Fall Out Boy have attracted a lot of attention in the past couple of years. Their previous album ‘Take This To Your Grave’ pushed them to the forefront of many people’s consciences and lodged them there with the rare combination of sugar-sweet, catchy tunes and poignant and emotive lyrics. So understandably their newest release ‘From Under The Cork Tree’ has been eagerly anticipated by fans across the globe…so does it deliver?

This album has had a lot more input at the writing stages from band mates Joe Trohman (guitar) and Andy Hurley (drums) than previous offerings. This has resulted in a slightly different sound and overall feel to the music. This is no more evident then on the opener ‘Our Lawyer Made Us Change The Name Of This Song So We Wouldn’t Get Sued’. It is a mid paced, emo tinged, sing-a-long which is less urgent and more reflective. This seems to set the pace for the rest of the album. The next track ‘Of All The Gin Joints In The World’ is very different, it instantly grabs you by the collar and slaps you in the face. The opening riff and contagious (yet nonsensical) lyrics make you sit up and pay attention. What follows is three minutes of pop-punk-perfection. Soaring choruses, backing vocals and some of the best drumming on the album, all combine to put a smile on your face.

The first single to be released from this album soon follows, and is arguably the best song on offer. ‘Sugar, We’re Going Down’ is the kind of tune which makes you turn up your car stereo, push your foot to the floor and sing like a moron for the duration. From the opening riff, to the vocal breakdown to the euphoric duel vocals at the end it carries a rhythm which will keep your head nodding and feet tapping. It will defiantly be a future crowd favourite, for the fans who want to sing and those who want to mosh. Next is a re-working of an old favourite ‘Nobody Puts Baby In The Corner’. This was originally an acoustic track from the ‘My Heart Will Always Be The B-Side To My Tongue’ EP. As a standalone track it is strong, but I feel that by recording it with the full band and electric instruments, although retaining its original content and sentiment, it loses the simplistic charm, which the acoustic version had.

The record then treads water through until ‘ I've Got A Dark Alley And A Bad Idea That Says You Should Shut Your Mouth’, which is an unremarkable effort. ‘7 Minutes In Heaven’ is similar but does have the benefit from the trademark FOB catchiness. It picks up again with ‘Champagne For My Real Friends, Real Pain For My Sham Friends’, which begins with a haunting metal-style hook and leads into a beautiful melody in which Joseph Trohman excels. The album comes to a close with the emotional ‘XO’ which also has hard-core undertones.

After hearing this album you will realise that Fall Out Boy are not a band that have changed their sound, more altered it. All the original elements are there but the sound has grown into something fuller, something more complete. No doubt this release will galvanise old fans and win over many new ones.

To find out more about Fall Out Boy - Click Here