Fooled By Ramen Finale: Fall Out Boy

Over the last month, and time here at Rock D3C0D3D, we've taken a look at a multitude of artists preforming through a plethora of genres. From Alternative rock, to hip-hop, to even country Fueled By Ramen has definitely shown itself to be a diverse record label. Put finally we come to the end of this journey and with that comes not only one of the most anticipated albums of 2013, but also the return of one of my favorite rock groups to come out of the 2000's. I am of course speaking of Fall Out Boy and their return venture entitled Save Rock and Roll.

Fall Out Boy was founded by members Pete Wentz and Joe Trohman in early 2001 after being in various hardcore punk bands in their Chicago area. It wouldn't be until a little later on that Trohman met future lead singer Patrick Stump at a bookstore to which they talked of a common interest in the band Neurosis. Oddly enough, Stump originally auditioned for the open drummer spot in the band until Wentz and Trohman heard his huge vocal register and decided he would be better suited as their lead. After a few more lineup changes, and the band being give it's name at a concert, they found Andy Hurley to be their drummer.

They went on to release a few EP before making their first album entitled Take This To Your Grave releasing it on May 6, 2003. It was a big hit with singles such as "Grand Theft Autmun/Where is Your Boy" and "Saturday." it achieved gold status but only after their breakthrough album entitled From Under the Cork Tree. The album saw them change to the bigger label "Island" and eventually led to the creation of Decaydance Records. This is when I started getting involved with the band as I watched all of their music videos back when Fuse TV was a better source than MTV. They released their big hits "Sugar We're Going Down," "Dance, Dance," and my personal favorite "A Little Less Sixteen Candles, a Little More Touch Me." They released two more albums entitled Infinity on High and Folie A Deux before going on hiatus in 2010. I personally have not heard Folie A Deux but, I do recommend Infinity on High for all of you music lovers out there. They reformed in 2013 much to the delight of myself and said they had been secretly recording an album they were to release later in the year. Well, we've got the album now so let's see if Fall Out Boy still has it or if they should've stayed in hiatus.

The Cover for the most anticipated album... I don't get it.

The Singles

So this album's actually has a lot of videos for the songs on it but sadly only two singles have been released so far. The first being "My Song Knows What You Did in the Dark (Light 'Em Up)" and the later titled, "The Phoenix." Both of these songs are energetic thrill rides that create an amazing atmosphere for the start of the album.

From the pulse pounding drums, string sections in the intro and pre-chorus, to Patrick Stump's awesome falsetto "The Pheonix" will definitely get you in the mood for what Fall Out Boy is offering this time around. The song has three sections to it, the first being a swirl of strings and percussion leading directly into a slowed down solemn pre-chorus lead-up that pays off fully in the chorus as it turns into a dance floor "call to arms" that is a beauty to hear. 

I honestly prefer this over the first single, "My Song Knows What You Did in the Dark (Light 'Em Up) though I may be in the minority here because it definitely has a classic reformed Fall Out Boy sound reminiscent of "Thnks Fr Th Mmrs." Though the song does take a page from Fun's "We Are Young" creating a sort of anti-chorus that is fun to listen to but seems to keep things in the same place if not lower the intensity. Of course, Stump's voice has never sounded better not only on this song but the whole album because when he squeals "FIRE" you know Fall Out Boy will not be shying away from doing what they want on this album.

The Rest of the Album...

This has easily become the most anticipated album of 2013 and it's not hard to see why when you have a band that not only defined the pop rock genre in the 2000's but also were huge contributors to pushing great artists to the forefront of public consciousness. Of course the album isn't fully paved in gold as I found myself more than displeased with songs "The Mighty Fall" and "Rat a Tat." It's not that they are horribly songs as Fall Out Boy at their 'meh' is still better than a majority of the artists today's 'good.' The only real problem with these songs is the industrial drums in "The Mighty Fall" and the performance by Coutrney Love ("It's Courtney Bitch") are a nice touch but are real letdowns as the songs do not seem to lead much of anywhere as opposed to other songs on the album that blow preconceived notions out of the water.

"...even if Fall Out Boy doesn't save rock and roll it's a damn good start."

Now that we have the bad out of the way let's talk about the songs that are a shoe in to be singles. "Alone Together," "Young Volcanoes," and "Save Rock and Roll" are some of the best songs on the album that are assured, if given the chance, can slaughter the charts with "Alone Together" being a fun love song about being young, having fun, and doing what you want because you strictly can. It also features one of my favorite lines from the album ("My heart is like a stallion, they love it more when it's broken). "Young Volcanoes" while not my personal favorite will be an easy song to sell over summer with it's acoustic guitar, ethnic drums, and lyrics that for myself can easily be seen as an around the campfire ballad lending more to the free and wild nature they have been going for throughout the album.

It is the finally though that is the standout track on this album as it offers not only a very reserved musical performance from Fall Out Boy but also a collaboration with the musical savant himself Sir Elton John. I do not think there is enough good things that can be said about this album, from its intermediate piano melody, simple vocal melody, and HUGE soaring chorus this song is a masterpiece. I must say I am a little sad that Elton John's part is reserved to a half verse and repeat prechorus but, take what you can I guess. If you are only going to buy one song off of this album this is the song as it is a love letter to "the songs worth singing" and proves that even if Fall Out Boy doesn't fully save rock and roll it's a damn good start.

Though I'm barely skimming the awe-inspiring album that is Save Rock and Roll I highly recommend to go out and buy this album as it is a testament that not only can a band reinvent their sound, come back after years of hiatus, but also record an album in complete silence from it's fans an make something that is truly fantastic. This is the rock album we have been waiting for and it does not get much better than this.

Well that is all for this month "Fooled By Ramen" month was an amazing experience and goes to show that rock music while evolving, is not truly dead in mainstream eyes. Next time, we take a turn to the punk rock side and look at Alkaline Trio's My Shame Is True.

DECODED: 9.5 out of 10

As always please like, share and comment below!

BUY IT: The Phoenix, My Song Knows What You Did In The Dark, Alone Together, Just One Yesterday, Death Valley, Save Rock and Roll

 

HEAR IT: Where Did The Party Go, Miss Missing You, Young Volcanoes

TRASH IT:  The Mighty Fall, Rat a Tat

*As with all things, the opinions expressed our purely that of the author and should be taken as such. ** All images, music, and information used are for entertainment purposes. No copyright infringement intended.

"Fooled By Ramen" Month Part 1: Twenty One Pilots

You can check out the sequel review for "Blurryface" here

History

Hello everyone and welcome to the first part of "Fooled By Ramen" month. This week we're going to be taking a look at the one of the newest bands to join the label known as Twenty One Pilots. The band started from humbling beginnings when friends Tyler Joseph, Nick Thomas, and Chris Salih formed the band in 2009 in Columbus, Ohio. The band's name originates from studying Arthur Miller's All My Sons in which a man commits suicide after causing the death of twenty one pilots during World War II. Eventually after their first self-titled release, Nick and Chris left the band because of scheduling conflicts and Tyler was joined by Josh Dun. The duet created a second self-release entitled Regional at Best which dropped July 8, 2011 eventually attracting record label attention with a sold out show. It was not until April 2012 that they announced they were to become apart of the label "Fueled By Ramen" and released a three song EP that year. After extensive touring with Neon Trees and Walk the Moon they say down in the studio to write a new album. That album is the one we are looking at today, Twenty One Pilots' mainstream debut album entitled Vessel.

You know what sells albums? Pictures of old men!

The Singles

So far there is only one single on the album which may honestly be the only single considering it was released last year in August to luke warm airplay. I find this very sad as the only single for the album, entitled "Holding on to You," is by no means the worst song on the album but it is certainly not the best on the album. Quick side note, does anyway find it funny that the second song on the album is almost 95% of the time the first single? Just some food for thought there.

Now for the single itself it is a pretty fun song, with a wavering keyboard part that gently flows in and out before the drums launch in and turn the sound on it's head. What I mean by this is, lyricist, Tyler Joseph comes out of the gate swinging with his hip-hop inspired verse work. It's here that the band shine as being something very different from what the market has been churning out for years which sadly as we'll see not all artists on "Ramen" can hold this honor. One part I would love to point your attention to is the lyrical repeat in the bridge to which Joseph is begging the mass market to stop praising songs with little to no lyrical depth in them as we were "gifted with thought." Some more food for thought. 

The Album Itself...

This band (and subsequentally this album) were brought to my attention by a fellow music lover and a friend of mind who had heard them through the grapevine and thought I would enjoy. And you know what? He could not have been more right! I feel that Twenty One Pilots were the band The Flobots wish they had been as they write song bigger and better with two members than most bands now a days do with 3+. This album is a testament to what one can do with pure willpower, synthetic instrumentation, and a dynamic drummer. It should be noted that very little if any guitar parts are in this album leaving the melodies to be crafted by multitudes of synths and bass lines.

The opener "Ode To Sleep" starts well enough with a very ominous before cutting down for completely except for twirling air and Joseph's vocals. Then something strange happens, the whole song shifts to an upbeat bass walk complete with background claps and bright piano creating a much happier tone. This song goes in many different directions and it a fun ride every single listen through as it cuts between the two sounds creating an awesome album opener.

 "Migraine" starts with a vocoder effect that makes the vocals sound incredibly robotic without reverting to the tale tell autotune sound effect. It's here I'd like to note not only does Joseph have a great tonality in his vocals but he also is very poetic in his lyrical styling. It's a refreshing part of the album as he adapts his styling throughout the song (and others) that unknowingly keep the attention of listeners as they hear him variate his tone slightly making him stand out as a true performer. His ability to get in character isn't the only amazing this as Joseph did a majority of the instrument though I'm sure Dun had a say on what would and would not work in some songs.

I do not know what I love about this but my is it badass...

House of Gold seems to be a track that sticks out to people whenever I ask them about the band and can you guess why? IT FEATURES A UKELELE... What the hell is this world coming to? Yes, I have a huge dislike for the ukelele as it seems all the douchey characters that used to play "Wonderwall" to make the women swoon slowly flocked to the ukelele to show how comfortable they are with their masculinity. But we aren't here for that debate... Maybe another day... Anyway the song itself? It's quite good and has a sweet sentiment to it ("She asked me son when I grow old will you buy me a house of gold?"). Of course does that make it an incredibly song? No but it's damn better than a majority of songs on the market and I dare you to listen to this song twice without humming along! SERIOUSLY DO IT!

Oh "Car Radio" do I love you so much. I feel like this song has to be about more than a car radio but what could it possibly be? Maybe the car is a representation of him ("I hate this car i'm driving there's no hiding....") and the aforementioned "Car Radio" is actually his heart that he can't find the will to move forward and truly find peace in what has left him... Or maybe I'm reading to far into things. Either way this is an amazing song an instantly won me over as Joseph slowly seems to go more insane as the instrumentation gets more and more presence in the song eventually leading to Joseph just screaming "NOW I JUST SIT IN SILENCE" repeatedly. All in all one of my favorite song on the album with a surprise dance floor breakdown/bridge.

A good majority of the rest of the songs leave me reminescent of other songs such as "Semi Automatic" sounding like a Passion Pit song I swear I've heard and "Screen" oddly like a mixture of "Boston" by Augustana and "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" (yes the ukelele returns). Though needless to the sound alikes these songs are both great representation of the variety of styling Twenty One Pilots can pull off. "The Run and Go" has an oddly country sound to it which unlike other bands "Ramen" has signed it pulled off nicely in this old-timey saloon sounding tune.

"Fake You Out" and "Guns For Hands" are songs I cannot understand are not singles. These songs are screaming for airplay as they offer a danceable hook, an awesome blend of Passion Pit and Awolnation, and the first a great message about youth. I feel like these songs should be sent out to a mass majority of people so we can start requesting them all over the nation and cause mass chaos among radio stations when they realize the amount of requests for a song that wasn't officially released to them. You get on that internet. 

Listen to it!!!!

To be honest the rest of the album is just as great as I've been preaching and I am deeply saddened that a band as revolutionary, or at least in sync with what the music market needs, is not as famous as other bands and artists releasing songs with minimal musical craftmenship. Honestly if I have not convince you to go out and buy this album than click the video above and just give it a minute of your time as this is true alternative rock genius. From the poetic hip-hop inspired lyricism by Tyler Joseph to the incredibly addicting production behind a majority of the songs on the album don't let this pass you by. Be a hipster and know them before there popular! Yea I know that sounds horrible who wants to a hipster anymore? But seriously give Vessels by Twenty One Pilots an honest listen.

Sadly the awesomeness of "Fooled By Ramen" month cannot continue with a slight misstep or two so next time we take a look at A Rocket to the Moon's Wild and Free. Pray for my soul...

 

DECODED: 9.0 out of 10

As always please like, share and comment below!

BUY IT:  Holding On To You, Migraine, House of Gold, Car Radio, Fake You Out, Guns For Hands

 

HEAR IT: Ode To Sleep, Semi-Automatic, Screen, The Run And Go, Trees, Truce

TRASH IT:  NONE

*As with all things, the opinions expressed our purely that of the author and should be taken as such.
** All images, music, and information used are for entertainment purposes. No copyright infringement intended.

"Fooled By Ramen" Month: Introduction

Hello and welcome to "Fooled By Ramen" Month where in the month of April we will be taking an in-depth look on at a variety of bands under the "Fueled By Ramen" label. We'll be doing this in preparation for the new Fall Out Boy album entitled Save Rock and Roll that will be releasing later this month. Now before I get a bunch of spam mail stating "Fall Out Boy isn't apart of 'Fueled By Ramen' anymore idiot," I'd like to rebute that with a nonchalant, so what? The reason behind this is I feel that Fall Out Boy would not be where they are today without their time being apart of "Fueled By Ramen." This is where they released their first album Take This to Your Grave(2004) as well as setting up a chain reaction of artists to interact with the label, a number of which we will be taking a look at this month (most notably Paramore).

Started by a team up by John Janick and Less Than Jake drummer/lyricist Vinnie Fiorello, Fueled by Ramen opened it's doors in 1996 and had it's first success from the band Jimmy Eat World. After JEM's self-titled EP set fire across the country it yielded a huge breakthrough for not only the band but for the  label as well in 1998. They eventually set up an office space in Tampa Florida and had a few bands come through their studio such one in particular being Fall Out Boy. After Take This to Your Grave went gold Pete Wentz (then bassist of Fall Out Boy) came up with an idea with John Janick to create the subsidiary "Decaydance Records" releasing music from a wide variety of artists such as Gym Class Heroes and The Hush Sound. Luck definitely struck as in 2005 they both released the smash hit A Fever You Can't Sweat Out by Panic! at the Disco that went double platinum. Luck wouldn't ended there as they later signed the band Paramore and released the wide selling Riot! in 2007 after acquiring an office in midtown Manhattan.
But see all of this brings us to today. With FOB out of Fueled By Ramen and Panic! at the Disco slowly trying to churn out the magic they once had who do they have to really take the mantle and keep Fueled By Ramen alive? Well, with the new self-titled Paramore album dropped this month and the small little band I covered in January Fun(.) we're gonna dive a little deeper and explore just how great this label is and answer the question if Fueled By Ramen can stay alive in a changing musical market or if they will simply sink as many labels do once their musical genre's flame is gone with the wind. Either matter this should be a hugely fun month here at ROCK D3C0D3D and I look forward to sharing this journey with you! 

This week's artist will be the newest of the bunch but don't take their immaturity with the label to mean that they are not a sleeping lion ready to break through an offer a new age of musical prowess. I am course speaking of the Ohio native duet none as Twenty One Pilots and their debut album Vessel.

Till than make sure to like, comment, and share everyone!

*As with all things, the opinions expressed our purely that of the author and should be taken as such.
** All images, music, and information used are for entertainment purposes. No copyright infringement intended.