If you were expecting a new Folie à Deux or Infinity on High, you’d discover that Save Rock and Roll has nothing to do with its predecessors. It’s an album that sounds fresh, spotlighting the group’s outstanding talent of filling arenas, as well as Pete Wentz’s ambition to create airbrushed, new material that excels every previous creation.
The album kicks off with an orchestral string section on “The Phoenix,” highlighting once again, that Fall Out Boy is like a chameleon, changing its sound with every year that goes by and with every new record release. The orchestral sampling, which is unquestionably, one of the band’s main staples, reveals Wentz preference for pop-punk, as well as the fact that the group has transitioned to alternative pop rock on this new album. This opening track sets the tone for the rest of the album, but it doesn’t prep the listener for the celeb interventions that pop out along the tracks. Elton John, for instance, is one of the surprise guests on this record. His incredible voice appears on the title track “Save Rock and Roll” that closes the band’s comeback album. Before a nice violin refrain sets the mood, John and Stump’s soulful vocals shine while singing lyrics like “Defend the faith/Going down swinging” and so on.
However, Elton John is not the only important guest. Big Sean, British synth-pop starlet Foxes, 2 Chainz and even the controversial Courtney Love all bring their first-class attributes to make the album something more than just a fun piece of pop rock. Big Sean appears on “The Mighty Fall” with “Turn up … fall out” intro and the line “Hell yeah I’m a dick, girl … addicted to you,” turning the song into a party rock anthem. Courtney Love introduces herself from the first seconds of the song “Rat A Tat”, “…It’s Courtney, bitch,” suggesting that she’s the girl from the song, “the young dirty blonde” and “his suicide blond”, while Foxes has a gorgeous mid-tempo duet with Stump on “Just One Yesterday”, a track that recalls Adele’s “Rolling In The Deep” more than it should.
But, despite the features, these songs do not deserve to be placed under the spotlight. An essential track is, for example, “My Songs Know What You Did In The Dark”. Stump’s vocals sound better than ever on this single and the chorus is so infectious, that you’ll involuntarily sing along to it upon first listen. “Alone Together” is also a key song, being filled with back-to-back rousing moments and one of the album’s best lyrics: “My heart is like a stallion/they love it more when it’s broken.”
Therefore, Save Rock and Roll marks Fall Out Boy’s return to mainstream, and as any comeback, it stirs criticism and discontent. However, before judging the record too harsh, we should all give it some credit. Perhaps it’s not so bad after all that the group decided to venture on the unexpected territory of rave-pop and to bring along numerous celebrity cameos. It’s not experimental, it’s not highly instrumental and it’s definitely not bold, but it’s an album worthy of our appreciation.
Fall Out Boy - Save Rock and Roll Track Listing
1. “The Phoenix” - 4:04
2. “My Songs Know What You Did in the Dark (Light Em Up)” - 3:08
3. “Alone Together” - 3:23
4. “Where Did the Party Go” - 4:03
5. “Just One Yesterday” (featuring Foxes) - 4:04
6. “The Mighty Fall” (featuring Big Sean) - 3:32
7. “Miss Missing You” - 3:30
8. “Death Valley” - 3:46
9. “Young Volcanoes” - 3:24
10. “Rat a Tat” (featuring Courtney Love) - 4:02
11. “Save Rock and Roll” (featuring Elton John) - 4:41
Japanese bonus track
12. “My Songs Know What You Did in the Dark (Light Em Up)” (2 Chainz remix)
Album Information
Released April 12, 2013
Recorded October 2012–March 2013 at Rubyred Recordings, Venice, California
Genre Alternative rock, pop rock, pop, pop punk
Length 41:37
Label Island
Producer Butch Walker
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