Fall Out Boy is perhaps the one band that most defines what alternative punk/pop/emo rock is to today's record-buying public, with 2005's From Under The Cork Tree and 2007's Infinity On High garnering massive commercial success. On Folie A Deux, their 5th studio album, they've honed their formula for success and crafted songs that, to my ears, should satisfy core fans and newcomers alike.
On the majority of these tracks, the experimentation and mixing of musical styles and genres occur on either side of a very strong, melodic, mainstream rock chorus...in other words, F.O.B. has at least one section of every song they can hang their hat on; it doesn't seem to matter how far they stray from the 'conventional' approach to writing a rock song, at some point in each track you will hear familiarity (great sounding choruses).
The record's production is very "BIG"-sounding...typical F.O.B. trademarks, like multiple layers of vocals with plenty of "Whoa's" and "Oh's" and chants, tight harmonies, and great variety with instrumentation seem to have been emphasized...but I wouldn't necessarily say it's overproduced. Even though the arrangements can get a little 'busy' at times, Pete Wentz (bass guitar, lyrics) and Patrick Stump (vocals) somehow make the chaos work, and we end up hearing some very creative, interesting, and catchy music.
The first track, "Disloyal Order...", has about 4 different 'verse' sections, including an organ-based opening and a guitar chord progression reminiscent of The Who's "Teenage Wasteland", before it even gets to what might be considered the 'chorus'. But with each listen, this song just gets better and better, and I feel it's one of the album's best tracks.
On "America's Suitehearts", the verse gives you no clue as to the powerful, melodic rock chorus that follows it, and the album's first single, "I Don't Care", based on another classic guitar riff, is probably the most straight-forward, radio-friendly track. "What A Catch, Donnie" is a slower, piano-based, dramatically produced song that I find very moving. The first eight tracks are all solid, along with "Tiffany Blews" and "20 Dollar Nose Bleed".
The inclusion of what I consider to be 'just average' songs ("27", "w.a.m.s.", "West Coast Smoker") is the only reason I drop this from 5 stars to four; otherwise, I feel Folie A Deux is top-notch, and I would definitely recommend it.