HEAVY MUSIC HISTORY: Foile á Deux – Fall Out Boy

FALL OUT BOY set their own standard when they released Infinity On High in 2007. Their third album was released to critical acclaim and it even earned the band their first number one album. The question on everyone’s lips in 2008 was how they were going to follow it up? The answer to that was Folie à Deux, which saw the band collaborate with the likes of rapper LIL WAYNE and BLONDIE frontwoman Debbie Harry.

It also saw them move away from their pop-punk roots and explore further experimentation with the use of synths and jazz. However, the album itself would release in a strange climate. 2008 was the year of the economic crash, and FALL OUT BOY had to push the release date of the album back, otherwise they would have released it on the day of the presidential election. To avoid competition from the likes of BEYONCÉ and GUNS N’ ROSES, the band released the album in December 2008.

Recoded between July and September 2008 in secrecy, Folie à Deux would be the last album FALL OUT BOY would release before their hiatus. As a result, it makes sense that they’d throw everything at it. This can be seen in opening song, Disloyal Order Of Water Buffaloes. It starts off with a gospel-esque opening before launching into a run-of-the-mill rock song. However, it works because the change is not that major.

In fact, the first few songs are standard songs for the band. There are very few differences. Many of the songs, especially Headfirst Slide Into Cooperstown On A Bad Bet, show off the variety of Patrick Stump‘s vocals. However, it isn’t until the closing minutes of (Coffee’s For Closers) that the band branch out into other genres, as the song ends on a violin solo.

What A Catch, Donnie is a slow-paced ballad, with a long list of guest vocalists including Travie McCoy of GYM CLASS HEROES, Alexander DeLeon from THE CAB and Brendon Urie of PANIC! AT THE DISCO doing guest backing vocals of previous FALL OUT BOY songs. Unfortunately, the album slips back into a standard album FALL OUT BOY album during 27, although it smoothly transitions into Tiffany Blews, which features rapper LIL WAYNE and singer Alexander DeLeon. Sadly, both features are hard to distinguish due to the production on the song.

Whilst it is clever to have the experimentation for this album be scattered throughout, it also causes the issue of making the album sound inconsistent. This is because the majority of the album is similar to any other FALL OUT BOY album. Saying that, there are a few hidden gems, such as 20 Dollar Nose Bleed, which is an upbeat jazz-infused song, and the closing song West Coast Smoker, which features rocker Debbie Harry who is almost unrecognisable on the chorus as her vocals blend in seamlessly with Stump‘s.

The deluxe version of the album included multiple live versions of the songs. However, upon release, it earned mixed reviews, with The Guardian giving it 3/5 stars, whereas NME gave it 8/10. It is sadly an overlooked album in FALL OUT BOY‘s discography, as their monumental comeback album, Save Rock And Roll was released in 2013, ushering in a new wave of emo music for the next generation. Whilst it certainly isn’t perfect, there is a certain charm to Folie à Deux. It marked the end of one chapter, whilst also setting up the next one. FALL OUT BOY have gone on to release some of the most beloved albums of the 2010s emo revival, and a whole new generation can enjoy the magic and wonder of one of the most beloved emo bands. Whilst some of their most recent efforts have earned a mixed reception, there are still some beloved albums in their discography. Although it is somewhat understandable why this album is overlooked.

Overall, whilst it certainly isn’t perfect, there is a charm to Folie à Deux. It is clear that FALL OUT BOY worked hard on this album, and whilst it is rather inconsistent in regards to the experimentation, there are some hidden gems along the way, especially near the end. Furthermore, most of the features work, especially the multi-feature in What A Catch, Donnie, and the closing song West Coast Smoker. Furthermore, whilst it pales in comparison to some of their earlier and later albums, it is clear that Folie à Deux set the stage for the next phase of FALL OUT BOY. Therefore, it deserves to be relistened to, as it is a flawed but overlooked album that deserves more credit.

Foile á Deux was originally released on December 10 2008 via Island Records.

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