Franz Ferdinand - You Could Have It So Much Better

It barely seems like five minutes since Franz Ferdinand released their debut album onto a hype frenzied public, only to see it fly into the higher reaches of the chart and refuse to budge for the rest of the year. To say the pressure is on with this, their sophomore release, would be somewhat of an understatement.

There are worse ways to kick off than with ‘The Fallen’; just under four minutes of the new, sharper, more pop orientated Franz. Backing vocals with a sense of humour, and melodies that bend and break at will, it’s a future hit single in waiting without a doubt. ‘You’re The Reason I’m Leaving’ is little different - performed at full pace, with just enough old and new to make it fresh and exciting.

The difference between this and their debut, however, is the addition of a softer, more acoustic edge. Standout track ‘Eleanor Put Your Boots On’ is far more tranquil and laid back than anything to previously appear from the Franz repertoire, even featuring piano, sounding somewhere inbetween a Ray Davies classic and Dylan at his best. ‘Walk Away’, while more forceful in its approach, has a similar vibe, and one of the most deceptive hook lines of 2005 so far to boot.

‘This Boy’ and ‘Evil And A Heathen’ both draw little time for breath, instead chosing to come in at a touch over two minutes, while the title track, ‘You Could Have It So Much Better’, possibly best shows the evolution in the Scots’ sound. Still spiky, edgy and immediate as ever, they’re not sticking to the formula any more. The rulebook is out of the window - the crown princes of art rock are well and truly back.