Fall Out Boy Folie a Deux (2 Lp's)

For their third major label release, Fall Out Boy return as twice-minted multi-platinum celebrities and deftly deliver what they came to: a huge rock album by a huge rock band. Having already lost any shred of punkdom that the '00s strand of emo ever had, the Illinois quartet seems unfettered by their chosen genre's boundaries and dive headlong into a loud stew of affecting power pop, glam, and classic rock hooks. The debut single, "I Don't Care," reimagines "Spirit In the Sky" as an anthem for the skinny-jeans-and-guyliner set with scathing bon mots like "I don't care what you think as long as it's about me" courtesy of bassist-lyricist Pete Wentz. Singer-guitarist Patrick Stimp adds newly soulful and loose vocal phrasing to his usual arsenal of open-throated choruses--with particular strength on cuts such as "Headfirst Slide Into Cooperstown on a Bad Bet" and "What A Catch, Donnie," a stringed power ballad that features guest appearances by Elvis Costello and Travis McCoy of the Gym Class Heroes. Also featuring guest appearances by Pharrell Williams and Debbie Harry, FOLIE A DEUX doesn't break the mold, but will remind everyone of why Fall Out Boy conquered the world in the first place.

• Released: 12/16/2008
• Genre: Pop
• Format: Vinyl