On their new album American Beauty/American Psycho, Fall Out Boy tries to be a rock band that sounds legendary while also trying to be innovative. The band got its start in 2001 in Chicago, Illinois, releasing their debut album Take This To Your Grave in 2003, which became an underground success leading the band to rise in popularity due to constant touring and a dedicated fan base. They released their next record From Under The Cork Tree in 2005, which led to major label success with the single’s “Sugar, We’re Going Down” and “Dance, Dance.” They would go on to release two more records, Infinity On High (2007) and Folie a Deux (2009) before taking a hiatus for four years. The hiatus ended in 2013 with the release of their next album Save Rock and Roll.
While Fall Out Boy pushed the musical envelope on Save Rock and Roll by trying out different sounds and styles, on American Beauty/American Psycho the band pushes the limits of their music even further, though it has mixed results. The album opens with “Irresistible” a huge song that features front man and guitarist Patrick Stump’s baritone voice and horns that give the track a stylish edge. While the band wants to come across as revolutionary, the song lacks an interesting pull, in addition to being repetitive. While the tracks style fits where Fall Out Boy are currently in their career, the song fails as an opening number, while running the chance that not many people will want to continue listening to the record further.
Next we have “Centuries,” the album’s lead single. As Patrick Stump sings “you will remember me/remember me for centuries” with his expansive voice, we still aren’t enthusiastic over the groups preferred direction as everything sounds so overproduced that it sounds like the rest of the instruments are an afterthought. “Jet Pack Blues” is the song that resembles what Fall Out Boy once was, and its production and overall flow is a highlight of American Beauty/American Psycho. Stump has long been the bands saving grace due to his exceptional vocals, and he does a fantastic job on “Blues” by demonstrating that Fall Out Boy can still write a catchy tune that sticks out.
“Favorite Record” will become a fan favorite, as the tune offers a dose of nostalgia as Patrick sings about taking a long drive during your younger years with an old fame. The songs overall tone and style sounds reminiscent of the bands early years as they mostly appealed to teenagers during their rise in 2004. “Twin Skeletons (Hotel In NYC) closes out American Beauty/American Psycho with hip hop inspired beats and glittering guitar riffs from both Stump and lead guitarist Joe Trohman. Overall, it feels like Fall Out Boy’s latest release leaves much to be desired, though there are few moments where the band reassures old and new fans that they still have the knack for quality songwriting, while still evolving to be the band they are today.
