American Beauty/American Psycho
By Fall Out Boy
Distributed by Island Records
After shooting back into the public’s consciousness in 2013 from a three-year hiatus, Fall Out Boy has worked hard to prove its second chance in the spotlight is well deserved.
The band released its sixth album, American Beauty/American Psycho (AB/AP), and the album doesn’t fail to impress.
As a whole, AB/AP flows together beautifully. This isn’t an album where the singles are the standouts and everything between is filler, a pitfall that many artists fall into. Instead, nearly every one of the album’s 11 tracks are potential single material. The entire album is cohesive, which makes listening to it from start to finish a powerful experience.
Fall Out Boy has found its footing on this album. The band has taken the best elements of Save Rock and Roll and added a harder edge to it. The synth and pop elements of its last release are melded with aggressive guitar and drums to bring a rockier edge to AB/AP.
The record brings back the stellar lyricism Fall Out Boy is known for, which lacked a little on their previous release. Lead vocalist Patrick Stump delivers Pete Wentz’s lyrics with a newfound aggressive confidence that highlights why their partnership is one of the most complimentary in the industry.
AB/AP opens boldly on “Irresistible,” with Stump flexing his vocal prowess. This song really sets the stage for the rest of the album. This is what Fall Out Boy is now, and they don’t care if people hate them for it because this new sound is exactly what they want to be.
Most of the songs are equally suited for radio and stadiums, and Fall Out Boy has woven pop culture references and samples from other artists flawlessly into their own work. “American Beauty/American Psycho” and “Uma Thurman” are some of the more obvious examples of references to pop culture. Sampling on many songs, especially on lead single “Centuries,” is mostly subtle but adds a memorable twist, and “Immortals,” a catchy track, also appears on the soundtrack for Disney’s Big Hero 6.
“The Kids Aren’t All Alright,” is a slower song on the album, and Stump delivers a true vulnerability to Wentz’s lyrics. It’s an ode to their fans, and to themselves, and it’s a song that’s going to get lighters (and cell phones) out during concerts.
“Favorite Record” is the best song on the album. It stands out among the rest with a distinct sound and is everything Fall Out Boy does right. Beautiful images, soulful crooning from Stump, a heartfelt but upbeat melody combine to deliver something subtle but gorgeous from start to finish.
The album closes with “Twin Skies (Hotel in NYC).” It’s a great closer, memorable, reassuring and chilling all at once, and ends the album with the words “hold on.” That’s exactly what Fall Out Boy wants people to do. Hold on, because they’re here to stay, and they’ve got a lot more coming.
