Back in September 2014, we got our first taste of Fall Out Boy’s new album with “Centuries,” and, after a few other singles, the album is finally here. They are truly doing whatever they want on this one, sampling Mötley Crüe, pulling out intense horn fanfares and even allowing a song to revolve around the incomparable Uma Thurman. Anything goes for their sixth album.
The album begins with a triumphant salute of horns in the song “Irresistible.” This song is all for the love of pain, aka what most people think punk music is all about. Its heroic and powerful ambiance is very similar to the first single “Centuries,” so I wasn’t particularly wowed by “Irresistible,” but it was a strong way to start the album.
We go through many singles, like “Centuries” and “The Kids Are Alright, then we get my favorite song of the album, “Uma Thurman.” On the more whimsical side, FOB samples the surfy part of the Munsters theme song and also makes references to Uma Thurman dancing with John Travolta in the iconic scene from Pulp Fiction. Although it runs the risk of being too quirky and weird for a punk band, FOB handles it perfectly, making it one of the top songs on the album.
For all the traditional punk fans, don’t fret. Fall Out Boy made sure to add “Novocaine,” an aggressive, driving punk anthem. “I’m just a problem that doesn’t want to be solved/So could you please hold your applause,” Patrick Stump, the lead singer belts. Throughout the song Stump’s voice expertly scales to all his highest notes. They also added “American Beauty/American Psycho,” the simple track that packs a punch and keeps with the aggressive theme. The video definitely fits, depicting a ballerina dancing while at the same time beating up some thugs.
Some other notable songs include, “Immortals,” which was featured in the Disney/Pixar movie Big Hero 6, and “Fourth of July,” a pulsing, rock love song. American Beauty/American Psycho is full of awesome hits, but they don’t mesh very well. Parts of the album feel like anomalies for Fall Out Boy; although “Uma Thurman” is one of my favorites, it still doesn’t feel like the original, basic punk Fall Out Boy. The album is awash in blaring production, and it seems to lack a clear message—or motif, if you will—besides aggression. As they traverse heavily into the pop-punk genre, they’re getting a little too close to losing some of their traditional style, but overall this is a powerful rebuttal to their previous album.
