Fall Out Boy - From Under the Cork Tree

The cleverness of Fall Out Boy's lyrical content is immediately evident by looking at the song titles on their sophomore disc, From Under the Cork Tree. "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" and "Sophomore Slump or Comeback of the Year" are but a small taste of the group's acerbic attitude. After FOB's indie debut hit the underground charts, the group's sudden indie-style success made for a fast growth spurt. Their appeal is obvious, from frontman Patrick Stump's Killer-esque pipes (especially evidenced in the disc-closing "XO") to their very melodic teen-angst anthems. While much of the disc operates at usual punk-pop speed, the highlight comes from a slower, emotion-laden cut called "I've Got a Dark Alley and a Bad Idea That Says You Should Shut Your Mouth." This song of living in the public while working through private pain is a beautiful, multilayered number that stays with you long after the album is over. --Denise Sheppard Amazon.com

some guy wrote a review of this FOB record and he thought it was pretty cool

Despite the sophomoric song titles and the generally snotty attitude throughout "Under The Cork Tree," the super catchy songs strike right to the heart of the best pop-punk. "Sugar We're Going Down" is instantly singable, and the final "XO" set the stage for the surprisingly funky Infinity on High.

What this album doesn't quite have yet is an identity. At times, the vocals can't seem to decide if they want to be pop or Linkin Park ("Get Busy Living or Get Busy Dying"). But when they concentrate on their strengths, like "Dance Dance," Fall Out Boy show what made them into superstars two years later. There's a tendency to mix their pop with classic rock hooks, which also makes for interesting songs ("I've Got a Dark Alley..."). Better than average, but Infinity On High is the better album. June 4, 2008

WARNING: Fall Out Boy Makes Your Ears Bleed

Patrick or whatever his name is, the lead singer, his voice is awful. I've listened to it and it's just horrible. I don't know how some people say he sounds like Panic! at the Disco's Brendon Urie, because this guy has no talent. Panic! at the Disco kills them in everything, vocals and music. Panic at the Disco used to be awesome, well, they still are, its just they need to put the ! back in their name and write and perform songs like they did on their first album, A Fever You Can't Sweat Out. They are amazing! But these guys, oh no. Please, help yourself out by not buying this cd. Buy Panic! at the Disco's music!!! April 3, 2008

i'm not ashamed. ok yes i am.

I'm not ashamed to say i think this is one of the best major-label rock albums to come along since, well, since Nirvana.

...

well, actually, i am a little bit ashamed. because my punk rock friends mock me so. but i can't help it. i just love this album. March 18, 2008

Would have been better had the radio not overplayed the songs

I really like some of the songs on here, and it's the kind of cd that I'll still have when I'm 40 that my kids will listen and shake their heads at. The good songs that are on it made the radio, not really any hidden gems on it. January 7, 2008

Great album despite their generally young girl fans

With all the hooplah Fall Out Boy has been getting lately, one can't help but be curious. After all, their recent projects are what any music industry icon aspires to: releasing a new hit album, becoming basically the poster boys for MTV and VH1, getting their friendly school rivals Panic! At the Disco into the mainstream, and even working to reunite Ugandan children with their families after being forced into their country's brutal civil war. These guys are a common enough name, and with the success of their new CD Infinity On High, it's easy to forget From Under the Cork Tree--the super-smash 2005 album that really made them so famous.

By all means, though it is easy to cast aside in the wake of their new CD, it shouldn't be. From Under the Cork Tree is still in many respects their most popular album and arguably the better of the two as well. They may attract legions of teenyboppers as their primary audience and have a few scandals under their belts, but despite the hate they've gotten from various critics who are annoyed by the fans, it's pretty difficult to deny how great From Under the Cork Tree is if you pay close attention.

Most evident on first glance are the clever and usually very long song titles, but that's not as far as their wit goes. Vocalist Patrick Stump's sweet yet versatile voice mingles with Pete Wentz's brokenhearted and sometimes risqué lyrics for thirteen tracks of edgy pop-punk magic. The hits "Dance, Dance" and "Sugar, We're Goin' Down" will immediately come to mind here, and the latter is pretty representative of the album's whole sound. It's often heavier than your standard romp through a pop-punk album, but do remember Fall Out Boy deliberately lean to the punk side of that broad genre label.

The instruments pound along cleanly the whole time, plowing through over a dozen catchy hooks and Patrick's skillful singing that never gets scratchy unless he's screaming, which is rare. Every song is memorable and unique in its own way while still bearing the key elements we've come to expect from the band by now, and all the songs feel familiar somehow even if you've never heard them. Such is the compelling factor of Fall Out Boy that surfaces in everything they do. Basically every song here is a highlight in some way and they all fall under either the lyrical category of sad or sexy, some of which are both. Especially beautiful and haunting are "Sophomore Slump Or Comeback Of the Year" and "A Little Less Sixteen Candles, A Little More 'Touch Me'"; both go straight to your gut and don't leave for quite a while.

Wherever Fall Out Boy may be headed next, for the rock music enthusiast FOB's second effort From Under the Cork tree is a well-done and catchy slice of musical artistry that proves exactly why these guys have completely taken over the airwaves and the press recently. This CD really is the one that launched them from hardcore/indie obscurity into true superstar status, and with even one spin of it, it's plain as day to see why. December 16, 2007

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