Franz Ferdinand

Quite unlike most other prominent rock bands that take years to release the follow-up to their last record, Scottish rock quartet Franz Ferdinand’s new album You Could Have It So Much Better…, comes only one and a half years after the release of the band’s smash hit debut. The band stormed onto the global rock scene in the spring of 2004 and their trademark groovy guitar, dance sound immediately caught on. The group’s approach to music is really quite simple: to make songs for girls to dance to. This sentiment is very much present on the band’s new disc and while the album’s thirteen songs don’t fair as well as the group’s debut disc, Franz have still managed to release a decent second record.

You Could Have It So Much Better…kicks off with “The Fallen,” a perfect reintroduction to the band’s groovy sound. Unlike most other Franz songs, the tune has a long intro and it maintains the same level of intensity through the entire song. Besides the band’s first big hit “Take Me Out,” “The Fallen” might be the coolest song that the band has ever recorded as it sure is an entertaining way to start the record. “Do You Want To” comes next, the disc’s first single and most radio friendly song. While the song is a bit silly sounding with its “doo do do dododododoo” chorus, it is damn catchy and it will likely have you singing along after a few listens. Track three “This Boy” moves along at a frantic pace and would probably be an awesome song to drive to.

Perhaps the most unconventional Franz Ferdinand song is track four “Walk Away.” The song shows some real musical maturity from the band’s debut album as the song actually sounds like it’s about something, unlike some of the band’s other work. “Evil and a Heathen” moves briskly clocking in at just two minutes and it sounds a lot like a throwback to ‘70s punk crossed with the band’s slick guitar grooves. “You’re the Reason I’m Leaving” is another decent song, but the band really hit the wall on the next song “Eleanor Put Your Boots Back On.” Not only does it sound like it’s about nonsense, the band does a very bad Beatles impression on the song. “Well That Was Easy” sounds just like any other Franz Ferdinand tune until about forty seconds in when the song totally changes pace. While the chorus isn’t great, the verses are what make the song decent.

The last few tracks on You Could Have It So Much Better… are up and down. “What You Meant” and “I’m Your Villain” aren’t up to par with the rest of the record and the band unsuccessfully does a Coldplay imitation on “Fade Together.” On the other hand, the title track rocks fast and hard and sounds a bit like the Sex Pistols and the final song “Outsiders” is surprisingly one of the best songs on the disc. The song is definitely the most unconventional track that Franz Ferdinand has ever released and it strays from the sound of the rest of the album with its slight Middle Eastern feel.

Overall, You Could Have It So Much Better…is a decent follow up to the band’s smash hit debut. The band has expanded their sound a bit on the new album, but it definitely does not include the degree of radio friendliness that the first record brought along with it. Some of the songs do sound a bit unfinished and rushed which could be a result of releasing a new record only eighteen months after the release of the last one, but the group has managed to expand its horizons and produce a respectable record.  [ END ]

Track Listing:

01. The Fallen
02. Do You Want To
03. This Boy
04. Walk Away
05. Evil and a Heathen
06. You’re The Reason I’m Leaving
07. Eleanor Put Your Boots On
08. Well That Was Easy
09. What You Meant
10. I’m Your Villain
11. You Could Have it So Much Better
12. Fade Together
13. Outsiders

Run Time: 41:10