4/5 stars
Waves to Watch: The Kids Aren't Alright, Novocaine, Uma Thurman
Genre: Pop rock
Goes great with: Panic! at the Disco, New Politics, You Me at Six
On their last LP, Fall Out Boy left listeners with a single thought: "I only plugged in to Save Rock & Roll", and perhaps on their latest release, American Beauty/American Psycho, the four pop-rock kings are doing just that. AB/AP is noisy and filled with what bassist/lyricist Pete Wentz calls "frenetic energy". So, yes, Fall Out Boy can still work a miracle, even ten years out from their first major label release.
Now, Wentz is back to writing close to all of the lyrics, unlike Save Rock & Roll, in which he first shared the role with vocalist/guitarist/composing mastermind Patrick Stump. Even as FOB continue to shave off more and more guitar, Wentz refuses to dilute his sometimes obscure, but distinguished lyrics. As with any release, the audience finds themselves asking, "What the hell is he talking about?!" until an epiphany is reached, sometimes years later.
The album opens up with the fanfare, "Irresistible", a song meant for breezy summer days in a hot car, admitting what's sure to be one of the most memorable lines; "You look so Seattle, but you feel so LA." The song's title track and second single, a dirty 80's punk track, driven by drummer Andy Hurley, is thrown from left field, considering the sound that the foursome has been creating lately. With both songs, the bridge is the strongest part, providing an anthemic beat to hustle to.
"Centuries", the band's Top 40 lead single and stadium favorite, borrows from Suzanne Vega's 80's track, "Tom's Diner". FOB reminds the masses that they are legends of immortality, perhaps in a slightly tongue in cheek manner. However, in their gladiator-inspired video, it seems that they are still taking their turn beating Goliath. Their Big Hero 6 track, "Immortals", reiterates the theme of forever, burning like a song beating through the streets of Tokyo.
At times, the lyrics are lackadaisical, heralding the repeated phrases as just fillers, as in "Favorite Record", an easily forgettable cliché "your love is my favorite song" declaration. "Fourth of July" is the other track that fails to stick anywhere in the brain, as Stump sings, "You are my best I'll never know." The sonic emptiness is poignant, however, and even the few lows make the highs seem even higher.
"The Kids Aren't Alright" is a turn to mortality, an acceptance of the bittersweet end; it is a classic Wentz effort delivered by Stump's maudlin vocals, crooning, "And in the end/I'd do it all again/I think you're my best friend." Even as they venture through their experimental phase, the foursome are saying, "This thing may end, but it's going to be okay."
Perhaps the three strongest tracks, "Uma Thurman", "Jet Pack Blues", and "Novocaine". are also the smartest. The latter, a sort of fraternal twin to SR&R's "The Phoenix" is the grittiest of the album, declaring, "I am your worst nightmare." "Uma Thurman", while borrowing The Munsters' theme and The Beach Boys' panache, admits, "I can't get you out of my head," as the listener can't control their twisting feet. "Jet Pack Blues" is the moodiest track on the album, and a flawless example of Stump's seasoned phrasing.
This is not the Stump that hunched below the brim of his hat, refusing to lift himself from the shadows of Wentz. This is the Stump that can soulfully power his way through anything he throws at himself, while still managing to swing his hips from side to side. For this is the greatest Fall Out Boy transformation: Stump believes in himself.
The album's closer, "Twin Skeletons (Hotel in NYC)", is a darker, vaudevillian Folie à Deux/Save Rock and Roll hybrid. While it is not the strongest closing statement FOB has ever given, it offers a slight glimpse into the future, humming, "hold on."
So what will the future bring for the mighty lifers of the scene? In the near future, they will be embarking on a co-headlining Boys of Zummer Tour with Wiz Khalifa ("We Dem Boyz", "Work Hard, Play Hard"), with Hoodie Allen (People Keep Talking) as the opener. As for the long-term, maybe Stump, Wentz, Hurley, and Trohman are not sure what they'll burn next. But knowing them, they've got a few plans printed into the dirt road that they walk upon. And they're staying until the end.
American Beauty/American Psycho will be released January 20th on Island/DCD2 Records
//Angelia//
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