Single Review: American Beauty/American Psycho – Fall Out Boy

It’s been almost two years since they first announced their return from hiatus, and Fall Out Boy is still riding the comeback of the decade. With 2013’s Save Rock And Roll, it was evident that they were prepared to take on a new sound and give fans new and old alike a reason to keep listening.

Today, Fall Out Boy announced their sixth studio album, American Beauty/American Psycho, and previewed the title track on BBC Radio 1 with Zane Lowe. The single is unlike anything the band has released before, with a classic rock ear-worm vibe. It’s definitely an unexpected sound, but as usual, Fall Out Boy has an uncanny ability to make practically anything work for them. It’s lyrically catchy and almost anthem-like, with a cleverness of wording that throws back to the band’s roots. Musically, the classic rock influence is heavy and gives the sound an almost pop-like quality. Personally, the best part of this single is that the rest of the album could go anywhere. It’s definitely not going to be like Save Rock and Roll, but “American Beauty/American Psycho” is versatile enough to be just a tiny taste of what’s to come, and it has most certainly captured my attention.

American Beauty/American Psycho is out January 20th, 2015, with pre-orders available on December 15th. The single itself drops digitally on December 8th.

– Erin Walker