American Beauty/American Psycho.
| Fall Out Boy
American Beauty/American Psycho.
American Beauty/American Psycho (sometimes abbreviated as AB/AP)[5] is the sixth studio album by American rock band Fall Out Boy, released on January 16, 2015 through Island Records as the follow-up to the band's comeback album Save Rock and Roll(2013). The band wrote music while on tour with Paramore mid-2014 and it developed into a new album. -Wikipedia
Critic Reviews
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Rolling Stone
Pop-punk heroes continue their evolution toward noisy, no-holds-barred pop mania.
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Consequence
With that said, the band’s talent and the occasional strike of inspiration make it impossible to write off AB/AP entirely. Let’s just hope they eventually strike a balance that’s true to themselves and doesn’t come off like a mainstream radio retread. And, really, not to belabor a point that’s been made at length, but some more guitars would be nice.
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Spin
It’s more ideation than practice, which is why the too-cluttered American Beauty/American Psycho won’t be this band’s American Idiot.
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Sputnik Music
Coming from a group whose comeback seemed incredibly unlikely a mere two years ago, American Beauty / American Psycho signals loud and clear that the story of Fall Out Boy is still going strong.
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Diffuser
The success of 'American Beauty/American Psycho' comes down to the listeners' ability to pull their emotions out of their expectations. If you’re looking for a continuation of the albums they’ve already created, the possibility for disappointment is probable. While several of Fall Out Boy’s signatures are intact -- including a handful of witty one-liners -- the new direction of the band is completely undeniable.
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The Guardian
grimly candid pop-punk.
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Los Angeles Times
Alas, Stump and his bandmates run out of steam by the end of “American Beauty/American Psycho,” which closes with a handful of more generic tracks — including “Immortals,” which was featured recently in Disney’s “Big Hero 6" — that sound as if they could’ve come from Bastille or Imagine Dragons or some other synthed-up guitar act just looking to stay relevant in a digital age. At its best, Fall Out Boy thinks bigger than that.
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Shani's Ideas
Musically, this album took a more pop/alternative approach, deviating from their pop punk roots. Despite most responses, I feel that this actually worked for the band, especially vocalist Patrick Stump. Stump has this big, soulful voice, and I feel that the experimentation on AB/AP really allowed him to truly work his vocal abilities.
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musicfeeds
Though not as genre-defining as From Under The Cork Tree, or as game-changing as From Infinity On High, American Beauty/American Psycho is a fine modern pop record, home to enough hits to ensure Fall Out Boy remain perched high upon their throne as undisputed rulers of the pop rock world.
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DIY Magazine
At times the record may not hang together, but it makes up for that in its colour, its audacity, and its unabashed sense of pride at giving just about anything a go. Is it still Fall Out Boy? Undoubtedly.
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The Young Folks
Overall, American Beauty/American Psycho is another winner for Fall Out Boy—they manage to mature their sound without losing their signature attitude or feeling. One thing I am curious about is why they included so much sampling—“American Beauty/American Psycho,” “Centuries,” and “Uma Thurman” all pull elements from other (credited) pieces of media. It’s like Save Rock and Roll was for guest vocalists and American Beauty/American Psycho is here for guest melodies. Regardless, the album is a great mix of hard rock anthem and slightly-less-hard rock lament.
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Paste Magazine
AB/AP is more intriguing when the band follows their wackiest instincts: Closer “Twin Skeleton’s (Hotel in NYC)” climaxes with a spine-tingling choral chant; meanwhile, the nutso “Uma Thurman” seamlessly samples the goddamn Munsters theme song. (Only Fall Out Boy can win you over by pissing you off.)
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PopMatters
Fall Out Boy version II makes a bid for the continued evolution of their sound. A mostly entertaining work emerges from this creative maelstrom.
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The Voice
Overall, the album has 11 great songs that will have you singing along. Fall Out Boy could have had less promotional songs released but it has not changed the popularity of the album. They also could have organized the album a little more or give it a sort of theme.
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pathfinder
Fall Out Boy has come a long way since “Thnks fr th Mmrs” and “Sugar We’re Goin Down,” but they still retain the blend of pop and punk that makes this album an American beauty.
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AV Club
American Beauty/American Psycho is Fall Out Boy continuing to create its own musical reality—and inviting everyone else to catch up if they can.
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Neon Tommy
Overall, "American Beauty/American Psycho" makes you want to dance, head bang, become a free spirit, but also kind of want to beat someone up all at the same time. Only a band like Fall Out Boy can make you love that sort of feeling.
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Coog Radio
In the end, Fall Out Boy has grown and their style has grown with them. They’ve created a pop album, it is what it is. Many artists have changed their style throughout the years, and this group of musicians are no different. It has catchy hooks and great beats that will have you singing along by the second or third listen.
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All Things Loud
Fall Out Boy have always been a love/hate kind of band, with American Beauty/American Psycho possibly being the first album which will actually cause this divide within their own fanbase as fans start to grow away from the severe hip hop influences of late. It’s not a terrible album, it just hasn’t impressed as much as 2013’s Save Rock and Roll. There aren’t any songs on here as exciting as The Phoenix, as beautifully structured as Save Rock and Roll or as grooving as Where Did the Party Go. Where did Fall Out Boy go?
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Daily Emerald
Fall Out Boy's 'American Beauty/American Psycho' is divisive, to say the least.
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The Soundboard
There’s no doubt that American Beauty / American Psycho won’t sit well with some people. There will always be some old Fall Out Boy fans who would prefer a return to the days of Take This To Your Grave or From Under The Cork Tree, but that’s very unlikely to happen. A more worthwhile prospect would be to just go with this new experimental sound – there are still parts that could use a bit of honing, but overall, Fall Out Boy’s first entire foray into the world of the pop sees them doing so with confidence and wide-eyed excitement. And in terms of true reinvention, that’s the best anyone could really ask for.
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AllMusic
This collaboration comes in the form of the slow-burning "The Kids Aren't Alright" (its whistled hook being a slyer nod to Peter Bjorn & John than the title's allusion to the Who) and the full-on, spangled disco-rock of "Novocaine" and "American Beauty/American Psycho" -- tracks whose imagination indicates that Fall Out Boy are able to harness their ambitions and accentuate their ideas as they start to creep toward middle age.
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Album of the Year
just too mainstream. fall out boy really went away from what they had before and just sound the same.
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Immortal Reviews
Fall Out Boy has never wandered too far from the path, but they confidently march down it making a hefty impact every step of the way. American Beauty/American Psycho is a testament to that notion, proving to be one of Fall Out Boy's strongest releases, detailing their progression as both a band and creators. Another strong release by a great band.
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Craig Reviews Music
Did I like American Beauty / American Psycho? Absolutely, but this isn’t the FOB I grew to love as a teen, nor did I expect it to be, and although it’s likely unfair to judge the band on past merit I can’t help it. I’m all for progression, and applaud the band on their evolution, but for now I’ll stick to the old stuff, perhaps revisiting the few occasions on which AB/AP really shines from time to time.
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New Fury Media
Overall, the sounds all work together almost surprisingly cohesively. While some of the tracks seem experimental in nature, so far they have been well-received and mark a new and definitive direction for Fall Out Boy and pop punk itself.
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GoldenPlec
Nostalgia can cause us to look at things in a more favourable light than usual. It is hard to ignore the band’s successes in the past when it comes to ‘American Beauty/American Psycho’. This is a good album, not a great album, despite its best intentions.
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The Anchor Point
Regardless of where they decide to head from here, it’s always exciting to watch the band’s creative progression and if AB/AP is any indication, they’ll only get more wildly adventurous from here.
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Renowned for Sound
Weaving these sampled songs between more original material helps to keep the album fresh and make it sound like a new style for the band, despite it staying so close to their previous album. They know they don’t need to radically change their sound to cling to success, yet they’re also open to experimenting with it. American Beauty/American Psycho isn’t exactly what you would call a step in the right direction, but more of a reminder that they’re where they need to be right now.
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Livewire
This sound is good if you’re a fan of FOB’s older music. It almost reminds me of their old album: Take This to You Grave. I also really, really like this song.
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NZ Herald
Fall Out Boy just made pop the new emo - and that's no bad thing at all.
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Music Times
I feel like the experiments worked for Fall Out Boy on American Beauty/American Psycho. The band is continuing to add new layers to its sounds and expanding what "rock 'n' roll" feasibly can be in 2015. I'm not sure if this is FOB's most accessible effort to date, but I do think that it's the band's most interesting.
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Panther Print
This is their sixth album, the group’s biggest, broadest, most feeble album yet. FOB has lost many fans with the new change but has gained twice as many. In “Centuries” Stump vows, “I can’t stop ‘till the world knows my name.” If the band follows the road they are on, it won’t take long.
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Hidden Jams
American Beauty / American Psycho is one of Fall Out Boy’s most consistent and quality albums to date, and one that lives up to the hype.
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VultureHound
However as American Beauty/American Psycho draws to a close, songs gradually start to stop grabbing you and demanding attention so much as blending into each other. Although still technically good, towards the end it feels like Fall Out Boy packed their punches into the first half of the album with the less arena-worthy material following. A common theme for this band, if you look back over their sparkling repertoire of singles and number one’s, the majority of their famous singles fall into the first half of their albums.
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EW
American Beauty/American Psycho, the quartet’s sixth studio album, is even better, and reveals them as perhaps the only current mainstream rock combo capable of making big-venue sing-alongs that also reward deep headphone analysis.
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The Upcoming
Fall Out Boy are veterans in the industry, having essentially defined a subculture, yet they don’t seem to have lost any of the excitement and urgency of their earlier tracks. They still bounce off and rely on one another and that trust is implicit in their musical experimentation.
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The Paw Print
Overall, the album is a smooth mix of the band’s old and new sound that will please both dedicated fans and recent listeners. The tracks reflect the band’s desire to transition to a mainstream pop style. Even with some unconventional and uninteresting tracks, all in all, “American Beauty/American Psycho” is a fun, energetic album for all to enjoy. Whether you’ve known them since their breakout in 2001 or just started listening to them in 2015, “American Beauty/American Psycho” proves that Fall Out Boy has come back to stay.
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Five Cent Sound
While AB/AP is more or less an extension of the pop-heavy tone set with Save Rock and Roll, the consistent passion and relatability of the album’s lyrics capture and entice both longtime Fall Out Boy fans and casual listeners. It’s thanks to their evolving style that the band can still continue to achieve incredible success in the “survival of the fittest” music industry. With this in mind, it’s no surprise that Fall Out Boy is one of the few still-thriving bands that originally hailed from the emo scene.
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The Tribe
the rest of the songs that Fall Out Boy had to offer were a collection that I can still listen to and enjoy, even if they weren’t on-par with the singles released earlier this month.
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Royal Purple
Fans of Fall Out Boy’s earlier works will enjoy the change in direction the band is attempting, and newer fans will be exposed to the sonic diversity that encompasses this album and the band’s sound.
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ISU Student Media
Fall Out Boy still does a great job at taking a stand with their powerful lyrics by sending the message to their audience about rock and roll. Overall, this album was a true powerhouse and success. We see Fall Out Boy continue to shape the music industry by reinventing the already unique sound that they have.
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You Are the Awesome
Overall, American Beauty/American Psycho is a 10 out of 10. I would definitely recommend it to everyone, whether you’re just getting into the rock scene or have been a fan for years, this album is absolutely amazing. It holds a spot at the top of my list of music albums.
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HTF Magazine
In American Beauty / American Psycho, the band seem to have perfected the art of the danceable pop-rock tune. Each track is filled with energy and an ear-worming hook.
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Thunderbolt
The whole album as a whole is definitely not my favorite of theirs, their older works are definitely my favorites from Infinity on High to From Under the Cork Tree, but I definitely have no problem blasting it in the car with the windows down. I hope the band doesn’t decide to completely change their sound to 100% pop, because they would lose their charm.
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Music Corners
This six'th Fall Out Boy studio album enhances the strength of this band.
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Immortal Reviews
Fall Out Boy has never wandered too far from the path, but they confidently march down it making a hefty impact every step of the way. American Beauty/American Psycho is a testament to that notion, proving to be one of Fall Out Boy’s strongest releases, detailing their progression as both a band and creators. Another strong release by a great band.
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it's all dead
American Beauty/ American Psycho is an unimaginable mixture of what made us love Fall Out Boy years ago blended with electric modern style. In an era where it’s becoming increasingly difficult to be a musician, FOB are storming ahead with such a confidence, it’s hard to ask for a return to their pop punk roots. American Beauty/American Psycho is one of the most punk rock messages in pop; they took the genre by storm, and better than the biggest pop acts. The worst part about this album is knowing how long the wait will be until the next one.
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Cleveland
Fall Out Boy finds perfect balance on 'American Beauty/American Psycho'.
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Bournemouth Echo
Yet each song brings a new and exciting energy. Bravo, once again, Fall Out Boy.
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NEIU Independent
Fall Out Boy Continues Dominance With “American Beauty/American Psycho”.
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Mind Equals Blown
While I enjoyed most of American Beauty/American Psycho I’m probably not going to be listening to it on repeat. I’ll admit that I was a little disappointed that Fall out Boy didn’t release a record that was the soundtrack to my formerly emo soul, but it’s a decent record with songs that’ll definitely be fun to dance to alone in my room.
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Punknews
All in all, if you're looking for good, old, empowering Fall Out Boy, then American Beauty/American Psycho is not for you. It lacks all the substance and the meaning that the band is known for, and is diminished to a dancey, synth-pop disaster. Sorry, Fall Out Boy, but "just one mistake is all it will take", and this album certainly will not be remembered for centuries.
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Occur
The songs themselves, however, are strong for the most part, and like they say in “Centuries,” this record will be something to be remembered.
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sheermusicalbliss
The album consists of some good elements, such as the poppy feel throughout, but lacks songs that are particularly special, as none of the songs featured on the album particularly stand out. The sound is consistent, and very repetitive, making the album less enjoyable to listen to, like ‘American Beauty/American Psycho’. Nevertheless, there are some very good songs featured on the album, ‘Uma Thurman’ for example, which is very upbeat and joyous, but also ‘Centuries’, that presents some of the same elements from the band’s previous album ‘Save Rock and Roll’
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Bury Me in Rock and Roll
American Beauty / American Psycho is definitely a step in a new direction for Fall Out Boy, and it’s exciting to see how far they’ve come and how they aren’t scared to venture into new territory. They aren’t the same band from the early 2000s, and that’s okay, but they’re back and they’ve come with fresh ideas and new sounds and they’re absolutely worth looking into as the years pass and as they release new music to the world.
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The Student Playlist
The record fails to show Fall Out Boy at their best. The other three members of the band rarely make a vocal appearance, making it seem like a Patrick Stump solo project. All of their rock credentials seem to have been cynically discarded, thrown out for a tween-pop chart appeal. The use of samples throughout tracks has freshened their sound up, but fans of their earlier work may be disappointed in the desperation of this album. American Beauty / American Psycho sounds like a band marooned, in search of a fresh sound.
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uInterview
Fall Out Boy does not disappoint with AB/AP, and it shows that even with six albums they can still find something new to churn out with positive results.
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The Indie Sound
I really liked the powerful vocals from front man Patrick Stump. He belts out lyrics of heart break and love on “Jet Pack Blues” (one of my favorites) and “Fourth of July” (favorite) but still saves room for some pretty intense songs that leave you wanting more.
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Marquette Wire
The point is that Fall Out Boy is able to transcend its genre labels and create a perfect balance and mixture in their songs. Furthermore, Fall Out Boy has never been a band to repeat itself. Instead, they always bring something new to their fans, which is quite possibly the reason why they are still so relevant to the music industry more than a decade after their debut.
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Western Gazette
It’s so raw, it borders on heartbreaking. Wentz stands you right beside him on that dismal street corner using his steady baseline to mirror the pattering rain. But the album doesn’t let you wallow in sorrow for too long; it picks you right back up with playful tracks like Favourite Record. Stump proclaims he’ll “spin for you like your favourite records used to,” cementing the fact that his voice will last longer than the technologies that hold it. There are many things you want to forget from your teenage awkward phase. Striped arm-warmers from Hot Topic are one of them. Fall Out Boy isn’t.
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Sophomore Slumped
Overall, I really enjoy this record though. It’s just not the pop punk I grew up with, and that’s ok we all grow up and change. I don’t want to hear the same record every time, it’s boring. I like that they experiment and do new things that push the boundaries of who they are and modern music. I think they succeeded.
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The Bottom Line UCSB
Despite their distance from their emo-pop punk roots, whatever Fall Out Boy is doing seems to be working quite well for them. Although it may be true that their sound has changed significantly, it is clear that they’re still the same people who are passionate about making music and sharing it with the world.
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Rock Sins
I’ll give you this, ‘American Beauty/ American Psycho’ is a deviation from the older Fall Out Boy efforts, but it is most certainly not a departure. This album is butterflys, unicorns and rainbows. It is sunny days, summer dresses and strolls in the park. ‘American Beauty/ American Psycho’ is everything we love about Fall Out boy but bigger, better and bolder!
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Speaker TV
American Beauty/American Psycho promised a return to the gladiator-style rock numbers the band are famous for, but the result is watered down and sugar-coated. Every track just bleeds into the next with little or no explosive guitar solos or rhythms to speak of and very repetitive storytelling. It’s always a bummer to discover the hit single (in this case ‘Centuries’) is the only great track from an album. Fall Out Boy seem to tip-toe around their heavier rock origins, instead opting to sprinkle their sound with fairy floss and Hallmark card clichés.
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Chicago Tribune
'American Beauty/American Psycho' is Fall Out Boy's first misfire.
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Blog Spot
All in all, it's an incredible album and I'm pretty sure this band can never fail. Will it be the best album I hear this year? I don't know. Maybe. We'll see in December.
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The Daily Egyptian
Bands have every right to progress and change, and Fall Out Boy has definitely done so. Nevertheless, the band will indeed be remembered for centuries and should be respected for what they are contributing to modern music.
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HipHopionated
American Beauty/American Psycho is a fun album, although it is not necessarily conducive to being played beginning-to-end. I highly envy anyone who gets to see the band live this summer, as I’m sure these songs will sound amazing reverberating through the walls of a giant stadium, with thousands of fans both old and new shouting, dancing, and singing along.
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Herald Standard
“American Beauty/American Psycho” provides a creative canvas for Fall Out Boy to paint an 11-song dialogue that stands up next to the band’s best pieces of work.
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The Breeze
Nearly every song on “American Beauty/American Psycho” is worth a few listens. Even though the band took a five-year hiatus, its music is remarkably consistent. It enjoyed widespread love 10 years ago and its new album shows that it remains relevant today. Unlike some of the other bands that rode the emo-rock wave such as Panic! At The Disco and Paramore, FOB has remained unabashedly true to its emo-pop sound and its remaining status is one of the few relevant bands left in that genre. To change now would be to leave many of its fans behind. That wouldn’t be a good career move and, more importantly, we’d lose a unique voice on the radio.
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The Tartan
Fall Out Boy releases a true American beauty.
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Reviews, mostly
Tracks blend into one another from the mid album onwards and even after subjecting myself to multiple listens of this turgid piece of work I have no memories I’d like to thank them for.
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Seattle Pi
American Beauty/American Psycho drives home the point: Save Rock and Roll was not just a one-off but the beginning of an era in their career. Gone are the days of the teen angst prevalent in their early offerings, replaced by an impressively mature, commanding sound that solidifies Fall Out Boy's place in musical history.
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Saad Hameed
The newest album is very energetic, very fun and I did enjoy listening to it, even though I am convinced more and more each day that this music is no longer for me. There are bound to be a handful of singles on the record and no doubt I will be hearing it blaring from some radio station or some arena pa system. And it deserves it. It's good. We could be listening to much much worse. I couldn't even place this record among the rest of their discography because well, they don't slip often. So it's a toss up, down to your own peculiarities. Push play, give this a listen, I promise you won't hate it, but like me, you might just be too old or not cool enough to love it.
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Critical Spectrum Reviews
This album is a boring, hollow mess that makes me disappointed in a band that I never even liked to begin with. FOB may have made their money, but their time as a relevant force in rock or pop is over. Perhaps it’s for the best. It’s time for something new anyway. Just hope that its not panic at the disco.
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On Record Magazine
It’s impossible to deny that Fall Out Boy’s sixth studio album American Beauty/American Psycho is a far cry from Take This To Your Grave or From Under The Cork Tree, but is that such a bad thing? They’ll still spin for you like your favourite records used to, and after all, Believers Never Die.
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Her Campus
it seems like Fall Out Boy is not only serious about their new music, but it looks like they’re here to stay. And while I can’t definitively say if the lyrics “you will remember me, remember me for centuries” are going to come true, I can say that they will be remembered for a really, really long time.
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Evening Standard
The retro-kitsch of American Beauty/American Psycho’s Uma Thurman was another of the many highlights. Although tracks from their new album Mania might have proved too slickly produced for some, the band’s new sound is certainly an intriguing direction.
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The Greyhound
Overall, the album is the type to blast during a summer day in the car or at a dance party, but not for the everyday, casual listener.
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The Squall
Having come from a small suburb, Fall Out Boy has come a long way. This sixth studio album had many singles reach Billboard’s top hit list. If Fall Out Boy keeps this up, their name will go down in history.
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Crimson
While the album’s wild array of tunes may not be for everyone, those who enjoy a widespread of music genres may be intrigued by American Beauty/American Psycho. The quirky yet compelling array of tracks coupled with its descriptive lyrics leave you eager to listen to more.
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The Cascade
Some things don’t change though. Patrick Stump’s vocals shine through just like they did in 2001, marking Fall Out Boy’s unique style that makes the album worth listening to. Overall, I would have to say the band did a noteworthy job with this fresh album.
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Daily Bruin
Fall Out Boy has certainly grown as a band, as it has retained its punk sound, but experimented in new ways with its energy and anger to create a more mature sound. The band veers away from the head-banging tunes of rebellious teens into the cultured territory of developed music. The songs strike deeper into the soul, yet there remains that playful flirtation with innocence that makes the ridiculous not only attainable but also successful.
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The Argonaut
This album is flawed on a large scale, and there’s no compelling reason to listen to it in full more than a couple of times, but it’s clear Fall Out Boy is more creatively charged than ever. Maybe the follow-up to “American Beauty/American Psycho” will be a tighter listen, but this affair really isn’t worthy of any significant amount of praise.
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Daily Journal
The resulting "American Beauty/ American Psycho" album takes a page from hip-hop's playbook and applies it to rock. Rather than striving for a specific rock sound, Fall Out Boy borrows from other genres and other rock incarnations to craft something new and uniquely theirs.
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Circles & Soundwaves
Despite the fact that Fall Out Boy are at their most confident and powerful as a band, American Beauty/American Psycho plays it far too safe in pace, production, and verocity. The band struggles to manage radio-friendliness with a newfound edginess, leaving the album to fall flat in multiple instances. The fire and passion are here, but only time will tell if Fall Out Boy discover a consistent method of stimulating their popularity as well as their own charm as a band.
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Immortal Music
Its an interesting album to say the least, but not quite our cup of tea.
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DU Clarion
The album is awash in blaring production, and it seems to lack a clear message—or motif, if you will—besides aggression. As they traverse heavily into the pop-punk genre, they’re getting a little too close to losing some of their traditional style, but overall this is a powerful rebuttal to their previous album.
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Reveille
However, experimentation with sound is one of the most important aspects of the current music scene and Fall Out Boy clearly knows how to deliver.
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The Cambridge Student
The record is certainly not without its duds, but overall the album is one which simply demands to be listened to. It is hard not to sing-along to tracks like 'The Kids Aren’t Alright', and on the whole Wentz’s lyrics are stronger than ever. It’s not as accessible as Save Rock and Roll, but it cements the unique sound that Fall Out Boy have made their signature.
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20 Watts
American Beauty/American Psycho is a crazy beautiful album.
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A Song a Day Keeps the Doctor Away
Fall Out Boy made a gutsy move to stay with the times in music, and while they may have gained some new fans, they are quickly losing loyal fans like myself.
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Megan's Whimsical Explorations & Reviews
Overall, the new album has a very upbeat vibe, even if the lyrics are bleak. It’s definitely worth a listen if you’re a Fall Out Boy fan, or if you love pop music.
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