How does a band repeat success?

The Franz Ferdinand sound is rightfully compared to Coldplay and U2, and even more relevant on its latest release, “You Could Have It So Much Better (Domino Records).”

The band’s members are Alex Kapranos, Bob Hardy, Nick McCarthy and Paul Thomson.

After the Scottish band’s self-titled album was released last year, many doubted an apt follow-up LP. Yet, the album picks up where the first album left off, music to your ears never had such meaning.

The 13-song Rich Costey and Franz Ferdinand produced album is immensely fun and sorrowful.

The music appeals to the aching heart, yet is bittersweet and dance-invoking.

The song “The Fallen” takes on spirituality, self-destruction and politics.

It opens with Kapranos’ yelpy voice, “So they say you’re trouble/because you like to destroy/things that bring idiots joy.”

The chorus continues “And we’ve already seen/that the fallen are the virtuous among us/walk among us/if you judge us/we’re all damned.”

The lead single, “Do You Want To,” sounds like a sequel to the blockbuster single “Take Me Out.”

The lyrics to “Do You Want To” are moving.

“When I woke up last night/I said I’m going to make somebody love me/Now I know that it’s going to be you/You’re lucky, lucky you’re so lucky.”

Like “Take Me Out”, “Do You Want To” has the guitar climax from the beginning.

Lead singer Alex Kapranos took a chance with the song, “Eleanor Put Your Boots On” because it could be confused with the Paul McCartney and John Lennon song, “Eleanor Rigby.”

“Eleanor put those boots on/kick the heels in the Brooklyn dirt,” Kapranos sings, with a great influence from the Beatle’s hit song.

Kapranos wrote “Eleanor” influenced by his girlfriend Eleanor Friedberger, lead singer of the band Fiery Furnaces.

Another song that stands out is “Evil and a Heathen” with a fast-paced beat by Thomson’s drums.

“Words fall from over mouths/like plates from shaking hands/smashing on the silence.”

“I’m evil and a heathen/I’m evil and a heathen like you.”

The band knows how to hook its music to greatness.