Some user-contributed text on this page is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License; additional terms may apply. Ally Carnwath of The Observer echoed a similar sentiment, stating that "[t]here's a development of sorts here but it extends only to leavening brash indie swagger with bolted-on string sections and heart-on-sleeve anthemics". Phares theorised the shift in sound "comes from a need for the band to prove that there’s more to their sound than breathless rock and sneering lyrics".

The band's alternately jangly and bombastic brand of indie guitar rock bears the influence of all three acts, as well as comparisons to contemporaries like Kasabian, Editors, and Kaiser Chiefs. musicOMH contributor Camilla Pia noted that the Oasis influence of their debut had "pretty much disappeared" with Falcon, though it was replaced with a " Glasvegas, U2 and most of all Elbow" sound. Most tracks bounce at a comfortable mid-pace, ensuring maximum sing-along factor, and perhaps Falcon flags before its end.You can change your choices at any time by visiting Cookie preferences, as described in the Cookie notice. Falcon received generally favourable reviews from critics, many of whom commented on the shift in musical direction. The band released their first video album, titled Live at Manchester MEN Arena, in December 2011, which had been filmed at the Manchester arena in December 2010. Forget preconceptions of boorish Manc laddishness – Morrissey’s championing of this fast-rising band is beginning to make sense.

The album starts with the string-enhanced "The Opener", which sees Fray discuss his hometown and his relationship with his girlfriend. Take Over the World" straddles between the indie sound of the band's past work and balladry, evoking " Viva la Vida" (2008) by Coldplay during its chorus sections.Pia saw it as a "marked improvement" from their debut, praising the "newly discovered emotional depth to Fray's songwriting", while lambasting the band for not pushing themselves beyond their influences. The Electric Lick EP was released on 5 December 2010, consisting of two new songs "Three Months" and "Swear Down", a cover of " Zero" (2009) by the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, in addition to "Lullaby" and "Scratch Your Name Upon My Lips"; the ten-inch vinyl edition included .

Two versions were released on seven-inch: the first with "Whites of Her Eyes", while the other featured "Social Fireworks" and a live version of "You Overdid It Doll". K. press to the leading lights of three previous waves of Mancunian Brit-pop: the Smiths, the Stone Roses, and Oasis. You Overdid It Doll" charted at number 24 in Scotland and number 28 in the UK, while "Take Over the World" peaked at number 114 in the UK.The Rest of the World Has Gone Home" deals with the theme of loneliness in the style of Babyshambles, while "Sycophant" is a rock song that touches on folk and psychedelia. Between June and August 2010, the band performed at the Glastonbury, Isle of Wight, T in the Park, iTunes, Oxegen, Underage and V Festivals.

Chris Roberts of BBC Music felt there was "enough musical flourishes and pining ballads to earn the band the Elbow comparisons they blatantly desire". That Fray’s savvy, gritty-funny lyrics will be compared to Alex Turner’s just emphasises that arch couplets are so rare in pop today that we only have one reference point outside Moz himself. Läßt man sich darauf ein, dass die Courteeners "nur" noch Popmusik machen, wird man ihnen zugestehen müssen, das "Falcon" eine durchaus gute Pop-CD ist. They played two UK shows prior to supporting Morrissey on his tour of the United States in April and May 2009.

Falcon was released on 22 February 2010; a two-disc deluxe edition was also released, featuring "Revolver", "Bojangles", "You're the Man", "Meanwhile Back at the Ranch" and "Forget the Weight of the World". Lullaby" and "Scratch Your Name Upon My Lips" were released as a Double A-Side single in December 2010. Though she added that "too much soul-baring is as bad as too many putdowns; maybe next time the band will find some balance between the extremes of this album" and the previous.