Spring Break
Fans won't find folly with Fall Out's Folie a Deux
Justin Pacheo
Issue date: 1/30/09 Section: Entertainment
01/30/09 - Fall Out Boy is usually the target of a lot of criticism by "serious" music fans. It is an easy group to bash, due in part to its huge success and its songs' heavy rotation. With success comes a certain amount of backlash.
Then there is bassist Pete Wentz's apparent lack of musical talent and the various antics that allow him to be featured prominently on the E! news ticker.
All this seems to make most people either strongly for or against the band. Fall Out Boy is a solid pop-punk ensemble and they should not be this divisive of a band. It's okay to like Fall Out Boy and it's okay to dislike them, but everyone should probably calm down about them.
Trying to dive into its new album, Folie a Duex, without any preconceived notions will likely allow most rock fans to enjoy themselves.
Folie a Duex is an enjoyable album to listen to and a surprisingly deep one. The songs here feature the catchy choruses that Fall Out Boy is known for and most of the songs have some lyrics that will stick in your head for a long while.
The tracks "I Don't Care", "America's Suitehearts" and "20 Dollar Nose Bleed" are among the most infectious.
The depth of the album comes from the fact the album is littered with a huge amount of pop culture references, both in the song titles and the music itself.
The song title for "Coffee's for Closers" is lifted from a line from the film Glengary Glen Ross.
"Headfirst Slide into Cooperstown on a Bad Bet" is a thinly veiled reference to former major league baseball player Pete Rose, who was banned from Cooperstown and the MLB for his gambling on baseball.
"Disloyal Order of the Water Buffaloes" is a reference to the Flintstones; diehard fans will remember that Fred and Barney were members of the Loyal Order of the water Buffalo.
The game of spot-the-pop- culture reference is certainly fun and extends to the music. The opening of "Coffee's for Closers" is reminiscent of a Smashing Pumpkins' song that I can't put my finger on- possibly "Tonight, Tonight."
Then there is bassist Pete Wentz's apparent lack of musical talent and the various antics that allow him to be featured prominently on the E! news ticker.
All this seems to make most people either strongly for or against the band. Fall Out Boy is a solid pop-punk ensemble and they should not be this divisive of a band. It's okay to like Fall Out Boy and it's okay to dislike them, but everyone should probably calm down about them.
Trying to dive into its new album, Folie a Duex, without any preconceived notions will likely allow most rock fans to enjoy themselves.
Folie a Duex is an enjoyable album to listen to and a surprisingly deep one. The songs here feature the catchy choruses that Fall Out Boy is known for and most of the songs have some lyrics that will stick in your head for a long while.
The tracks "I Don't Care", "America's Suitehearts" and "20 Dollar Nose Bleed" are among the most infectious.
The depth of the album comes from the fact the album is littered with a huge amount of pop culture references, both in the song titles and the music itself.
The song title for "Coffee's for Closers" is lifted from a line from the film Glengary Glen Ross.
"Headfirst Slide into Cooperstown on a Bad Bet" is a thinly veiled reference to former major league baseball player Pete Rose, who was banned from Cooperstown and the MLB for his gambling on baseball.
"Disloyal Order of the Water Buffaloes" is a reference to the Flintstones; diehard fans will remember that Fred and Barney were members of the Loyal Order of the water Buffalo.
The game of spot-the-pop- culture reference is certainly fun and extends to the music. The opening of "Coffee's for Closers" is reminiscent of a Smashing Pumpkins' song that I can't put my finger on- possibly "Tonight, Tonight."
