A four-year hiatus and coolly received solo projects behind them, US emo heroes Fall Out Boy previewed their typically outlandishly titled comeback album by revealing that they’d realised they were grown ups now, with mortgages and kids.
However, fans needn’t fret that they’ve returned with songs about pension plans and lawnmowers. “We can stay young together,” they proclaim, their recipe for eternal youth seemingly involving yelling very loudly. Each track fuses punk-pop, boyband production values and Heart-style power-balladry to make a big enough noise to accompany fireworks in stadiums. Adult concerns do crop up occasionally: Where Did the Party Go tackles rock-star disillusion, Just One Yesterday does wistful nostalgia, and Death Valley suggests we all embrace hedonism because the grim reaper lurks.
Otherwise, it’s business as usual, with slightly appeal-broadening knobs on. Quiet bits,then loud bits, and words about alienation wrapped up in catchy choruses to unite thousands. Ker-ching.
