Fall Out Boy – PAX AM Days
Review by Annette Schaefer
2013 has made it very clear that Fall Out Boy are not afraid to play with their sound and take big leaps in genre. With Tuesday’s release of their EP PAX AM Days fans got a chance to hear Fall Out Boy try something else.
While for some this may seem like a complete 180 for the guys in FOB, many know that this is more of a step back to their hardcore/punk rock roots. At first you make think: “Fall Out Boy doing old-school punk rock? No way!” But they kind of pull it off.
Unlike Save Rock and Roll, there is nothing “clean” about PAX AM Days. It shows a much noisier and grittier side to FOB. Songs like the opener “We Were Doomed From the Start (The King is Dead)” and the previously released “Love, Sex, Death” feature loud and rhythmically chaotic instrumentals, although pretty much every song sounds like this. “Hot to the Touch, Cold on the Inside” features a catchy chanting chorus that is refreshingly melodic over top of distorted guitars that create a bit of dissonance, but really make the song that much more infectious. Every track with the exception of “Eternal Summer,” feature Patrick Stumps unrelentingly aggressive and still somewhat soulful vocals that give a bit of contrast to the noise, but are just as fitting.
With every song featuring a similar gritty feel, it’s no surprise that some of it gets lost in the chaos, particularly with the track “Art of Keeping Up Disappearances,” which almost flows from the opening track seamlessly. The dirty and raw sound is sure to put off some of even the most dedicated FOB fans, but those who are willing to appreciate a change in pace will listen with an open mind.
In the end these songs seem to do exactly what they were meant to do: be loud, obnoxious and really fun. FOB seem to be a band that knows they don’t have to take themselves too seriously, and they never cease to surprise their fans or anyone willing to listen.
Overall Rating: 3.5/5
Recommended Tracks: “Hot to the Touch, Cold on the Inside” and “American Made”
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