★★★★

‘M A  N   I    A’  is the seventh studio album by emo legends Fall Out Boy, its also the album fans thought would never happen after the release date got drastically postponed with the band announcing they were unhappy with the album and that it felt rushed. In fact fans of the rock icons had not been this worried about Fall Out Boy’s future since they declared an indefinite hiatus in 2010.

We always knew this album was going to be special and we got our first taste of a totally new sound in April, when the first single from the album ‘Young and Menace’ was released. People went crazy they either loved it or hated it, I fell on the loved it side and couldn’t wait to hear more.

The second single to be released was ‘Champion’ not so crazy and out there as the previous single, although it is definitely an impressive tune, one that would lend itself to the inevitable stadium shows yet to come. Then we had a synth pop sound for ‘The Last of the Real Ones’  and onto  ‘HOLD ME TIGHT OR DON’T’ which was another completely different sounding song, not different like the EDM style ‘Young and Menace’ but different as in, not like any of the other songs.

The best word to describe this album is eclectic with a mad medley of sounds and genres all mashed into one, there is even a little reggae thrown in there somewhere. ‘M A  N   I    A’ could not be further from the days of ‘From Under The Cork Tree.’ and Fall Out Boy have not filled the album with huge guest collaborations like Sir Elton John, Courtney Love or Big Sean as they did per ‘Save Rock and Roll’ but they did not need to, this album is a jewel in their crown of rock royalty.

All in all its a good album that can be enjoyed fan or not as long as you have an open mind and your not expecting any sound you’ve heard from the guys before, Music is changing and so are Fall Out Boy, perhaps they will prove that genre really is dead.

Release Date: January 19th 2018