Fall Out Boy – Mania

Brandon Moran Fallout Boy -Mania

Fall Out Boy has proven once again that they are forever changing their music and being progressive while doing so. Admittedly, I’m not the biggest Fall Out Boy fan, but I’ve loved all of their singles and a few album tracks over the years and have been to a couple of their concerts. With M A N I A, they have changed up their sound while still staying true to the Fall Out Boy we all know and love.

The album starts strong with “Stay Frosty Royal Milk Tea.” This is one I would expect to be the opening song for their tour. It’s powerful and gets you pumped that you can accomplish anything. The second track, “The Last of the Real Ones” had me jamming. Songs like this one are the reasons I love to listen to Fall Out Boy. It’s definitely a track you dance around your house to but also has that rock punch to it that will make it infectious – probably my favorite on the album.

As someone who only typically listens to Fall Out Boy’s singles rather than their albums, I was particularly disappointed in the second single from the album, “HOLD ME TIGHT OR DON’T.” The song does not really have any substance or anything that makes me like it. It’s just the same thing for a good portion of the song and I was over it after about a minute or so. I just finished the thinking, “really? That’s all?” If you had to skip a track on the album, it’s this one.

The album continues with more of that new Fall Out Boy music feels that leave most dedicated fans torn on how they feel about it. “Heaven’s Gate” slows the album down a bit from it’s more high-powered, upbeat tracks. Lead singer, Patrick Stump is belting his little heart out begging to be boosted into heaven’s gates and you can feel his soul popping through. It is super powerful and undeniable.

“Champion” – you mean the song that sounds like you’re at a major sporting event waiting for your favorite team to come out? Yes please. I love everything about this song. I did not want the song to end I was enjoying it so much. Definitely a banger you would want to hear in concert with the guitars and drums just pumping out at your soul. I had the same feeling with “YOUNG AND MENACE.” I was heavily vibing to this song as it’s something I was not expecting from them, but LOVED. It makes you want to scream along with Stump as all of these different sounds are happening at the same time. Definitely a stand-out track.

Overall this album was pretty good – I enjoyed it. It’s definitely a big move for the band as it is very different from their previous albums. While incorporating more EDM sounds and powerful guitar riffs, they are definitely telling the world they don’t care what you think and this new sound needed to happen.

Rating: 7/10

Favorite songs: Champion, YOUNG AND MENACE, The Last of the Real Ones