Album- Save Rock and
Roll
Artist- Fall Out Boy
After taking a break from the music scene in 2009 and going
off into solo ventures, Fall Out Boy have come back as a stronger group with
renewed energy and a grand pop punk energy. The reforming of the band also
seems to have come back quite naturally, and with a tongue in cheek attitude in
the form of the album’s title, it seems that the band are coming back on the
top of their musical game. However, does the material as a whole really match
the high expectations that have been set on it?
Track 1- The Phoenix
As a phoenix rises from the ashes, it seems that this is a
great track to begin this comeback record with, as this album kind of acts as a
rebirth out of the ashes of the bands musical past. That’s not to say that they
have completely changed their sound, but rather they have just grown and become
stronger as a group. The lyrical content of the track is quite powerful as lead
singer Patrick Stump sings of how we are losing time, and so the group inspire
us to rise up and almost have this live life message, telling us they are going
to raise us like a phoenix. The message is a bit warped and you don’t really
know what they are talking about, as it could refer to like a relationship or
life in general, but this is also the beauty of the track, and although the
track isn’t necessarily as catchy in the chorus as it could be, it is still
catchy in terms of this great vitality. This powerful energy is brought out
through the lyrical content, but also more through the gritty vocal tone of
Stump, who gives the song a sense of urgency and makes it, seem believable that
this is a true rock group, having that powerful rock swag in his vocal
delivery. The vocal key change within the chorus at the end of certain lines
also gives a really memorable quality to the vocal performance. But the best
thing about this track definitely has to be the production, with its fast paced
swirling strings and powerful drum beats that give an almost cinematic tone to
the song and acts as a great sound for the records beginning.
3.5/5
Track 2- My Songs
Know What You Did in the Dark (Light Em Up)
The records lead single and the comeback song for the band
is a great example of the bold sound of the record and the way in which the
band have still retained their pop rock sound but have a harder edge and just
feel even more catchy, and although the title may be a bit tongue in cheek,
with this track you can almost sort of believe that this group could save rock
and roll. Lyrically the track is another quite metaphorical piece that
seemingly is an exhibition of this volatile relationship, and although the
weird song title acts as the chorus and hook, it totally works here and
immediately commands your attention. This attention grabbing quality is also
really brought out through the fast paced urgency of Stumps vocal, with the
effect placed on the production of his vocal in the chorus being a nice twist
and making for a great way to lead into the stomping, rock heavy section of the
chorus that features a great wail in the line “I’m on fire”. Production wise
it’s quite simple but still really powerful, with the background vocals of the
male and female voices melding together for a recognisable sound alongside the
heavy drum clashes and the strong electric guitar riffs that all come together
just allow you to let loose and get a bit crazy, whether that be literally or
in your head.
4.5/5
Track 3- Alone
Together
Alone Together has more of a pop rock feel than the previous
tracks and feels a little bit more like Fall Out Boy of the past intermixed
with a few other artists. This is perhaps the tracks downfall, as the song does
feel a little bit like a few other artists could have created. However, despite
that, this is still a nice track that is quite light in tone but powerful in
its message and strong in its overall sound. Lyrically the track has this sense
of not knowing where life will take you, and finds the group asking us and them
to be alone together where we can stay young forever. The chorus has a sing
along vibe that will work well in a live setting, and the track works well in
terms of the post chorus sections full of ‘oh oh’ moments that give a catchy
tone. Stump vocally keeps things on a light level that doesn’t go too overboard
and has this energy of just having fun rather than being full on. The
production also just keeps a light tone, mixing some cool, subtle electro swirls,
simple drumbeats and good doses of electric guitar, with guitar refrains being
the main part of the production and the just giving the track a bouncy quality
in tone.
3.5/5
Track 4- Where Did
the Party Go
As the title would suggest, this track is a song that would
work well in a party atmosphere and it has a slight dance quality and is based
in a catchy ‘na na na’ refrain. However, rather than being a song about the
party ending, the song is lyrically based in a metaphorical idea, whereby the
party is this relationship where things aren’t the same as what they were, and
now it seems a little bit doomed. The song works well in terms of the
transitions between verses and choruses, with the use of Stumps falsetto in the
chorus being a nice touch that adds both a catchy quality but also a little
touch of poignancy. The lyrical content is cool in its way that it kind of
tells a story, and still keeps this sense of hurt mixed with this dance around
quality. The thumping bass line of the song is strong, with the electric guitar
riffs having a gritty quality that is intermixed with some lighter tones, and
so this is another track that is rock with mixed pop at a good level which
gives us a nice musical offering.
3.5/5
Track 5- Just One
Yesterday (featuring Foxes)
The band bring in rising star Foxes for a song that sees her
and stump blend together nicely, as they sing about a relationship that isn’t
strong and is kind of messed up, but there is still this love here and Stump
would trade all the trouble for one last moment. The track is once again
centred on a strong chorus that is simple and catchy, but the song is
definitely stronger in terms of the blend of the singers vocals, as their
voices complement each other, whilst Foxes delicate vocal tone gives a moment
of vulnerability to the bridge that makes for a strong finish. Keeping the
production in this kind of simple level is good as there is still this dark
energy to it, particularly in the way that the drums have this subtle,
incessant intensity, and the guitar riffs don’t go to aggressive. Adding piano
in this track also creates a nice melody that works well throughout the song,
but particularly in the bridge that just builds into this powerful emotional
state.
4/5
Track 6- The Mighty
Fall (featuring Big Sean)
I kind of expected this track to show how the album’s title
is more tongue in cheek through how we have rapper Big Sean as a featured
artist, however, whilst there is definitely this sense of things not being
intensely rock and roll, this is actually still one of the more rock moments on
the record. The rock quality of the track probably comes out through the
aggressive tone of Stumps vocals which have a bit of grit to them and goes into
a higher range in the chorus that punctuates the track with this powerful
aggressive quality. The rock vibe also comes out in the lyrical content which
is a bit intense, as the band lyrically write of this girl who is sensual in
character and seems manipulative, and the chorus focuses on how even the best
people can really, stupidly fall in love. The production also has a little bit
of a rock tone in terms of the gritty vibe of the guitar riffs, but the pop
strange pop sensibility comes through in the nursery rhyme ‘la la la’ that sets
the track up as a cool track, whilst Big Sean brings some hip hop swag that
blends well with the band’s sound.
3.5/5
Track 7- Miss Missing
You
Here things to me go a bit 80’s influenced (although mainly
just at the beginning) with the electronic tones that are exhibited within the
song, whilst the group also go a bit more cliché emotional, particularly when
they use the line ‘Baby you were my picket fence’. As the title would suggest,
the lyrical tone of the track is based in the idea of this relationship has
ended but the guy still wants the girl. Clichés are employed that are a bit
annoying, but I would say that the lyrical content is strong in the way that
the group pack in a lot of lines that brings the intensity of the song to the
fore a little more. Stump is strong vocally in terms of giving a bit of
delicacy to his vocal tone that makes the track believable, whilst the
production keeps things going along nicely with the mix of drums and guitar
creating both a light and dark tone that works well in creating that catchy
tune based in a paradoxical idea. The softness of the songs end both vocally
and sonically is a create finishing touch that makes the song a little more
touching, and although to me this kind of feels like an Alone Together sequel
where things actually haven’t quite worked out but the love is still kind of
there, and therefore some of the magic of the music is gone as the two track
feel familiar paired against each other, this is still a tune that is catchy
and offers a different (although not totally unique) spin on heart break.
3.5/5
Track 8- Death Valley
Animalistic is how I would describe this song, not only in
the lyrical content but in the vocal performance that has a bit more roughness
to it that is not present in the other tunes. This is a bit of a youthful
anthem as the band speak of wanting to see our animal side and how we are them
are alive in death valley, a metaphor that is cool in how it can have mixed
messages for each listener, depending upon what you perceive death valley as.
However, no matter what you think, there is definitely a live life sentiment to
this song, and this comes out in the lyrics, but also in the production which
is a little bit more frenzied and weird. This is because although the thumping
drumbeats and strong guitar rhythms are there, the guitar feels a bit more fast
paced and in the chorus than usual, and there is this cool intensity to the tracks
overall tone. The bridge also features a cool use of some dubstep, as well as
some cool electronic distortion of the vocals. The vocal performance is also
strong in terms of the verses being a bit rougher, whilst the verses are then
complimented by a chorus that goes into more prolonged, higher notes and
features some great use of falsetto.
3.5/5
Track 9- Young
Volcanoes
This track feels like the bands more acoustic, feel good
anthem that is designed for people to sway along to together, particularly in
big crowds. I said that the last song was a bit of a youth anthem, but if that
was a bit of a youth anthem, this song is definitely is, having a slight
retrospective tone in the lyrical content that focuses on this idea of the band
being young volcanoes, i.e. wild, powerful and not afraid to just live life in
a bit of a crazy way. The ‘du du du du’ hook has that crowd pleasing quality
that makes the song very catchy. The light guitar strumming and drums of the
production keeps the song in a state where you can have a lively dance around
with friends to, but at the same time you could just walk along and chill to
the song whilst thinking about your own life. Stump keeps the vocals on a
steady level that is nice an light in tone, with some rising moments that show
the range in his voice.
3.5/5
Track 10- Rat a Tat
(featuring Courtney Love)
It has been a while since Courtney Love did any solo stuff,
but here she is working with Fall Out Boy, and although some people may have
written her off by now (she is a bit crazy), she actually sounds cool here and
does kind of grab your attention, a particularly through how she starts the
track. She also brings the song a bit more of a rock edge with her aggressive tone,
but also doesn’t ruin the track as her vocal moments are a bit more minimal and
she doesn’t go to powerful in actually trying to sing. The song finds Love and
the band basically focusing on how some people are always criticising, but they
are just going to be kind of reckless and not care about other and live life,
whilst also conveying the sentiment that people need to start lowering there
standards. Both Stump and Love sound suitably aggressive and vibrant vocally
for the track, and the frenzied energy of the production is strong but simple,
with vibrant quality that will make this a song a great live song. The Rat a
Tat hook is also really great.
3.5/5
Track 11- Save Rock
and Roll (featuring Elton John)
So if people thought the band were being serious in the
titling of this album rather than tongue in cheek, the fact the title track
features pop icon Elton John probably will have people firmly changing their
minds. That is not to say that the song doesn’t have a rock vibe, but rather it
just not the rock intensity that would come with the idea of saving rock and
roll. The song lyrically speaks of the end of this relationship where Fall out
Boy basically tell this person that everything is ok, they can just go away,
whilst the group just do there thing. The song also has an appealing universal
quality, with the lyrics having this stick together feel. John and Stump
bringing strong vocal performances to the track that blend nicely and really
build to make this song an impactful end to the record, and with the stirring
mix of strings, piano and drum, this is a great and grand way to the end this
record.
4/5
Final Review
With this record it feels good to have Fall Out Boy back, as
they produce great pop punk rock tracks that capture your attention and feature
strong vocals and nice hooks. The record is also cool in the way that the band
feels renewed, with the songs having a slightly grander but darker tone whilst
still creating a slight party atmosphere. The guest features on the record also
really blend well with the group, and so the group have done really well in
creating a great comeback record.
8/10
Best Track- My Songs
Know What You Did in the Dark (Light Em Up)
Worst Track- Miss
Missing You
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