Patrick Stump – Vocals, Guitar

Pete Wentz – Bass, Backing Vocals

Joe Trohman – Guitar, Backing Vocals

Andy Hurley - Drums

            Fall Out Boy comes back within just a year from their release of the CD/DVD release Live in Phoenix and nearly 2 years since Infinity on High. The band from just outside Chicago has been motoring along the past few years with giant tours, big antics and even bigger song titles. From huge tracks off of the big hit From Under the Cork Tree to doing a cover of Michael Jackson’s “Beat It,” Fall Out Boy almost always seem to come out on top and impact the industry at an outstanding rate. The new album Folie a Duex features 13 tracks and those fairly long titles. The album begins with one of those long titled tracks “Disloyal Order of Water Buffaloes.” It begins with a big organ and Patrick singing away then Joe enters with his guitars. It has that normal Fall Out Boy sound with just a slower tempo for most of the track. They also have a lot of backing vocals during the track. the next track flies in just as the first one in. the up tempo lead single “I Don’t Care” has big time guitars throughout the entire track, a very solid drum set and super catchy vocals. It was a very fine choice for the first single. “She’s My Winona” kicks it up with a killer chorus and perfect bass line. It does start to get bland towards the end though. “America’s Suitehearts” starts out with weird, but if you get through that you can make it almost the rest of the way. The track, which was the 2 radio single, I don’t see doing much. It just doesn’t have that special item that makes it stand out. “Headfirst Slide” has a heavy dance scene beat as glides through its progression. With additional items like keys and syths makes it a track that could surface up in a club or two. Patrick also changes his voice from the super popish high pitches that you normal hear from him to some dark lower ones that will raise your eyebrows. “The (Shipped) Gold Standard” does an outstanding job at getting the listener into the track from the opening moments. The beat is cool and smooth just like that guy that gets all the ladies at the club. Patrick goes high on some notes, but the normal vocals fly through the lyrics with the poise of 10 years veterans. “(Coffee’s For Closers)” was one of the tracks that got me intrigued by the title alone. I wasn’t sure what might come from it, but I was pleased. The album really seems to be picking up some steam with the last to offerings. “Coffee” has a good sound and Patrick’s vocal solos are done with perfection. The beat is very catchy and the end of the track with the violin was much unexpected, but well mastered. “What a Catch, Donnie” is a smooth bluesy love song that offers up another unexpected item on the album. It actually left me sitting the first few times I listened to it. I was caught off guard by it and although it does string along a little too long it is a fine track. “27” storms along for a little of 3 minutes. The track features a solid guitar solo and powerful drums that stream the entire time. They also place the normal backing vocals in the track, but the lyrics are a bit odd. Although the music is solid I’m not a big fan of the track as a whole. “Tiffany Blews” is a track that I can see hitting in the scene. It is a huge pop track with big guitars and a steady drum beat, but the vibe shouts silver scene. “w.a.m.s.” opens with a huge bass line from Pete that continues through Patrick’s weird vocal set. At what seems to be an attempt at something that is more edgy and hard, I don’t think that they hit it big with the track. besides the bass line and drums it’s not a good track. “20 Dollar Nose Bleed” opens with a blast of keys and Pat’s vocals. Fall Out Boy places another weird ass track that doesn’t have any point. Around the four minute mark they did add in a monologue type section that is pretty cool sounding and worth a listen. They transition right into the final cut off Folie a Duex, another upbeat track with a funky sound that ends the album on a positive note. “West Coast Smoker” has a beat that can not be ignored. It offers up a great set of vocals, going from one style to another that are not over the top or too different that it just sounds stupid. It is one that could be rocked out to frequently. Overall I’m not fond of the album. I was high on Infinity on High for the new directions that they were trying and I thought that they worked. The most of the new ideas and things that they tried on this album didn’t go over so well. It seemed liked that they tried too hard to be different and stand out from everyone else. They defiantly will stand out with the effort, but I don’t think that it will go over well with fans. Like I said, Infinity was very clever and From Under the Cork Tree was very solid to lift them to the next level, but they didn’t continue in the upward direction. I really think they flattened out and maybe taken a small step back. I don’t think most fans will relate to the music and lyrics which is a huge deal. There are some tracks that stand out from the rest and they are worth a listen.

Rating: 6.5 out of 10

Favorite Tracks:

I Don’t Care, The (Shipped) Gold Standard, (Coffee’s For Closers)

Track List:

1.      Disloyal Order of Water Buffaloes

2.      I Don't Care

3.      She's My Winona

4.      America's Suitehearts

5.      Headfirst Slide into Cooperstown on a Bad Bet

6.      The (Shipped) Gold Standard

7.      (Coffee's for Closers)

8.      What a Catch, Donnie

9.      27

10.  Tiffany Blews

11.  w.a.m.s.

12.  20 Dollar Nose Bleed

13.  West Coast Smoker