After the incredible success of their most recent effort
"Save Rock And Roll" Fall Out Boy have been riding the high of their
much anticipated return. Their recently experimental sound mixed with that
clever punk edge elevated the genre to new heights. Now Fall Out Boy want to
take this and kick it up a notch in their newest material "American
Beauty/American Psycho." Yet on its initial listen there's something
particularly lacking for me. The once captivating and authoritative quality in
their music seems to have been stripped away only to be replaced by big radio
sounds and droning electronic backbeats.
Tracks such as "Favourite Record" features strange
robotic accents that feel thrown in and detracts to what could of been a
brilliant song. Whereas their title track proves to be the most disappointing
of them all. The mix of repetitive lyrics and cyclical rhythms leaves you thinking, is that it? It lacks a
lot of content and grit that Fall Out Boy are well known for. No clever quips,
no catchy hooks just monotonous radio fodder.
However it isn't all doom and gloom for Fall Out Boy. There
are faint glimmers of hope in amongst this bizarre mishmash of an album.
"Twin Skeletons (Hotel In NYC)" still bears the rockier frame of
their sound with pride. Teamed with that indignant attack in Patricks haunting
vocals it makes for a song that demands attention. Yet with "Jet Pack
Blues" they explore a softer approach using longing lyrics and building melodies
that prove they have different facets to their sound.
It's completely understandable that Fall Out Boy don't want
to be defined by their past. Pete Wentz vehemently insists "We want to
stay culturally relevant." Any musician who takes a risk to keep
redefining their sound should be applauded. Yet in this case it feels too scatter-gun in its development to really hit the mark. With time I feel this new
sound can be honed into a dynamic fusion between their old style and their
future aspirations. But for now I feel this has alienated a majority of their
fan base for little reward.
6/10
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