Fall Out Boy - American Beauty / American Psycho - ALBUM REVIEW

Fall Out Boy is a band that I've grown up with. Witnessing their rise and popularity through Kerrang!'s publications, I always enjoyed keeping up with the squad. Although I was never an all-out fanboy, the big bangers of Sugar, We're going Down, This Ain't a Scene, It's an Arms Race & Dance, Dance are the definitive collection of FOB that were enough to keep me coming back and enjoying what they threw out but I never could see myself rushing out for a new album to add to my collection. Then it hit me in 2013 - Save Rock n' Roll jumped onto the scene with the ingenious plan of creating music videos for every song on the new album with one narrative that really captured me. At this point, I found the FOB album that I would go out and buy, the one that I can play endlessly without it going stale.

If you want to read my review of Save Rock n' Roll, Click HERE

Obviously, I was extremely excited to follow the developments of American Beauty and loved the full album release on Youtube. What defined the previous album was a compilation of featuring talents and obviously a Rock inspired composition. Now, FOB turn the tide with an album that has electronic flares, no featuring artists and a definitive style. With the bands desire to appeal to more than just the rocker community, they have diversified their style and blended catchy riffs and chorus' that'll have you itching for another fix. Its move into the mainstream music means a reliance on synth and auto-tune, albeit well balanced and not as potent as T-Pain's catalogue but a level of which seems out of place and character.

As ever, certain songs jump out to me. Centuries is the first single released then you have The Kids Aren't Alright and Uma Thurman that have some awesome sampling and little titbits that add individuality to each tune. Technically, the variation is great, each song is its own, flows well in and out of the structured playlist with alternating tones and emotions. Stump's vocal range and style is brilliant and flourishes with the backing vocals of his band mates, although we cannot define whose voice is whose. Although it is minor, I feel that they have been cut out and replaced.

The album is solid. Its loud, rhythmic and a must for any fan. Yet, we have the issue of length and with albums, the bigger, the better. American Beauty has fallen even shorter than Save Rock n' Roll with just less than 40 minutes. Its this sort of length which means albums can finish so quick, you didn't have time tidy yourself up. Although its move to a more mainstream audience has led some of their older fans to get their knickers in a twist, I feel that Fall Out Boy are pushing boundaries within the rocker scene and American Beauty extends these further. However, at this moment, I don't feel that this album is as diverse and exciting as Save Rock n' Roll and lean towards giving this outing a 7.5/10 in the hope it will grow on me like its predecessor and may warrant a higher score. Its ambition is reported positive and I'm inclined to agree with some of these groups out there.

Fall Out Boy - Save Rock n' Roll - QUICKY REVIEW

Sorry for the late review!, I only just got my paws on it!

It's safe to say that this album truly is a refreshing reboot for Fall out Boy. Opening with the two singles you are left a little open to what is going to punch you on song #3 which packs one.

Sugar, we are going down is far, far away. This breaks new ground, into the pop/charts scene which some fans may really dislike. With the hiatus, the thought of an album was unlikely, but the drastic changes couldn't have ever been predicted.

Mr Stump's voice is far clearer and sharper than previous records and the lyrics are very good. His ability to appear that his voice leads the music really helps you to capture the lyrics and the extent of Patrick's vocal range, yet this can become over used when you notice the amount of crescendos that fill the majority of the songs. With a varied use of synthesisers and other musicians, the album is very strong with songs that stand on their own and don't fade away and a very positive feeling running throughout.

However, including Big Sean was a bit of a downer. He brought nothing to the song and doesn't blend in. Then you have Courtney Love. I don't like this women and it doesn't really help me listen to the song, yet the song has her influence within and is quite rockish in it's genre, but Courtney's lines (Rapping, singing, whatever it is.) are pretty poor. The 3rd noticeable featuring artist is Elton John. This is no surprise seeing he's performed with Eminem. Save Rock n' Roll takes Elton's classic love song and lumped it with Fall Out Boy's anthem capability and it's a magnificent tune. Elton's bass tones are exceptionally strong and great for that drive home...on your own with the tunes on full blast!

Musically the synth's made it sound like a show tune at the start and didn't fit with the songs it was used it. With an album length of 42 minutes (Yeah, I know right!) it certainly seems a stab in the back when they come back after 3 years. You would have expected something that was at least an hour long, with all the time to think about music, it doesn't truly reflect on the size and price of the album.

So, what do I rate this album? I feel that the album warrants 8/10. It's positive feeling to the album, keeps my head bopping and is very good as keeping me calm. Also, including Courtney Love and Big Sean were huge downers for me that didn't really push the songs to their full potential.

P.S - Save a bit of money and download it!