human-fear/franz-ferdinand |access-date=13 January 2025 |website=Metacritic}}

| rev1 = AllMusic

| rev1Score = {{Rating|3.5|5}}{{Cite web |last=Phares |first=Heather |title=The Human Fear - Franz Ferdinand |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/the-human-fear-mw0004374644 |access-date=13 January 2025 |website=AllMusic}}

| rev2 = Clash

| rev2Score = 7/10{{Cite web |last=Murray |first=Robin |date=9 January 2025 |title=Franz Ferdinand - The Human Fear |url=https://www.clashmusic.com/reviews/franz-ferdinand-the-human-fear/ |access-date=13 January 2025 |website=Clash}}

| rev3 = DIY

| rev3Score = {{Rating|4.5|5}}{{Cite web |last=Goggins |first=Joe |date=8 January 2025 |title=Franz Ferdinand - The Human Fear |url=https://diymag.com/review/album/franz-ferdinand-the-human-fear |access-date=13 January 2025 |website=DIY}}

| rev4 = The Guardian

| rev4Score = {{Rating|2|5}}{{Cite web |last=Aroesti |first=Rachel |date=3 January 2025 |title=Franz Ferdinand: The Human Fear review – stiffness sets in on stodgy sixth |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2025/jan/03/franz-ferdinand-the-human-fear-review-stiffness-sets-in-on-stodgy-sixth |access-date=13 January 2025 |website=The Guardian}}

| rev5 = Mojo

| rev5Score = {{Rating|4|5}}{{Cite magazine |date=February 2025 |title=Franz Ferdinand - The Human Fear |magazine=Mojo |page=88}}

| rev6 = NME

| rev6Score = {{Rating|4|5}}{{Cite web |last=Trendell |first=Andrew |date=10 January 2025 |title=Franz Ferdinand – 'The Human Fear' review: art-rock icons prove they can still take you out |url=https://www.nme.com/reviews/album/franz-ferdinand-the-human-fear-album-review-lyrics-tracklist-3826375 |access-date=13 January 2025 |website=NME}}

| rev7 = The Observer

| rev7Score = {{Rating|3|5}}{{Cite web |last=Mongredien |first=Phil |date=10 January 2025 |title=Franz Ferdinand: The Human Fear review – more revitalisation than reinvention |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2025/jan/10/franz-ferdinand-the-human-fear-review-more-revitalisation-than-reinvention |access-date=13 January 2025 |website=The Observer}}

| rev8 = Paste

| rev8Score = 7.2/10{{Cite web |last=Danton |first=Eric R. |date=10 January 2025 |title=Franz Ferdinand Push Boundaries on The Human Fear |url=https://www.pastemagazine.com/music/franz-ferdinand/franz-ferdinand-push-boundaries-on-the-human-fear |access-date=13 January 2025 |website=Paste}}

| rev9 = Pitchfork

| rev9Score = 6.3/10{{Cite web |last=Schonfeld |first=Zach |date=10 January 2025 |title=Franz Ferdinand: The Human Fear |url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/franz-ferdinand-the-human-fear/ |access-date=13 January 2025 |website=Pitchfork}}

| rev10 = Rolling Stone

| rev10Score = {{Rating|4|5}}{{Cite magazine |last=Sheffield |first=Rob |date=11 January 2025 |title=Franz Ferdinand Deliver Snazzy Return to Form with 'The Human Fear' |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-album-reviews/franz-ferdinand-the-human-fear-review-1235232226/ |access-date=13 January 2025 |magazine=Rolling Stone}}

}}

According to review aggregator Metacritic, The Human Fear received "generally favourable reviews" based on a weighted average score of 72 out of 100 from 17 critic scores.

Robin Murray of Clash gave the album seven out of ten, noting "A band blessed with an innate pop touch, there’s a fantastic degree of immediacy on show here. Lead single 'Audacious' is a preening slice of Franz-pop with an arch Alex Kapranos vocal, while the tumbling piano line on 'Night Or Day' points to the influence of one-time collaborators Sparks in its daring wit," and concluded "Fun, lean, and concise, 'The Human Fear' finds Franz Ferdinand looking to the future without any need to panic."{{Cite web |last1=Murray |first1=Robin |date=2025-01-09 |title=Franz Ferdinand – The Human Fear {{!}} Reviews |url=https://www.clashmusic.com/reviews/franz-ferdinand-the-human-fear/ |access-date=2025-02-16 |website=Clash Magazine Music News, Reviews & Interviews |language=en-GB}}

Note: On vinyl pressings, the placement of "Bar Lonely" and "Tell Me I Should Stay" is reversed.

{{Track listing

| all_writing = Alex Kapranos, except where noted.

| headline = The Human Fear track listing

| total_length = 35:15

| title1 = Audacious

| length1 = 3:23

| title2 = Everydaydreamer

| writer2 = {{hlist|Kapranos|Julian Corrie}}

| length2 = 3:12

| title3 = The Doctor

| writer3 = {{hlist|Kapranos|Corrie|Dino Bardot}}

| length3 = 2:20

| title4 = Hooked

| writer4 = {{hlist|Kapranos|Corrie}}

| length4 = 2:41

| title5 = Build It Up

| writer5 = {{hlist|Kapranos|Corrie}}

| length5 = 3:03

| title6 = Night or Day

| length6 = 3:21

| title7 = Tell Me I Should Stay

| length7 = 4:45

| title8 = Cats

| length8 = 3:17

| title9 = Black Eyelashes

| length9 = 2:52

| title10 = Bar Lonely

| writer10 = {{hlist|Kapranos|Bob Hardy}}

| length10 = 3:05

| title11 = The Birds

| length11 = 3:16

}}

{{Track listing

| headline = Japanese-exclusive CD bonus track listing

| total_length = 38:50

| title12 = It's Funny

| length12 = 3:35

}}

{{Track listing

| headline = Bonus 12" demo LP track listing

| total_length = 51:55

| title1 = Audacious

| note1 = 1st phone recording

| writer1 =

| length1 = 4:41

| title2 = Dr Dr

| writer2 =

| length2 = 1:45

| title3 = Back on the Outside

| writer3 =

| length3 = 3:56

| title4 = Every Day

| writer4 =

| length4 =3:42

| title5 = Love Song 140bpm

| writer5 =

| length5 = 5:01

| title6 = Every Day Dreamer 4

| writer6 =

| length6 = 3:31

| title7 = Curious

| writer7 =

| length7 = 4:00

| title8 = Audacious Riffs 1 & 2

| writer8 =

| length8 = 1:50

| title9 = Build It Up avec Antoine et Pierre

| writer9 =

| length9 = 2:57

| title10 = Bar Lonely

| writer10 =

| length10 = 3:11

| title11 = Every Day

| note11 = acoustic demo

| writer11 =

| length11 = 3:08

| title12 = Black Eyelashes

| writer12 =

| length12 = 2:56

| title13 = Audacious

| note13 = String arr. 1st Sketch

| writer13 =

| length13 = 1:04

| title14 = The Birds

| writer14 =

| length14 = 3:36

| title15 = Dumb Korg

| writer15 =

| length15 = 3:26

| title16 = Billy Goodbye

| writer16 =

| length16 = 4:11

}}

• Alex Kapranos – lead vocals, guitar, keyboards
• Julian Corrie – synthesiser, backing vocals
• Audrey Tait – drums, percussion
• Dino Bardot – guitar, backing vocals
• Bob Hardy – bass

• Mark Ralph – production, mixing
• Matt Colton – mastering
• Gemma Chester – engineering
• Josh Green – engineering
• Anthony Ryan Denton – engineering assistance
• Clara Luciani – background vocals

• List of number-one albums of 2025 (Croatia)

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Category:Domino Recording Company albums

Category:Franz Ferdinand (band) albums