Fall Out Boy: American Beauty/American Psycho (Island) If you liked Save Rock and Roll for showing the band at their least Pete Wentzy, this will surely disappoint you, with lines like, “Keep you like an oath” and “You ought to keep me concealed just like I was a weapon” showcasing Wentz lyricism at its most cliché and self-parodic. And believe it or not, those lines are from my two favorite songs on the record. “Uma Thurman,” with its prominent Munsters theme sample, is one of the strongest tracks they’ve ever done, and “Irresistible” houses a powerful chorus that is, well, look at the title. These songs are the antithesis of Save Rock and Roll, diving right into Wentz’s particular brand of cheese. But he so often settles for mediocrity that it’s a relief just to hear him go over the top. The remainder is mainly made up of filler that will please longtime fans, except for two particularly bad ones: the abysmal top 20 hit “Centuries,” and “Immortals,” their contribution to the Big Hero 6 soundtrack that has no business actually making the album. About as good a Fall Out Boy full-length as you can expect at this point, but the divide between their best and worst work has never been more apparent. B
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