Ever since 2009 when Fall Out Boy went on hiatus there had been rumors of a reunion. Those rumors weren't confirmed until just this year when they announced a new album and tour, and released a new single entitled My Songs Know What You Did In The Dark (Light Em Up). On April 16th their new album Save Rock And Roll was released, and having pre ordered it I should've reviewed it sooner. So here is my overdue review of Save Rock And Roll by Fall Out Boy.
The First Track is called The Phoenix. It begins with strings and Patrick Stumps singing. They really were going for an epic beginning with this song, and they succeed. The lyrics are great, and the music is epic, but could be played in a dance club. And it would be the best song played in a dance club in 2013.
Track two and the lead single is titled My Songs Know What You Did In The Dark (Light Em Up). Now when I reviewed this song the first time, I didn't give it a good review. However, unlike Up In The Air, 30 Seconds To Mars's new single, this song has grown on me. The song is fine musically, and the lyrics are pretty good. I guess it's just the title I don't like.
Track three is called Alone Together it seems to be about staying young forever, which is almost sad because unless you're speaking metaphorically, it's an impossible to achieve goal. The music is fun and depressing at the same time. It really makes you feel the song emotionally.
Track four is called Where Did The Party Go, and if there's one thing you can say about Fall Out Boy, it's that they never make the same song twice. The last song was about staying young forever, the one before that about skeletons in the closet, this one a party anthem about growing up and changing. The music is definitely to dance to, but the lyrics are sort of sad. Still fun if you don't think about the lyrical content and chances are, people dancing to this in clubs won't.
Track five is called Just One Yesterday. Again the lyrics are sad, about someone you want to get back together with, but at the same time you want to get back at. With backup throughout and a verse from
Foxes, a singer who I've never heard of. You can hear the emotion in the lyrics and in the music.
Track six is called The Mighty Fall. There are two songs on this album with guest writers Butch Walker and John Hill and once you hear them, it's clear which one they are. Two of the more pop ones and with more emphasis on beat and bass. However whereas My Songs Know What You Did In The Dark had a rapper in the video, this one actually had a guest verse from rapper Big Sean, and it is very clear he wrote his own verse, as some of the lyrics are incredibly stupid. However it's not enough to ruin an otherwise great song.
Track seven is called Miss Missing You. This song is sad, with lyrics like "The person that you'd take a bullet for is behind the trigger". Musically it's fun, which is sort of unfitting considering the lyrical content. If you can understand lyric content and cry easily, this song will have you in tears.
Track eight is called Death Valley, and despite it's name it's a lot of fun. The lyrics are fun to sing along to, and the song rocks, but is fun to dance to. There's even a dubstep part in the bridge, proving once again that Fall Out Boy can take normally shitty things that only work in movie trailers and make them awesome.
If the dubstep kills this song for you, I feel sorry for you.
Track nine is called Young Volcanoes and I would love to hear this song live. It sounds like one of those that the entire audience sings along to while the band struggles to be heard over the audience. The lyrics are fun and the music is enough to make even a mean old man break out and dance until he breaks a hip (well, not Dick Cheney).
Track ten is called Rat a Tat. Now, if you can get past the "It's Courtney, bitch!" it's actually a really fun song. It's almost like a sequel to Alone Together. There are many similar lyrical themes, except with Courtney Love. The music is fast and energetic. While I'm no fan of Courtney Love, this song is energetic and fun and Courtney Love's singing verse is just okay.
The eleventh and final track is the title track Save Rock And Roll. You know it's going to be good when they sample Chicago Is So Two Years Ago. Most of the first verse is slow and emotional, except when Patrick goes "So fuck you, you can go cry me an ocean". With lyrics like "You are what you love, not who loves you" and "Oh No, we won't go, cause we don't know when to quit" plus guest vocals from Elton John, this is destined to become a Fall Out Boy classic. Elton John doesn't have that big a part, so you wonder how they got him to do this. Regardless, I'm glad he did. This song really makes the album, and it should.
Overall, Fall Out Boy proved they still rock with their return. Even if they don't save rock and roll, they've saved their fans from a life of waiting for them to get back together, and they've got a great album to show for it. I give this album an 8 out of 10.
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