Fall Out Boy's last stand? (Folie A Deux - Fall Out Boy)

Member Name: LilleMy

Product:	Folie A Deux - Fall Out Boy
Date:	07/08/09 (12 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Broad spectrum of songs and well produced

Disadvantages: Can be a bit hard to get into at first listen

I haven't been a fan of Fall Out Boy for that long. I must admit I was very stupid and listened to the media who put FOB in the same category as My Chemical Romance. So not true or fitting.

Anyways! I pre-ordered this album, so you can understand I had high hopes! The first time i listened through it, I wasn't too impressed. Actually, not impressed at all. But if there's something I've learned over the years it is that if at first you don't like, try it again at a later date. And that's what I did. Now, FOB have traditionally made songs that are easy to listen to, without being "easy-listening", and that stick to your brain like fly paper. This album is slightly different. You might have to let it have 10-15 goes before you start to really appreaciate it.

FOB's previous albums had a variety of different types of songs, from up tempo 'anthem-like' songs like "This ain't a scene" from 2007's Infinity On High, and slower ballads like "Golden" from the same album. Even "7 Minutes in Heaven (Atavan Halen)" from "From Under The Cork Tree", written about bassist Pete Wentz' suicide attempt, had a slight "up-beat" feel to it.

The first single from the album was "I don't care", a song that didn't exactly hit the charts on the high side, but it was loved by the fans. It was new, it was kinda angry but in the typical FOB way, expressing anger over the selfishness in pop culture. The video had several cameo appearances by anyone from Spencer Pratt (wannabe celebrity of The Hills fame) to Pharell and Mark Hoppus. There's even a Sarah Palin look-alike in it!

This album is both different and stays true to FOB's now tried and tested formula. With the introduction of more guest artists than on all previous albums put together, it can on first glance seem like they're using their connections just to get publicity and try to gain more fans from featuring other, and different, artists. But when you listen to how the other artists have been contributing to this album, you quickly realise that it's not to benefit the artist so much as the product. For example; Elvis Costello appears on "What a catch, Donnie", but only to sing a few lines in there and it fits. It really does. Costello's trademark voice is perfect for this song.
Other artists inlcude Debbie Harry on 'West Coast Smoker', Lil Wayne on 'Tiffany Blews', and the front singers of Panic! At The Disco, Gym Class Heroes and Cobra Starship.

Whilst some might say putting this many guest artists on the same record is a bit lazy and "show-offy", I really don't think so. The choises seem to have been well thought through and it works. The job is done by FOB and it would have worked without the additional artists. And it's a job well done! Rumours have it that this will be the last FOB album for a while, maybe forever, and I think this shines through. They have taken out the big guns, and have put it all into this album. Some were concerned it wouldn't have the feel of the old FOB. It does. But in a new, more mature way. FOB are probably never going to be a 'dead pan face serious' band. And, with songtitles like "Champagne For My Real Friends, Real Pain For My Sham Friends", "A Little Less 'Sixteen Candles', A Little More 'Touch Me'", "Headfirst Slide Into Cooperstown On A Bad Bet", would you really want them to?

I really enjoyed this album, although not so much on the first listen, but this one is like a good wine; it only gets better with age. I would reacomment this to anyone who liked FOB's other albums or the "pop-punk" genre in general. And probably Michael Jackson fans too as the Beat It cover (feat. John Mayer) is awesome!

Summary: FOB have moved on but not too far, thankfully