“You look so Seattle but you feel so LA.” – Irresistible
This is the first of many lyrics that stuck out to me when listening all the way through the newest Fall Out Boy album for the first time. Fall Out Boy, who has been around for quite the time now and is no stranger to how the world of music works, follows up their Save Rock and Roll with their newest album, American Beauty/American Psycho.
Their return with Rock and Roll was something that my generation, as the ones who grew up listening to albums such as Take This to Your Grave and From Under the Cork Tree patiently waited for, after what I want to a call a lull in creativity in past albums. Some fans will argue with me, but there were times when listening to Fall Out Boy was not something you admitted aloud (I’m looking at you Folie A Deux…). Feel different? Let me know in the comments.
Fall Out Boy’s sound this album is something that is hard to pinpoint. I can hear a definite maturity, coming off of making a 6th album, but I can also here the influences from the early albums, even their PAX AM Days EP. I feel like the sound of each album is well represented and shows just how far the band has come from singing lyrics such as “his smile’s your rope, so wrap it tight around your throat.”
Take their single “Centuries.” The opening of the song is not the band themselves, but a throwback to the song “Tom’s Diner” by Susanne Vega, which weaves itself in and out of the song, injecting old bits of pop culture into the new pop culture that this generation is a part of.
The song “Uma Thurman” has this infectious clap track that makes you want to do nothing but clap along. The guitar throughout the song reminds me of being out by the beach, a summer surf anthem blasting from the speakers on an old boombox. Jeeze, I’m dating myself there.
You also have the slower tracks…well it’s not slower. No, its more soul-driven. You can feel the emotion as lead vocalist, showing off the vocal chops from his stint solo, in the song “Jet Pack Blues,” which may end up at one of my favorite tracks on the album itself.
“I will always land on you like a sucker punch”-Novocaine
The song does not lie, because all of these tracks land and stick as a well put together pop rock album. You have your highs, you have your lows, and you have the songs you just want sing in the shower or blast out your car window. For me, that song is “Immortals,” but your own song of choice is up to you.
Fall Out Boy’s American Beauty/American Psycho is out everywhere now. I give it a 4 out of 5 stars.
Tracklist: (Favorite tracks are bold)
1) Irresistible
2) American Beauty/American Psycho
3) Centuries
4) The Kids Aren’t Alright
5) Uma Thurman
6) Jet Pack Blues
7) Novocaine
8) Fourth the July
9) Favorite Record
10) Immortals
11) Twin Skeleton’s (Hotel in NYC)
Self proclaimed nerds doing Real Life things 