Thursday, 25 July 2013

Fall Out Boy- Save Rock and Roll Album Review


 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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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