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In the summer of 2014, whilst on tour with PARAMORE, FALL OUT BOY begun sewing the seeds and recording the demos of what would eventually become their sixth studio album. Today, we celebrate the release of American Beauty/American Psycho (AB/AP) a decade on, and look back upon an album that earned them their place as one of the most dynamic bands in the alternative scene.
AB/AP remains a defining moment in FALL OUT BOY’s career – it not only solidified an evolution in their sound from pop-punk to pop-rock, but also reinvented their identity in their post-hiatus era. Commenting on its place in the scene, bassist and lyricist Pete Wentz explained that “…to fence yourself into this little area and chain yourself to the doghouse has never been what [he] thought rock music was” and lamented that modern rock wasn’t relevant to popular culture anymore and it “… should not be relegated to a quaint little corner of Guitar Center for dads to find”. The band knew the album might not tickle everyone’s fancy, as said by lead vocalist Patrick Stump “…some people will love it. Some people will hate it. The four of us like it a lot, so we’re happy”.
American Beauty/American Psycho is rife with samples and fusions of many different styles, from a snippet The Munsters on Uma Thurman to the frenetic, dance house energy of the title track. The album was led by the single Centuries, ironically opening with the chilling lyrics “Some legends are told, Some turn to dust or to gold…And just one mistake, Is all it will take” – another self aware take from Wentz who famously ‘can write it better than you ever felt it’. The album is sonically more cohesive than its predecessor Save Rock And Roll (2013) despite its wide array of influences, dialing up the intensity and oomph in both the lyrics and the emotion. Nothing on the album is undersold – every song feels crafted to give you chills, whether you are watching live on stage, staring out the window travelling or just alone in your room with your thoughts. Songs like Uma Thurman, Novocaine, and Irresistible strike a balance between the anthemic pop-rock hooks and the band’s signature edge, whilst The Kids Aren’t Alright, Fourth Of July, and Twin Skeleton’s (Hotel in NYC) are hauntingly sad and on the nose for making one sit with their feelings in the palm of their hands.
“Diehards” –the FALL OUT BOY term for the OG fans– were indeed split by the release, as many felt the DIY-Chicago punk sound they started with in 2001 with Take This To Your Grave that evolved into the industry defining pop-punk records From Under The Cork Tree (2005) and Infinity On High (2007) had been pushed aside for a more commercial pop-focused approach to their comeback album Save Rock And Roll, following a 5 year break the band took in 2008. At the same time, many fans were just thrilled that the band had even returned and Save Rock And Roll is cherished by many for that nostalgia. However, AB/AP doubled-down on the ‘pop’ part of pop-rock, a bold decision by the band that put them at risk of losing some of their original crew. The album marked a shift for FALL OUT BOY, leaning into more polished, genre-blurring production while maintaining the emotional intensity that defined their earlier work.
And in the end, American Beauty/American Psycho debuted at No. 1 on the US Billboard 200 upon its release, a testament to vision that FALL OUT BOY had in crafting this record to update rock for the masses. The gamble had paid off, and a whole new generation of fans were ushered in as a result. Critics were divided at the time but mostly positive, with some praising the band’s willingness to experiment, while others (similar to the diehards) missing the rawness of their earlier material. New fans embraced the album wholeheartedly, with many celebrating its infectious energy. Centuries became an instant anthem and their most streamed song to date, serving as a reminder that FALL OUT BOY’s appeal isn’t just around their nostalgic value, but about their ability to timeless moments for new generations.
For the believers –the modern FALL OUT BOY fan name– AB/AP represents more than just an album; it’s a snapshot of a moment in time. It has been the soundtrack to the formative years of their younger fans, now in the throes of their twenties. The album’s influence continues to resonate today, as songs like Immortals (featured in Disney’s Big Hero 6) introduced the band to new audiences. Through its development and release, the band demonstrated their ability to evolve without losing the heart of what made them beloved in the first place and it is clear that the album was a billboard for their reinvention and resilience. Ten years on, American Beauty/American Psycho is still a beautifully chaotic masterpiece that will go down in history, and that we will remember for centuries.
American Beauty/American Psycho was originally released on January 20 2015 via Island Records.
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The post HEAVY MUSIC HISTORY: American Beauty/American Psycho – Fall Out Boy appeared first on Distorted Sound Magazine.
