Customer Reviews

You Could Have It So Much Better

5 star:		(69)
4 star:		(51)
3 star:		(16)
2 star:		(9)
1 star:		(19)

 

 

Franz Ferdinand's follow up to their sparkling self-titled debut, You Could Have It So Much Better, is another hook filled record. The one noticeable difference is a fuller production sound. The songs don't have that clipped feel of the original and they have a better sonic texture. The first single "Do You Want To" has a tremendous riff and a killer vocals. "Eleanor Put Your Boots On" is a great ballad that wouldn't sound out of place on a Beatles record. "I'm Your Villain" has a Bowie/Eno in Berlin vibe and "This Boy" is pure punk-pop. While the album is not as consistent from top-to-bottom like their debut, there's no sophomore slump here. The band knows hooks and they've shown on their first two albums, they aren't afraid to use them.

I don't understand why people are so disapointed. Why do people want another debut from this band. They've already given it to you. "You Could Have It So Much Better" is NOT the same as their debut. It is progression. Why would you want another "Take Me Out"? No. Although I LOVE their glorious debut, I'm glad this not a replica.
However, Franz Ferdinand still radiates thier sexy tongue in cheek attitude only they've matured enough to incorperate "ballads" like the very Beatles inspired "Eleanor Put Your boots On" and "Fade Together".
"You Could Have It So Much Better" somewhat reminds me of "Veni Vedi Vicious" by The Hives a tad bit (and that's not bad; it's very very good). If there every was a complaint that these songs sound similar to one another then it's probably with "You're The Reason I'm Leaving" and "Well That Was Easy". These two great songs could very easily become one. Try and listen to them back to back. You'll hear the similarity but perphaps Franz has done this on purpose. Tracks 6-8 (to me) is a trilogy of three stages of breaking up. All around the album is all delicious and sweet. My favorite tracks are "This Boy (super sexy song), The Fallen, and What You Meant". Noticed how I didn't mention anything about "Do You Want To". Opps.

Franz Ferdinand enjoyed great success on thier first album, self titled debut that was magnificent. Many hits were created, and a deep fanbase was created. Many people woundered whether Franz Ferdinand would fall to the infamous sophomore slump. Many bands spend years and years writing thier songs and that is why thier first albums are so spectacular. Then when a studio wants a new album, they rush to write it and it isn't as good. Franz's second LP You Could Have It So Much Better is the total polar opposite.

In about a year after thier first LP release these guys came fresh off the bat with great new material. These Scottish revolutionaries return with a second album of smart guitar hooks, and amazing indie dance beats. Even though thier first single "Do You Want To" makes this album seem like it will be a more fast paced dance rock album, but it's not. There are moments of genuine contemplation in "Fade Together" and "Eleanor Put Your Boots On." There is magnificent balance that is strung together by these guys in this wounderful album.

You Could Have It So Much Better leaves you eager for more Franz, instead of concerned on where their careers are headed. Franz is taking over modern rock and roll and are rising stars, this album is great. Franz Ferdinand made music better indeed.

This CD installed trojan-horse spyware on my Windows-based computer, without informing me. My company had to reinstall Windows, after erroneously purchasing a new optical drive, thinking that was the problem.

SONY/BMG releases contain spyware. This is not rumor, it is now reported in the mainstream news (...)

YOU WILL NOT BE ABLE TO RIP MP3s OF THESE SONGS, and play them on more than one device, as the CD is currently formatted. Think on that. Plus, you will have your Windows permanantly altered with tracking software.

I would avoid this and all other Sony/BMG releases until this issue is settled. In the meantime, perhaps artists could stick up for their fans and demand that the record company do better.

This album does not disappoint. I try not to compare it to the first; they have their differences, and are excellent for slightly different reasons, but both are absolutely amazing. These guys are superb, and one of my favorite bands of all time. Anybody with the opportunity to see them live definitely should.

I adore all the tracks on here, which is rare for me. Although I'm already a little tired of their single Do You Want To. If that says anything about how many times I've already listened to the CD, heard them on the radio, watched the music video, etc. etc. These guys are original and I love all of them. Kapranos tends to steal a lot of the attention, but what frontman doesn't?

I think if I had to pick, Walk Away might be my favorite track since it's a bit different from what you'd expect from them. Outsides is equally fantastic, and The Fallen has such a great sound to it to, and highly amusing and original lyrics.

Don't miss out on this amazing album. It's something you can dance to, listen to extremely loudly on the way to work and overall just rock out to in a very pasty, awkward white girl kinda way.

And guys, even though the majority of Franz fans are obsessive teenage girls, don't be ashamed! Franz is for everybody :)

There should be a warning label on this album that keeps you from listening to it in the car. When I first bought it, I had no idea what to expect, and found myself dancing while trying not to run into other drivers. This is another instance of hooking you in and not letting go, and though there are a few slower moments, they are wisely few and far between. I also haven't laughed as hard at an album, not in the Weird Al sense, but at how fun the songs are. Yes, some of the lyrics are goofy (You're lucky lucky, You're so lucky!) but the songs themselves, the time and key changes in unusual places are jarring, but somehow flow with the rest of the song. Take Well That Was Easy, which goes from a driving rock tempo to a a more danceable tempo and back again. You're thrown for a second, but can easily adapt. The overall feeling you come away with from So Much Better is the infectious sense of fun, of what a great time it must have been to be in the studio with these guys. The record is full of little surprises that are always a delight, even after you've heard it enough times to anticipate them.

I have to admit, I REALLY like this album. I don't own the first album yet, but I can't imagine how it can be much better than this. It took me three tries to get fully embroiled in this album. Once that happened I have been playing it non-stop. There is definitely a punk base to all their songs, but there's something about the pace of their music (ever changing, pulsatile and jagged, then smooth...) that keeps you imbalanced yet wanting more. I can't wait to try the first album.

Franz Ferdinand returns with their second breakthrough album, showing just how good they really can make themselves sound musically.

THE FALLEN--The best choice of a song to start the album off with, unless you like to save the best for last. Hands down, the absoloute best song of the entire year. Nothing yet has come close. Featuring vocals by Alex Kapranos, Nick McCarthy, and Paul Thompson.

DO YOU WANT TO--Another very good song, though this song features more pop music than THE FALLEN. But a great song nevertheless, and fun to sing along to as well. Featuring vocals by Alex Kapranos, Nick McCarthy, and Paul Thompson.

THIS BOY--Okay, nowhere near as good as any of the others. But that doesn't mean it's bad. It's just that the other two were so good that this one is rather dwarfed in comparison. Featuring by Alex Kapranos, Nick McCarthy and Paul Thomson.

WALK AWAY--One of the gentlest songs by the band that doesn't feature piano yet. It has the sound of the type of song that could be played at the end scene of PULP FICTION, right before the closing credits. Nice acoustic sound. Featuring vocals by Alex Kapranos and Nick McCarthy.

EVIL AND A HEATHEN--Somewhere along the ranking of THIS BOY. Has a nice dance rythem with the guitar sound, but the singing could be more interesting. Featuring vocals by Alex Kapranos and Nick McCarthy.

YOU'RE THE REASON I'M LEAVING--Pretty good song. Enjoyable to listen to, but annoying to get stuck in your head for too long. Featuring vocals by Alex Kapranos, Nick McCarthy, and Paul Thompson.

ELEANOR PUT YOUR BOOTS ON--The first piano song. More of a ballad than anything, written about Alex's girlfriend. I'm rather uninterested by it. Featuring vocals by Alex Kapranos.

WELL THAT WAS EASY--Starts out as a fast paced rock song and gradually slows down. Rather good song, good to listen to once in a while. Featuring vocals by Alex Kapranos and Nick McCarthy.

WHAT YOU MEANT--This song has the most awesome rock guitar introduction in the whole album. However, it turns rather acoustic after that, and loses it's interesting touch. But as soon as the rock interlude comes back, it picks up all over again. Featuring vocals by Alex Kapranos, Nick McCarthy, and Paul Thompson.

I'M YOUR VILLAIN--I haven't listened to this song very much, but from what I remember, it's a fairly good song. Featuring vocals by Alex Kapranos and Nick McCarthy.

YOU COULD HAVE IT SO MUCH BETTER--The second-to-best song on the album. Has an awesome guitar solo and a great tune. A fabulous song. Featuring vocals by Alex Kapranos and Nick McCarthy.

FADE TOGETHER--Another piano song; too soft for my taste. Featuring vocals by Alex Kapranos.

OUTSIDERS--A more electric-sounding cousin of WALK AWAY. A fairly good song too. Closes off the album pretty well. Featuring vocals by Alex Kapranos, Nick McCarthy, and Paul Thomson

To be honest, the only song I listened to from Franz Ferdinand from their previous release was "Take me Out" which I liked, but more as a 'get-hyped' song. The sound of that single was very different and fun from other music. But after listening to this new CD in it's entirety I have to say I am a true fan of their sound. Some highlights off the CD include Evil and a Heathen, which sounds mysterious at first but leads into a powerful chorus. I also enjoy the sound of Do You Want To which is very remniscent of the first Franz song I liked (Take Me Out). But the highlight of this cd has to be the shorter song "Eleanor Put Your Boots On", which has a fun almost Beatles-esque quality.
I highly reccomend buying this CD.

The debut, granted, was killer amazing stuff. It's what The Strokes should have been and should have sounded like (in fact Take Me Out with its Strokes-like intro instantly bests the entire Strokes catalog, and we realize we've been duped into believing The Strokes were the next best thing -- believe me, you're better off getting the first three Cars records).

But You Could Have It So Much Better proves that their debut was a starting point not an ending. Franz Ferdinand easily could have recycled the same sounds/songs for the second record (especially becuase there wasn't that much time between records and touring) but they took it to the next level. Songs like Outsiders, This Boy and The Fallen still are instantly recognizable as Franz songs but somehow sound just enough different from the debut to be unique. And songs such as Walk Away and Eleanor prove they're ready for experimentation -- but experimentation that isn't interesting to hear once then skip over.

Indeed, this is an album that grows better with subsequent listens and shows growth without abandoning the catchy dance style you loved 'em for in the first place. Love it.