‘You Could Have it So Much Better...With Franz Ferdinand’ has to be one of the most eagerly anticipated new albums in many a year. Can they follow up the release of the their massively acclaimed self titled debut? Will they do ‘a Coldplay’ and crack the US market with this one?
Well, American alternative music site Pitchfork has heard the entire record, and according to their reviewer Sean Fennessey, it’s rather good. So good in fact, that he’s published a track by track review. And here it is:
‘The Fallen’ – Buzzsaw guitars and an abused drum kit mark this heavily-produced opener. Alex Kapranos, amidst spiraling axes and a scuzz solo, asks, “What’s wrong with a little destruction?”
‘Do You Want To’ – The first single is a dancey retread reminiscent of 'Take Me Out', but without the hooky oomph.
‘This Boy’ – A riotous paean, full of ladder-climbing guitars and syncopated vocals. Short and forceful. The pace is blistering.
‘Walk Away’ – A big, accessible, Morrissey-inflected ballad that builds momentum quickly. Kapranos swoons, “I love the sound of you walking away.”
‘Evil and a Heathen’ – A deep-bass foot-stomper. Just over two minutes, with an acidic and self-deprecating chorus.
'You're the Reason I'm Leaving' – Another sincere love song masked in four-on-the-floor beats and a sprightly bass line.
‘Eleanor Put Your Boots On’ – The Rock Star Couple Ballad. Eleanor Friedberger of the Fiery Furnaces, Kapranos’ (ex?) squeeze, gets the Elton John treatment over simple acoustic guitar and pointed piano. Unabashed melodrama elegantly delivered.
'Well That Was Easy’ – A return to disco rock with a soaring “ladadada ladadada” chorus. Very tuneful, but the lyrics are lacking. “Kill me now, ‘cause I’m leaving you now.” Hmm…there seems to be a theme developing here.
‘What You Meant’ – More harsh, slicing guitar (a serious trend on the album) coupled with loosely-structured verses and classic Lennon-McCartney chord progressions.
‘I'm Your Villain’ – This recent tour staple is tighter and slower than its live incarnation-- at first. A mid-song crash segues into angular riffing. More depressive, accusatory lyrics.
‘You Could Have It So Much Better’ – The guitars get progressively louder throughout each song, but none more so than on this call-and-response track. A rambunctious come-on.
‘Fade Together’ – The quietest song on the album features saloon piano and acoustic guitar. “If we get away, you know we might just stay away.” Somebody buy this guy a beer.
‘Outsiders’ – Wah-wah riffing and a straight-up dance beat highlight the closer, the closest relative to Franz Ferdinand’s debut. Anthemic and atmospheric, almost simultaneously.
'You Could Have It So Much Better... With Franz Ferdinand' hits shop shelves on October 3, while the single ’Do You Want To’, precedes the record on September 19.
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