You Could Have It So Much Better
by Franz Ferdinand
User Score
8.3

Universal acclaim- based on 220 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 187 out of 220
  2. Mixed: 22 out of 220
  3. Negative: 11 out of 220

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  1. Andremax
    Jul 12, 2018
    8
    Great album. A little bit more versatile and light than first album, but a bit less memorable.
  2. chris_g95
    Nov 17, 2014
    9
    With their debut album winning the 2004 Mercury Music Prize, many expected Franz Ferdinand to struggle with their next album however 2005s "You Could Have It So Much Better" is more than a worthy follow-up. Released only 18 months after their debut, they returned this in a very short space of time. From the opening notes in "The Fallen" to the closing notes in "Outsiders" This album is aWith their debut album winning the 2004 Mercury Music Prize, many expected Franz Ferdinand to struggle with their next album however 2005s "You Could Have It So Much Better" is more than a worthy follow-up. Released only 18 months after their debut, they returned this in a very short space of time. From the opening notes in "The Fallen" to the closing notes in "Outsiders" This album is a brilliant listen for anyone who liked the debut and anyone else on the planet.
    Best Tracks: The Fallen, Walk Away, Eleanor Put Your Boots On, You Could Have It So Much Better
    Worst Tracks; You're The Reason I'm Leaving    … Expand
  3. XavierBlaq
    Dec 28, 2013
    9
    Definitely a much more varied album than their debut, Franz Ferdinand's You Could Have It So Much Better is a mixed barrel of things done better and things done worse than on their debut. Overall, it is a much less consistent album, containing possibly their most meaningful song, "The Fallen", and one of their least meaningful songs in "I'm Your Villain." In addition, this an albumDefinitely a much more varied album than their debut, Franz Ferdinand's You Could Have It So Much Better is a mixed barrel of things done better and things done worse than on their debut. Overall, it is a much less consistent album, containing possibly their most meaningful song, "The Fallen", and one of their least meaningful songs in "I'm Your Villain." In addition, this an album extremes, with pounding rockers like the title track and "Evil and a Heathen" and gentle, even beautiful tracks like "Walk Away" and "Eleanor Put Your Boots On." Nonetheless, fans of their self-titled album should be fans of this follow-up as well.… Expand
  4. Palp
    May 25, 2012
    10
    You Could Have It So Much Better (in my opinion) improves upon a great debut album with one that has songs that are more punchy and catchy than their self-titled debut. This is one of the best times I have had while listening to an album, and would recommend this record highly.
  5. KeithG
    Apr 25, 2012
    0
    One of the worst albums I've had the displeasure of buying. It possesses all of the pretension of the early '00s indie movement without any of the charm of the hits on the band's first album.
  6. Ricko
    Jan 6, 2012
    7
    While still has many good moments, their style wore thin a bit for me on their second record. There was little or no progression in style and it lacked the tunes of their debut.
  7. Stormwatch
    May 1, 2008
    5
    Some good moments, but, as a whole, notably inferior to Franz's awesome first album. The songs lack the "alternative" feel from before, and tend to be too fast-paced. The "louder" production doesn't help either.
  8. VidM
    Aug 13, 2007
    6
    Very low mileage on this one. Noticeably inferior to their debut. Most of the tracks blur together into one long tedious mess.
  9. JeffJ
    Jun 15, 2007
    9
    Absolutely stunning. It would have been even stronger if they would have left off "Fade Together" and "Outsiders', but if the songs "The Fallen," "Do You Want to", "This Boy" and "You Could Have it So Much Better" don't shake your booty, then, like Fatboy Slim said, your booty must be dead.
  10. Oligami
    May 20, 2007
    7
    They evolved the way I feared they would. This record definitely needed some more restrain.
  11. MarcusP
    Mar 12, 2007
    9
    Great Album. It´s not the songs in itself, thats great, it´s the whole album.
  12. ElizabethP
    Jan 17, 2007
    8
    A lot better than their first album since they abandoned a lot of aimless, sloppy guitar strumming. "Do You Want to?" is a great song although it's slightly embarrassing to sing it on the top of your lungs. The stand outs are "The Fallen" and "Outsiders". This album is more melodic and more coherent than their previous.
  13. time
    Dec 2, 2006
    6
    Do You Want to is one of the worse singles of the year.
  14. SebaB
    Jul 28, 2006
    10
    It's the firts album that makes me imitating guitarsolos
  15. TheCritic
    Jul 17, 2006
    8
    DEFINATELY better then their first one especially when they slow themselves down. Check out "Eleanor put you boots on" and "Outsiders" and even "Walk Away"
  16. anon
    Apr 2, 2006
    10
    EVEN BETTER thatn the first one.
  17. StanH
    Feb 22, 2006
    7
    Has some very good tracks, but is too drawn out and not nearly as consistent as their debut.
  18. MarioP
    Feb 1, 2006
    9
    I was not thoroughly convinced by this at first, and I still think that Do You Want To is an embarassingly horrible song, but the album definitely grew on me on further listenings, so much so that now I prefer it over their debut. Less keyboards and frills, even more guitars, some good ballads (and Walk Away is truly brilliant) and great songwriting and structure. Exciting and quite I was not thoroughly convinced by this at first, and I still think that Do You Want To is an embarassingly horrible song, but the album definitely grew on me on further listenings, so much so that now I prefer it over their debut. Less keyboards and frills, even more guitars, some good ballads (and Walk Away is truly brilliant) and great songwriting and structure. Exciting and quite long-lasting as well. Well done FF, this is my pick for 2005 (with Andrew Bird a close second).… Expand
  19. JorgeE
    Jan 28, 2006
    10
    In order to save words.... JUST PERFECT!!!!
  20. FFFF
    Jan 23, 2006
    5
    This song is far more aggressive than the first, and I like that. But almost all of the songs sound the same. And the two ballads are pathetically cheesy. Bonus points for possibly the best drummer in the millenium. The guitar is repetitive, and the voice adds a huge shadow to the rest of the music. TOO DISCO-Y for me. I love their first album though.
  21. AlecE
    Jan 10, 2006
    10
    Best album of 2005.
  22. Ben
    Jan 7, 2006
    9
    No, there's not really anything innovative here, and yes, it all sounds very similar to their first album. In truth, the only thing Franz Ferdinand brings to the table here are some incredibly catchy songs. Then again, what more do they really need? This might not have been the best album of 2005, but I'd be hard pressed to think of another that was simply this much fun to listen to.
  23. Tom
    Jan 5, 2006
    1
    All the songs sound the same as the last album- I was very disappointed.
  24. JonH
    Dec 28, 2005
    10
    In the top 5 of albums of 2005. Franz Ferdinand is pop/rock at its absolute finest and most exciting. Every track is a showstopper.
  25. MANUTD
    Dec 27, 2005
    10
    This is one of the best albums I've ever heard
  26. Mack
    Dec 10, 2005
    5
    Sometimes catchy? Yes. Sometimes annoying? Yes. Infinitely overrated? Of course. I was dissapointed at the formulaic nature of it all - I kind of expected something with a dose of creativity. Had this been released by someone else, it would have garnered much critical backlash, but alas, FF is still riding the wave of support from their first album, which was flawed, but much better.
  27. meh
    Dec 6, 2005
    3
    very overrated. gets pretty boring after about 3-4 listens despite a few tracks.
  28. markl
    Nov 28, 2005
    8
    Slightly better than their debut.
  29. DankyMcSkanky
    Nov 21, 2005
    6
    so overrated its not even funny. like i will say that they have some of the catchiest tunes of the year but they're nothing new. just another pop band trying to come off as indie. straight posers
  30. Nani
    Nov 18, 2005
    10
    couldn't have it any better.
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Awards & Rankings

40
#40 Best Album of 2005
29
#29 Most Discussed Album of 2005

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
83

Universal acclaim - based on 32 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 28 out of 32
  2. Mixed: 4 out of 32
  3. Negative: 0 out of 32
  1. Amazon.com
    90
    It's a stunning, confident piece of work that suggests the band is merely getting started.
    Read full review
  2. Blender
    80
    It'll do just fine for now. But here's hoping for a torturously difficult third album. [Oct 2005, p.140]
  3. cokemachineglow
    84
    Franz Ferdinand have slightly tweaked the neo-Brit-pop genre – mixing in funk, dashes of punk, and a bit of disco – and come out with a sophomore album even more confident and hungry for glory than their debut.
    Read full review
See all critic reviews »