There are enough songs to “Dance, Dance” to on FOB’s eighth studio album.
Here’s my take on the thirteen-track album.
TRACK 1: LOVE FROM THE OTHER SIDE 🤩
Takes the synth style FOB discovered on SAVE ROCK AND ROLL and combine it with an INFINITY ON A HIGH intro song. It might not be the apocalypse, but the boys are back!
TRACK 2: HEARTBREAK FEELS SO GOOD 🤩
“No matter what they tell you,” FOB knows how to write catchy lyrics and hooks. You won’t “cry later,” but I guarantee you won’t stop “dancing” as “Heartbreak Feels So Good.”
TRACK 3: HOLD ME LIKE A GRUDGE 🤩
I don’t have a “grudge” against Patrick Stump’s solo career. I saw him perform three times outside of his FOB time. However, a few songs on this new album, including “Hold Me Like a Grudge,” sound like they belong on SOUL PUNK. And that’s a good thing!Â
TRACK 4: FAKE OUT 🤩
Track four “fakes out” listeners by showing FOB’s softer side. The melody sounds like an extension of their work on AMERICAN BEAUTY/AMERICAN PSYCHO.
TRACK 5: HEAVEN, IOWA 😊
Despite having an “In the Air Tonight” build-up, I was not “star-crossed” to become a “lover” of track five.
TRACK 6: SO GOOD RIGHT NOW 🤩
The “Uma Thurman” of the album and “I’m feeling so good right now” listening to it.
TRACK 7: THE PINK SEASHELL (feat. Ethan Hawke) 🤮
This song will be used on their upcoming tour to stall between stage changes, but this seashell should’ve been thrown back into the ocean.
TRACK 8: I AM MY OWN MUSE 🤩
If you “got to throw this year away,” please remember this song.
TRACK 9: FLU GAME 😊
“I’ve got all this love I got to…” give to Andy Hurley’s drums in “Flu Game.”
TRACK 10: BABY ANNILIHATION 🤮
Pete Wentz may be “just melting wax on a birthday cake,” but if I had one wish when I blew out the candles on his cake, it would be to remove this song from the album.
TRACK 11: THE KINTSUGI KID (TEN YEARS) 🤩
You don’t have to go “low, low, low” to realize this song is easily a “highlight.” “Stop me if you’ve heard this before,” but these types of melodies are why FOB is my all-time favorite band.
TRACK 12: WHAT A TIME TO BE ALIVE 🤩
The horns, the synth, and the lyrics feel like a mash-up of Patrick Stump’s “This City” and “Everybody Wants Somebody.” This track is “the cherry on top,” making it go down for “Centuries” as one of my new FOB faves.
TRACK 13: SO MUCH (FOR) STARDUST 😊
‘I thought we had it all” on this record until the album title song closes things out with an over-produced track. “I would trade the pain for” another Stump-enthused anthem like “What a Time to be Alive” again.
With that, I want to give a “Thnks fr the Mmrs” shoutout to Fall Out Boy for continuing to make good music despite still not knowing what their songs “do in the dark.”
SO MUCH (FOR) STARDUST is available on all music streaming services now.
