Franz has it 'So Much Better'

By Jeff Renfro

Rock music is currently defined by ridiculous posturing, intended to prove which band is the most authentic. When The Strokes forged their path in the music industry, countless bands followed suit, all attempting to copy the same bohemian look.

In the middle of this garage rock revival, a new band from Scotland emerged, eschewing the current style trends. The well-dressed British band with the amazing single was Franz Ferdinand. They made danceable rock music and clearly did not take themselves seriously. The hype surrounding the band, both critical and commercial, seemed improbable for a band that was so self-consciously "artsy." Attempting to match their early success, Franz Ferdinand has now returned with the follow-up to their self-titled debut called "You Could Have It So Much Better."

Franz Ferdinand (Alex Kapranos: guitar/ vocals; Nick McCarthy: guitar; Bob Hardy: bass; and Paul Thomson: drums) claims to have formed in order to make music for girls to dance to. At their live shows, they command the audience to dance. Their music is characterized by skittered drum beats, looping bass lines, and guitar tracks that have little use for melody. The band has taken the basic formula of MC5 and softened the edges.

At this point, it may be heretical to admit this, but I was not blown away by the first album. It had several stand-out singles, but as a whole it was inconsistent. The tracks were repetitive and there was little reward for repeated listens. In this respect, "You Could-" is a vast improvement.

There are no throw-away tracks on the album, and the high-energy songs are counterbalanced by a few slower, piano-driven songs. Franz still knows how to produce great singles. They are one album away from being able to assemble to a classic greatest hits CD. The problem is that the albums themselves lack coherence. The lead single from "You Could-" is the disco-influenced "Do You Want To." The song is one long double entendre. The appeal of the song and of the band is its attempt to do something great without taking itself too seriously. Franz does not share the disaffected attitude of The Strokes, but lacks the self-righteousness of Radiohead.

There is an echo of "Take Me Out" in the song. The band probably wants to piggy-back its own success on this new album. "Do You Want To" is one of the top singles out, and will appeal to anyone who likes anything Franz has released previously.

The standout track on the album is "Evil and a Heathen," barely over two minutes long. It is a short burst of energy that excites and ends before the simple beat can become repetitive.

In a way, the song is a perfect symbol of the band: high energy and fun to listen to, but at its best when it makes it statement and leaves.

Grade: B