Franz Ferdinand

Here is another high-profile return for this Fall. The Scottish band Franz Ferdinand first rocked the world almost two years ago with singles such as 'Darts of Pleasure' and, especially, their excellent 'Take Me Out,' as well as with a self-titled album that came out last year. They too face now the challenge of matching the quality and the impact of their debut with their sophomore record You Could Have It So Much Better... with Franz Ferdinand, out in October. Its first single, 'Do You Want To?,' will be released next month but is already available for streaming from the band's MySpace website. Upon first listen, it sounds like an incredibly catchy tune, with the characteristic witty lyrics and sassy delivery, but also with crispier, more muscular guitars, and a more polished production. Overall, a lot of fun to sing along and dance to --we wouldn't have expected otherwise.