 "Photo: artist web site")
4 and a half stars You Could have it so much better with franz ferdinand Franz Ferdinand (Domino)
With its sophomore slump predicted more often than the coming of Christ, Franz Ferdinand has found a way to silence its critics while ever so slightly expanding its repertoire and style.
You Could Have It So Much Better With Franz Ferdinand, the second album by the bhoys (how they spell it in Scotland) from Glasgow, sacrifices some of the original's tight guitar hooks for a more crafted songwriting style, bound to ensnare the most noble scenester or devout pop practitioner.
Its cross-cultural hit "Take Me Out" made such an impact as to influence hip-hop's current king, Kanye West, on his latest release. For a quintet from Glasgow to impact the American hip-hop community, it must be doing something right.
To be frank, there really isn't much wrong with You Could. Top-notch tracks like "Do You Want To" and "This Boy" are most effective at getting stuck in your head for days. 'Days' may be an understatement.
In all likelihood, while in your communal shower, you may hear your more vocally inclined neighbor singing in his finest Glaswegian accent. Glaswegian accents aren't easily faked, to be honest, and this reviewer does not recommend attempting this, as in certain parts it may be considered social suicide.
While this record may inspire some poor accents, You Could's real intention is to get you on the dance floor. To the month of October what Kanye West's Late Registration was to September, You Could is going to lead to a lot of awkward dance moves, but social movement by the typically stagnant Jack Johnson crowd is never a bad thing, so no complaints here.While this is a return to catchy form, it's also a step forward in Beatles-esque fashion. There are moments on You Could where you swear you are listening to Help-era Beatles, including the schoolboy haircuts. Matching costumes aside, Franz Ferdinand is clearly dipping into the pop-vault on this one, even endorsing some sort of The Jam-like pop punk in the process.
It's as if the bandmembers got together and watched every episode of the BBC's Top of the Pops from the mid-'60s and late '70s, and ignored every ounce of psychadelia in between before going into the studio. There is nothing complex about this record, but in that simplicity is grand success.
Every ounce of this album feels choreographed and planned so intricately that it is practically flawless. While some might complain this is a betrayal against the actuality of the punk-era this band obsesses over, there is something special about it. Imagine if, for one moment, pop music, while heavily organized, was interesting. That is Franz Ferdinand: never too expansive, but tight and complete to the point of pop-rock perfection. Good work bhoys.
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