(I originally wrote this post on Thursday, January 16th, the actual 5th anniversary of this incredible album)
Fall Out Boy released their sixth studio album “American Beauty/American Psycho” on this day in 2015.
Ahead of the release of the album they released “Centuries”, which has gone on to be an absolute anthem in sports arenas. They also released the title track American Beauty/American Psycho and Uma Thurman as singles. If you were anywhere near a radio in 2015, chances are you heard Uma Thurman. A lot.
What’s funny about AB/AP is its probably my favorite post-hiatus album from Fall Out Boy, but it has my two least favorite songs they’ve ever done, and those two songs are American Beauty/American Psycho and Uma Thurman. Uma Thurman is an alright song, the sample of The Munsters theme song is an awesome touch, but it was just too overplayed, and much in the same way my freshman college roommate played Infinity on High on repeat all night every night, I got to a point of FOB Fatigue.Which makes the fact that I delayed so long in picking up the album that much more sad because other than those two songs, the album is full of gems.
Irresistible, Centuries, Immortals and Favorite Record are all good songs. Novocaine and Twin Skeletons are emotional, but on a darker, angrier level than other tracks. The Kids Aren’t Alright and Jet Pack Blues both contain a longing and sadness that transcends most of the rest of the Fall Out Boy discography, as they are excellently written and composed songs.
But by far, my favorite track of the album is Fourth of July. When I heard it, the lyrical content of wondering what if about a romance that could have been was like a punch to the gut that no other song has quite delivered since.
An interesting fact about this album is one of the two new tracks included in Believers Never Die Volume 2, Bob Dylan, was recorded to be included on AB/AP. I have mixed feelings about this because on one hand I love that song and if I wish I could have had it in my life longer. But on the other hand I think it would have made this album too powerful, since it already emotionally compromises me enough as it is.
What’s your favorite song from this masterpiece of an album? Do you think Bob Dylan should have been included on AB/AP when it was originally released? Let me know!
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