Music Review: Fall Out Boy – Save Rock And Roll

I Suggest They Try Saving Themselves First

After their so called 4 year ‘rest’ Fall Out Boy have returned with their 5^th studio album, but has the break made any difference?

Illinois band Fall Out Boy first got together back in 2001, when friends Pete Wentz and Joe Trohman decided that they could do better than the bands they grew up listening to like Green Day, Decedents and The Smiths.

By the time their 2^nd album, From Under The Cork Tree, was released Fall Out Boy had hit the big time, with sales of over 3 million copies plus and the US charting singles; Dance Dance and Sugar We’re Going Down, the pop punk had finally made its mark.

The following albums weren’t the beast that album number 2 was, as Fall Out Boy changed their style and format far too much. The trying too hard to be something they didn’t set out to be got the fans’ backs up and FOB lost much of their appeal and marketability. Subsequently both Infinity On High in 2007 and Folie A Deux a year later received poor sales. It didn’t help that FOB introduced R&B, orchestration, piano and a far dancier sound in general, while the fans wanted the band to return to their pop punk roots.

Fall Out Boy agreed that a hiatus from the band was best for all members in 2009 but it didn’t take long for each member to be tied up in other musical projects. I often wonder if carrying on in music is the best idea during a hiatus, shouldn’t they be trying something completely different but then again what else can most musicians do?

The band got back together in the summer of 2012 and this new album Save Rock And Roll is the result of the reformation but can Fall Out Boy actually save rock n roll in any sense of the phrase? I’m sure they’ll have a bloody good go at trying but I’d suggest they start with themselves in the first instance.

Incredibly the new album debuted at No.1 in the Billboard 200, you could say that this was the vindication Fall Out Boy deserved. Not only were they back but the fans have proved that they want FOB back. Quite incredibly the band even somehow managed to rope in a member of showbiz royality, who also happens to be a fan of the band. Sir Elton John lends his vocal to the album title track Save Rock And Roll. Although quite frankly it sounds very strange and I find myself asking, ‘What difference does he make to the album?’ Personally I wouldn’t have bothered but you can see why they’ve done it, after all it’s great publicity.

Where Did The Party Go stinks of a band that really didn’t want to grow up, gone are the wild single days only to be replaced by kids and mortgages.  Herein lies the problem, how do you make a young band mature, while retaining the youthful meaning and carefree attitude?

Save Rock And Roll is catchy and hook laden, in the majority Fall Out Boy have lost none of their pop punk charm, as long as that’s what they stick to then they’ll be ok.

It’s a great feeling to be wanted but just drop the Sir Elton John bollocks next time eh lads?! It strikes of desperation.

5/10