Franz Ferdinand Music Group

Scottish rockers Franz Ferdinand, whose debut album has been widely praised by critics, won the prestigious Mercury Music Prize. The Glasgow-based quartet were the favorites among the 12 finalists to take home the award for their self-titled album. The $35,600 prize, now in its 13th year, honors the best album of the year by a British or Irish band. It is judged on talent and innovation rather than commercial sales.

HISTORIC old Liberty Hall has gone through lots of incarnations, from the site of an abolitionist newspaper in the 1850s to an opera house at the turn of the last century. On a recent night, the theater, now home to rock concerts, was a handy lab to test the staying power of Franz Ferdinand, the Scottish quartet that charmed the pop world last year with its combination of dance-happy grooves and wry, obsessive themes.

Franz Ferdinand warmed up for the Grammys by taking key honors Wednesday in the Brit Awards, the U.K.'s top music competition. The Scottish band was named best British rock act and best British group.

ALL through the 1990s, it seemed, Britain sent its vaunted new rock heroes over to conquer America, where for various reasons they promptly expired like "War of the Worlds" Martians exposed to earthly air.

ALL through the 1990s, it seemed, Britain sent its vaunted new rock heroes over to conquer America, where for various reasons they promptly expired like "War of the Worlds" Martians exposed to earthly air.

HISTORIC old Liberty Hall has gone through lots of incarnations, from the site of an abolitionist newspaper in the 1850s to an opera house at the turn of the last century. On a recent night, the theater, now home to rock concerts, was a handy lab to test the staying power of Franz Ferdinand, the Scottish quartet that charmed the pop world last year with its combination of dance-happy grooves and wry, obsessive themes.

Franz Ferdinand warmed up for the Grammys by taking key honors Wednesday in the Brit Awards, the U.K.'s top music competition. The Scottish band was named best British rock act and best British group.

Scottish rockers Franz Ferdinand, whose debut album has been widely praised by critics, won the prestigious Mercury Music Prize. The Glasgow-based quartet were the favorites among the 12 finalists to take home the award for their self-titled album. The $35,600 prize, now in its 13th year, honors the best album of the year by a British or Irish band. It is judged on talent and innovation rather than commercial sales.