Album Review: Fall Out Boy - Folie à Deux

After the mixtape release, the internet viral campaign, a UK arena tour, a US club tour, the announcement of guest appearances, the Golden Ticket competition and a hyped-up music video, "Folie à Deux" is finally getting released. Oh and the bassist had a kid and named it after a character from a Disney film and a borough.

It's official. Fall Out Boy are no longer the Chicago Pop-Punk band they were, when they released "Take This To Your Grave" in 2003. Fall Out Boy are now a chart-friendly Pop/Rock band and "Folie à Deux" cements this statement.

It's has slick production, catchy songs and crosses various genres. "Disloyal Order of Water Buffaloes" slowly opens the album with just Patrick Stump's recognisable voice and keys that build up to a well-paced, catchy song with standard quirky Fall Out Boy lyrics.

"I Don't Care" is the poppy, bouncy song that is the album's lead-off single with its anthemic lyrics. The album then slips back into old Fall Out Boy style; "She's My Winona", "27" and "The (Shipped) Gold Standard", which all contain Pop-Punk ideas.

"America's Suitehearts" sounds like it should have been "From Under The Cork Tree" with its guitar-riff and memorable chorus. The track proves to be one of the highlights of the album. Whilst "What A Catch, Donnie" sees the band slowing things down as Stump's soothing voice leads the track through to a grand finish, where they subtly showcase their Decaydance family buddies, along with Elvis Costello and Pharrell Williams.

Things take a slight turn for the worse with "Tiffany Blews" with it's Hip-Hop-like opening and quite dull chorus, even a guest appearance from current Hip-Hop star Lil' Wayne fails to rescue the track. Whilst "w.a.m.s." is a straight Pop-Rock song and is quickly forgotten about.

Next sees the Chicago four-piece take a page out of Panic At The Disco's book and roll out the jazzy red carpet with "20 Dollar Nose Bleed". The piano-led track sees Stump and Brandon Urie sharing vocal duties, over a swinging tempo and is one of the better tracks. "West Coast Smoker" is another average Fall Out Boy song, with standard guitar riff, Stump's usual talented voice and it wouldn't Fall Out Boy album with a typical Pete Wentz scream.

"Folie à Deux" leaves you with mixed feelings. It's good and impressive but at the same time you feel something is not quite right. Yes. It has the hook-filled songs; with Stump's voice being the best it ever has been, but at times you feel more effort could be put into some of the songs, and the actual order of the tracks seems a bit difficult to understand, for example I would have ended the album with "What A Catch, Donnie".

"Folie à Deux" isn't Fall Out Boy's tour de force. Nevertheless it will please the fans; the ones who read the blogs, join the social networking site, gossip on forums, buy the clothing line and of course, go to the shows. Fall Out Boy are more than a Pop-Punk band, they're now a band with good connections, good fans and good songs.

3.5/5

"Folie à Deux" is released through Decaydance/Fueled By Ramen on December 15th.