Fall Out Boy Tries To Save Rock And Roll

I might not be a writer for Up The Pucks after this album review goes up, but if you’re like me, this is a weird moment for my angsty years.  Growing up there was a lot of grunge, then there was this big gap of music that I now categorize as “guilty pleasures” and I’m sure I’m not the only one to be secretly excited about the new Fall Out Boy album.  Whether you were 13 or 25 when you discovered them, their earlier lyrics spoke to your inner-whiny brat (or possibly your very vocal whiny brat).  Their last album, Folie à Deux was released in 2008 and soon after they went on hiatus/broke up/took a rocket to the moon.  But yesterday, whatever they've been going through came to an end with the release of Save Rock And Roll.  

The album sounds completely like Fall Out Boy, and yet nothing like them.  

Strange lyrics? Yup 

Surprise guest vocals? Yup (Elton John, Courtney Love)

Choruses you can't help to sing along with? Yup

Excessively long track names? Nope

That feeling Pete Wentz's guy liner ended up smeared all over his notes writing these songs? Nope

It's almost like Fall Out Boy grew up, but not really.  There's still songs about finding love and broken hearts, but no longer does it sound like they could tour with Chris Carrabba, rather they should be with Phoenix.  The sound has left the pop punk/emo sadness and moved on to the more electric sounding style Patrick Stump experimented with during his solo efforts on the album Soul Punk.  

Is it what I was expecting? No.  

When I think Fall Out Boy, I want to be able to curl up in my bed and feel like I'm putting off my AP History paper as I cry and write crappy poetry in my notebook.  Is it bad?  I'd say 3 out of 5 stars in terms of quality but it's really not my thing.  But I guess I shouldn't criticize too much.  I can't expect these guys to be eternally teenaged and singing like that.  It's good to evolve, but I'm just not ready to see them grow up.  Patrick Stump could sing the ingredients to my bottle of Coke and it'd sound amazing, so if you are a fan of his voice, check out the album (or this video). Still need confirmation Courtney Love is bad shit?  Check out the track "Rat a Tat".  

Now if you excuse me, I need to dig up my copy of Take This To Your Grave and some black eyeliner.