Play Or Nay

Franz Ferdinand - You Could Have It So Much Better (Sony)

The Scottish quartet really make a statement on their follow-up to their highly acclaimed self-titled debut. As one of the most talked about debuts of 2004, Franz Ferdinand show no signs of a sophomore slump on You Could Have It So Much Better. The title alone is quite the declaration for a band that's just released their second album. It's probably the closest indication that their success has gone to their heads, but they back up the talk track after track.

They dress the way they play together as a band, with style. The album's first single, "Do You Want To," is alluring as it is exciting. Singer Alex Kapranos provocatively channels glam-era Bowie while drummer Paul Thomson lays down a beat that would have dance clubs, anywhere, bumping and grinding. Nick McCarthy lets off a call-to-arms salvo of precision guitar licks on the album's opener "Fallen." McCarthy's style continues to grow as some manic interpretation of The Ventures. Lyrically, the song is the most politically direct song the band has written, taking aim at the ever popular trigger happy, problem solving methods to global issues ("What's wrong with a little destruction?"). The band maintains a tight grip on their frantic side; the pull and shake effect they shape with their twisting arrangements still rattle the brain. Nothing is ever completely linear when it comes to Franz Ferdinand. But just when you think that can't pull it off here comes "Eleanor Put Your Boots On."

Mostly an acoustic number, diverting from the high charged nature of the album, Franz Ferdinand seem to take a seat, pack up the drums, and dress the song up with some gentle piano parts. Kapranos' relaxed vocals give way to McCarthy's shaded guitar notes which cast a bit of shadow to the song. It's a world where Nick Drake meets The Kinks for under three minutes--indeed an album highlight.

You Could Have It So Much Better definitely mixes up the moments to make a more attractive listen and keep the band from falling into familiar moves. They've taken that step from a good singles-minded band to a band that makes a start to finish solid album. Songs like "What You Meant" and "Evil And A Heathen" are polished to be bigger but never lose edge. The band provides a little breeze with another acoustic driven song, "Fade Together," and the mid-tempo jangle of "Walk Away." In 2004, they made it cool to dance to rock songs, again. Today, they simply make it look smooth defying expectations.