4Play

Dec. 7, 2005

Franz Ferdinand - You Could Have It So Much Better - Sony Music

Back on the skinny-tied scene with the follow-up to their smash self-titled debut disc, Franz Ferdinand, as all bands do, have now entered the realm of The Dreaded Sophomore Album.  But with this collection, they seemed to have fluffed off that looming threat with a mere wave of the hand.  This is in no way some desperate attempt at holding on to their hitmaker status, although that’s exactly what they do - because this is a great, cohesive set of songs that shows how much the band appreciates the attention they’ve received, and they’re not about to waste it.  They follow much the same formula as before - danceable Brit-pop with smarts - but with more confidence and and even more hooks - you’ll find yourself both re-listening to and humming along with such tracks as “The Fallen,” “Do You Want To,” “Walk Away,” and the Bowie-esque ballad “Eleanor Put Your Boots On,” and you’ll also find that you’re already looking forward to album number three. 


Natalie Merchant - Retrospective 1995-2005 - Rhino/WEA

Merchant got her start with late ‘90s indie pop band 10,000 Maniacs, and went on to infuse her solo work with much of what she’d learned from her many years with that band - her own songs are just as wordy, thought-provoking, socially-conscious, and folk-influenced (listen to those ringing guitars!) as the tunes the Maniacs were putting out.  This particular collection, put together by Natalie herself, brings together songs from Merchant’s four studio albums, including her hits “Wonder,” “Kind and Generous,” and “Carnival,” and also includes some fan faves like “The House Carpenter’s Daughter.”  Clocking in at only an hour, it would’ve been nice if they’d perhaps thought to include some even more obscure material, or maybe a couple of cuts from her live album, but it’s still a decent overview for fans and, for others, it’s a good introduction to what Merchant’s done to date - for those who still want more, there’s also a deluxe edition available that includes a bonus disc of extras.


The Fray - How To Save A Life - Epic

Although you’ll probably hear this comparison time and time again when reading about Denver quartet The Fray, they are not a Coldplay clone.  Sorry, fellow reviewers, but simply including piano on a song does not another Coldplay make, especially when the vocals are far more Western grassroots (think Counting Crows’ Adam Duritz) than Brit-pop.  That said, The Fray are impressive in their own right, so let’s not take that away from them - their songs of middle American heartache and desolate thoughts will weave through your ears, showcasing the many pretty sounds they’ve stitched together.  Thick arrangements and melancholy ballads like “Fall Away” and the sugary “Look After You” mix it up here with more Up tracks like “Over My Head (Cable Car),”  “All At Once,” and “She Is,” and the overall effect is that of melodic pop that really works, probably one of the reasons they were asked to open for Weezer this past July, and one of the reasons that you should give them a listen.

INXS - The Best of INXS - Atlantic/WEA

Amidst the pop of the ‘80s, much of which was about as deep as a soap dish, INXS stood out, fueled by a pub sensibility earned by paying their dues in rugged Australia, and made popular by the band’s inherent feel for a groove.  Melding these two influences with sassy pop-rock and the slinky vocals of singer Michael Hutchence helped INXS reach far beyond their homeland and gain authentic pop success.  Now that the band (minus Hutchence, who sadly passed away in 1997) has found a new singer (via their television competition-slash-show Rock Star INXS), sounds will be a-changin’ - so what better time to look back on what the band has accomplished?  Included here are tracks “Original Sin,” “Need You Tonight,” “Devil Inside,” “New Sensation,” “Disappear,” and perhaps their biggest stateside hit, “What You Need” - but the two previously unreleased songs tacked on unfortunately took space away from other INXS tracks that are definitely missed (“Elegantly Wasted,” “I Send A Message,” to name a couple) - so perhaps they’ll just have to put out Volume Two.