Record Breaker: Franz Ferdinand's incredible 2nd Album

YOU COULD HAVE IT SO MUCH BETTER
Franz Ferdinand's smashing second album.

We're going way back in time... to 2005. Spin named it one of their top three albums of the entire year. Rolling Stone named it #8 on their annual list. It's Franz Ferdinand's tremendous sophomore album and it's today's record breaker profile.

I have to admit, "You Could Have It So Much Better," really caught me completely off guard. I was pretty ready to sign the band off - as a good band with a very good (perhaps lucky!) first album. (We've all seen it before... Signs of brilliance followed by years of, how should I say; "milking it?") Boy was I wrong. This is one of my favorite albums now!

Today's Record Breaker is an abridged look at Franz Ferdinand and their highly recommended second album.

While its true the band produces some tracks that are little more than unabashed alterno dance pop - but these tracks are irresistible in their own right. Sprinkled through the album are songs of depth and quality, accentuated by quirky 'point of view' lyrics and some pretty interesting images. The band has also learned to adapt and grow musically. Ultimately, adaption is the musical fountain of youth. In the case of Franz Ferdinand, I hope this is the case. I would love to see a follow-up to You Could Have It So Much Better.

Walk Away
credits: Kapranos, McCarthy, Hardy, Thomson
Franz Ferdinand - Walk Away

I swapped my innocence for pride
Crushed the end within my stride
Said I'm strong now I know that I'm a leaver
I love the sound of you walking away
Mascara bleeds a blackened tear
And I am cold
Yes, I'm cold
But not as cold as you are
I love the sound of you walking away
Why don't you walk away?
Why don't you walk away?
No buildings will fall down
Why don't you walk away?
No quake will split the ground
Why don't you walk away?
The sun won't swallow the sky
Why don't you walk away?
Statues will not cry
Why don't you walk away?
I cannot turn to see those eyes
As apologies may rise
I must be strong and stay an unbeliever
And love the sound of you walking away
Mascara bleeds into my eye
I'm not cold
I am old
At least
As old as you are

As you walk away?

As you walk away
My headstone crumbles down
As you walk away
The Hollywood wind's a howl
As you walk away
The Kremlin's falling
As you walk away
Radio Four is STATIC

As you walk away
The stab of stiletto
On a silent night
Stalin Smiles
Hitler laughs
Churchill claps
Mao Tse Tung
on the back

Eleanor Put Your Boots On
credits: Kapranos, McCarthy, Hardy, Thomson
Franz Ferdinand - Eleanor Put Your Boots On

Eleanor put those boots back on
Kick the heels into the Brooklyn dirt
I know it isn't dignified to run
But if you run
You can run to the Coney Island rollercoaster
Ride to the highest point and leap across the filthy water
Leap until the Gulf Stream's brought you down
I could be there when you land

So Eleanor take a Greenpoint three-point turn
Towards the hidden sun
You know you are so elegant when you run
Oh if you run
You can run to that statue with the dictionary
Climb to her fingernail and
Leap, yeah take an atmospheric leap
Let the jet stream set you down
I could be there when you land

So Eleanor put those boots back on
Put the boots back on and run
Come on over here

Franz Ferdinand web