Album Review: M A N I A by Fall Out Boy

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I can appreciate when a band wants to explore different avenues and do something off-the-wall, especially for a band like Fall Out Boy who it’s fair to say are essentially known for the one thing; I can only imagine the burning desire to get past those stigmas of their “emo” foundations. Plus, Fall Out Boy under the guidance of Pete Wentz is no stranger to eccentric ideals. However, going into MANIA, I was afraid the record would just be outlandish for the sake of it; to stick it to the critics and fans alike that expect them to stick to a linear progression and in the process, sacrifice the state of the music. This fear was born of the album’s first single which came out all the way back in April 2017, and subsequently the Album Opener, "Young and Menace"

The thing with Young and Menace is ​objectively speaking, it’s a decent album opener. However, even more objectively, the song is not a good song. It actually could have worked in the album's context if it had not gone in that unashamedly crazy direction. Even Wentz himself said that they had made an unlistenable song. With that said, the first few songs of this already madcap record shows promise. ​Champion is at the very least closer to the passion that made their previous efforts so loved, and there’s surprising strength in tunes like “Last of the Real Ones”, “Wilson (Expensive Mistakes) or “Stay Frosty Royal Milk Tea” So far, the album makes sense, which is already more than I was expecting from MANIA

We then transgress into the latter half of MANIA, which is home to the songs that feel a bit cheesy or pseudo-epic. Maybe it’s the chain of gospel inspired samples or completely arbitrary reggae feature on “Sunshine Riptide”, but even though the album only hits 35 minutes long, it’s at this point you start to lose interest. Ironically, the last verse of the last song is the most impassioned we've heard Patrick in a long time.

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At the end of the day, there are actually more similarities between MANIA and previous Fall Out Boy efforts that you may realise. Big catchy hooks, intricate lyrics, over emotional undertones, intense instrumentation, that sort of thing. Even though this is case, MANIA has been on the receiving end of some severe backlash, particularly from fans. It’s no secret that since their triumphant return in 2013, they haven’t been the same. But maybe that’s fine. Maybe this is what Fall Out Boy is now; a middle-aged outfit in constant need of sonic reinvention.

Look, I’m no sycophant. I have to need to blindly praise this band and I most definitely possess the quality of critiquing a band I’m fond of when they release something that isn’t very good (See my opinions of Panic! at The Disco or Walk The Moon’s last album). However, I’m no purist either. The people who seem to insist that bands like Fall Out Boy regurgitate the ideas and styles that made them famous are so short sighted, it borders on hilarious. The album even has those long titles that people have been pining for, for some reason. But the die hards are still not satisfied. As I’ve mentioned, MANIA has its misgivings. It comes across as some sort of experimental mixtape (I mean, let's not pretend like there's not a song on this thing with a French rap line) and it is possible that some of the tracks have a simplicity that would have had their past selves laugh at them. But the album is not as awful as it seems to be cool to say it is. Nevertheless, the album is indeed is like listening to a Mania.

5.5/10

Not convinced? Listen for yourself here