You know, it doesn’t seem like that much time at all has passed since the Hella Mega Tour where my sister and I saw Fall Out Boy last, but even that’s approaching two years out now. It’s been infinitely longer since the band has released new music!
Understandably so. I, like a majority of the listeners out there, wasn’t too keen on their last full length effort, Mania. Sure, there were a small few of awesome tracks to come off of it, but overall it was such a sonic departure for the band that it almost didn’t sound like Fall Out Boy anymore. Thankfully, with the time away (almost like a mini hiatus, really), the band has circled back to some signature sounds while still managing to explore something different along the way with So Much (for) Stardust. I think it was a really intelligent move to have “Love From the Other Side” and “Heartbreak Feels So Good” as lead singles for the new album because they were both just nostalgic enough to convince the fans that they are back and in top form. They stepped far back from the manufactured sounds of the synthesizers that Mania offered up and instead reintroduced guitars back into the mainstream.
That can be further heard on another banging track (and music video), “Hold Me Like a Grudge.” I love that they somehow morphed the story in the music video to be a sort of continuation of “This Ain’t a Scene, It’s an Arms Race.” It was also so nice to see Joe physically in the music video! I don’t know if that means if he will be embarking on tour with them quite yet, but it’s good to know he’s still definitely in the mix. Admittedly, past these three songs, a first listen through the album had me kind of nervous. Sure, I didn’t love every song off of Save Rock and Roll or American Beauty American Psycho, but a lot of the rest of this album sounded nothing like what had been released so far. Luckily, the closing and title track sort of acted as a reprise, borrowing lyrics from opening track and single, Love From the Other Side, tying the record together as solid bookends.
After another round through I’ve decided that the record sticks the landing for me. Sure there are some “throwaway” beat poetry-like tracks thrown in the middle (one spoken by Ethan Hawke!!), but everything else finally clicked in my brain, just not in ways I was expecting. Perhaps the strangest tracks for me were “Fake Out” and “Heaven, Iowa.” For some reason they both sounded like something I could find on a One Direction album. Not that I’m complaining, it’s just not something I would have expected to hear. In a similar manner, “So Good Right Now” and “Flu Game” reminded me a lot of more recent Panic! at the Disco offerings. Again, not in a bad way, just not what I was anticipating. By the way, even if “Flu Game” isn’t your jam, you must stick around for the last fifteen seconds or so. The beat thrown in is totally worth it.
Completely out of left field but so dang good both times I listened to the album were “I Am My Own Muse” and “What a Time to Be Alive.” Both are very different from one another and elicit completely different emotional responses. The latter had me dancing in my seat with it’s disco influences. Also, some lyrics in here were delivered in a similar cadence to “American Beauty/American Psycho” – I love that kind of call back! The former offered up some incredible, swelling instrumentals that just kind of bowled me over. Again, I could feel a bit of a Panic! vibe here, but in the best possible form. I also love the repetitive delivery of the line “we got to throw this year away like a bad luck charm.” I’m sure a lot of us can relate.
Overall, I was pretty pleased with this new FOB installment. I know I’ve seen the band numerous times, but I hope I can add to that count this summer. Check them out all emos!