Music succeeds through balance. One cannot fully appreciate the climax of “Stairway to Heaven” without its melodious intro, nor can Kid A feel truly complete without the fade out “Motion Picture Soundtrack” provides. Whether discussing a single track or an entire album, a good balance often makes or breaks any musical piece.

Franz Ferdinand has made a bold effort to instill that balance into You Could Have it so Much Better, released this week. Branching away from the upbeat formula of their self-titled debut are a number of tracks on the more down-tempo and mellow side.

“Eleanor Put Your Boots On” in particular alludes to a band expanding its musical repertoire. Nevertheless, You Could Have It So Much Better retains much of the style that made the Scottish rockers famous in the first place, especially with the album’s first single “Do You Want To.” Even the song’s music video, with the band appearing in A Hard Day’s Night inspired surroundings, is well aware of the band’s pop roots.

You Could Have It So Much Better is a succesful step forward for Franz Ferdinand. Rather than capitalize solely on the upbeat tunes characteristic of their first album, the band has chosen to take risks in order to provide the listener with a more balanced and fuller musical experience.

Like the original mop-tops the “Do You want To” video pays homage to, it is good to find bands today with a reassuring sense of musical understanding and growth. m