Fall Out Boy - Folie à deux

Band Members
Andrew Hurley - Drums
Joseph Trohman - Guitar
Patrick Stump - Vocals, Guitar
Pete Wentz - Bass

FallOutBoyRock.com
Myspace.com/FallOutBoy



CD Tracklisting
1. Disloyal Order of Water Buffaloes
2. I Don’t Care
3. She’s My Winona
4. America’s Suitehearts
5. Headfirst Slide into Cooperstown on a Bad Bet
6. The (Shipped) Gold Standard
7. (Coffee’s for Closers)
8. What a Catch, Donnie
9. 27
10. Tiffany Blews
11. w.a.m.s.
12. 20 Dollar Nose Bleed
13. West Coast Smoker
14. Bonus UK track: Beat It (cover song)


Fall Out Boy are very much at the stage in their careers where they are a fan fare band; by that I mean they can afford the fan fare and can do pretty much what they like with the music. As with their previous record Fall Out Boy open with up the record with a welcome mat track that teases you with what’s to come over the next few tracks and remind you why you love their upbeat snarky lyrics and pop punk rhythm. It may be said they haven’t over stretched themselves a great deal since the last record in terms of new sounds or ideas, but if it ain’t broke then why fix it. They know what their fans like and what sells and right now that’s what they want to do; please their fans and sell records.

This is not say there isn’t anything good to found as it’s sprinkled with catchy songs that are going to bury themselves into your head and have a little party all night. First release ‘I Don’t Care’ picks ups the theme of the struggles of fame and celebrity with a wonderful bridge section that really showcases Stump’s vocal abilities. This theme runs through most of the album in various forms from current release ‘America’s Suitehearts’; one my favourites off the album, with lines such as ‘You can bow and pretend that you don’t, don’t know you’re a legend,’ to the re use of lyrics from other Fall Out Boy hits as backing vocals by other Decaydance family members from Brendan Urie to Travis McCoy on ‘What a Catch, Donnie’ as well as love lost and found. The fact that album title translates as ‘A madness shared by two’ perfectly completes the madness in celebrity and love and relationships in general.

As a whole the album blends the last two Fall Out Boy releases with the high drama and sound from Infinity on High and the gritty passion and fun loving off From Under the Cork Tree. From the sweeping strings of ‘(Coffee for Closers)’, the heartfelt serenading of ‘What a Catch, Donnie’ to perky charm of ’20 Dollar Nose Bleed’ that has clear influences from cameo artist Brendon Urie of Panic at the Disco fame. This album is a great addition to the Fall Out Boy discography that may not exactly set the music world on fire with its originality as it sticks to the standard Fall Out Boy format but it achieves what it needed to do; prove Fall Out Boy are a band that can deliver a good record when and how they want to. Also the Michael Jackson cover as a bonus track is crazy good.

Enjoy as a guilty or guiltless pleasure, but enjoy it none the less.


Review by Laura Heath


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