RANKED: Fall Out Boy
Fall Out Boy are one of the quintessential scene bands. This is a fact, not up for debate. They’ve achieved massive success in two different eras of pop culture and continue to influence countless kids to pick up instruments and create their own music without limitations. I’d wager if you’re reading this blog, Fall Out Boy was a pretty big part of your life at some point. From churning out classics like “Sugar, We’re Going Down” and “Thnks Fr Th Mmrs” to returning from a hiatus with a brand new sound, the band have entertained us for nearly two decades now. Read on for our ranking of all seven of Fall Out Boy’s studio albums.
7. American Beauty/American Psycho
AB/AP in itself isn’t a bad album - it just doesn’t really stick out either. Patrick Stump’s voice shines through this album, as the former punk kid pulls off vocal acrobatics evidenced in songs like “Centuries.” However, much of the songwriting on this album, while catchy, feels uninspired. Fans got used to Wentz’s ironic lyrics and the band’s pop-punk sensibilities as core elements of FOB, which are absent from AB/AP. And I’m not sure we can blame them, pop-punk bands rarely stay pop-punk bands forever.
Standout Tracks:
Uma Thurman
Jet Pack Blues
6. Save Rock And Roll
Ah, the return of Fall Out Boy. After four years that left a hole in our heart, the Chicago group returned with Save Rock And Roll, marking a drastic shift in sound from the indie-pop-punk style they trademarked. They now sat somewhere between arena rock and electro pop, with big choruses and synth riffs at the forefront of songs like “The Phoenix” and “My Songs Know What You Did In The Dark.” Embracing 2013 pop trends earned the band their second No. 1 debut, but left some fans yearning for a less-polished record.
Standout Tracks:
The Mighty Fall (feat. Big Sean)
Young Volcanoes
Rat A Tat (feat. Courtney Love)
5. MANIA
MANIA, the most recent offering from Fall Out Boy, proves the band’s growth isn’t slowing down. The album further cemented FOB’s status atop the pop-rock world as they earned yet another No. 1 debut and their first nomination for Best Rock Album from the Grammys. The band further experimented with sounds ranging from hip-hop to soul, and they sound pretty good doing it. This is a blog run by emo and scene kids, so we will always choose old Fall Out Boy over new, but MANIA is a solid, diverse offering from the Chicago band.
Standout Tracks:
Wilson (Expensive Mistakes)
Church
Heaven’s Gate
4. Folie à Deux
This is the first Fall Out Boy album to cause a rift between fans (their post-hiatus material would divide fans even further). Feeling major burnout from their newfound success and nonstop touring and promotion, Folie à Deux featuring a toned-down, melancholy version of the band when many expected the brash energy the band delivered on their first few albums. While every song isn’t a hit, Folie à Deux features some of the most poignant songs in Fall Out Boy’s catalog. Despite its rocky reception, Folie à Deux deserves some credit as a tough step forward for a band figuring out what the hell they would do next, though it proved to be a breaking point for FOB, leading them to hiatus.
Standout Tracks:
What a Catch, Donnie
She’s My Winona
(Coffee’s For Closers)
The (Shipped) Gold Standard
3. Infinity On High
Infinity On High further cemented Fall Out Boy’s status at the top of the charts - literally. The band’s third album earned them their first No. 1 debut and kept them at the forefront of pop culture in 2007. We all remember the “Thnks Fr Th Mmrs” video featuring Kim Kardashian (post-sex tape, pre-media empire). Cheekiness aside, the band fleshed out their songwriting for Infinity On High, focusing on orchestral elements and creating more ambitious songs than they’d ever attempted before.
Standout Tracks:
I’m Like A Lawyer With The Way I’m Always Trying To Get You Off (Me & You)
Golden
Thnks Fr Th Mmrs
The Carpal Tunnel of Love
2. Take This To Your Grave
There seriously is not a bad song on this album almost 20 years later. All four band members were playing in the Chicago hardcore punk scene prior to forming Fall Out Boy, so it’s no surprise this album rips as the boys were among the first to combine pop-punk and hardcore, which 1,001 bands would do after them. It was a fitting introduction for a band that would go on to accomplish much more.
Standout Tracks:
Grand Theft Autumn/Where Is Your Boy
Grenade Jumper
Dead On Arrival
Chicago Is So Two Years Ago
1. From Under the Cork Tree
This album was Fall Out Boy’s breakout moment. Sure, Take This To Your Grave created buzz around the band, but From Under the Cork Tree shot them into alternative stardom. They became mainstays on MTV and were thrust the forefront of youth culture. Now-classics like “Sugar, We’re Going Down” and “Dance, Dance” even pushed the band to a Best New Artist nomination at the 2006 Grammys. It’s hard to overstate how huge Cork Tree was for the band, and their career certainly wouldn’t look the same without it.
Standout Tracks:
Sugar, We’re Going Down
Nobody Puts Baby In The Corner
A Little Less Sixteen Candles, A Little More “Touch Me”
I Slept With Someone In Fall Out Boy And All I Got Was This Stupid Song Written About Me
There you have it, our (very subjective) ranking of Fall Out Boy discography. Let us know your ranking in the comments!