I've been counting down to this day since Fall Out Boy announced they were releasing a brand new song, Love From The Other Side. And, the day has finally come, and what can I say, they're coming back, and in a big way. Here's my review of this new track from the Chicago pop-punk powerhouses.
(Fall Out Boy - Image courtesy of Kerrang and Pamela Littky)
The opener to the full track (not the edited version, I'm a purist I'll sit through an hour of intro if I have to) is a nice orchestral composition. It flows nicely, and resonates for a few seconds before an absolutely hair raising drum beat blasts in. Andy Hurley is the absolute driving force of this new record, providing a proper hefty backdrop to this classic sounding track. It has every element that makes a good Fall Out Boy song too. Patrick Stump's voice still sounds brilliant, and with the added vibrato and mixed harmonies he's really flexing his guns on this song, seemingly being in hibernation for so long has bought out the best in the four piece. Build up is also rife in this one, a lot like the classic Thnks fr th Mmrs, and works amazingly into an absolutely slamming chorus. This has Fall Out Boy written all over it, and it fills me with so much joy to be able to listen to new music by these guys, I feel 13 again, discovering their discography for the first time, listening through Mania in the kitchen when I got home from school. It's pure nostalgia, pumped full of more emo-centric lyricism from Pete Wentz like 'This city always hangs a little bit lonely on me' and 'Like a kid playing pretend in his father’s suit' and I'm into it.
The track also grows brilliantly under it's own speed and pace so naturally, with this brilliant funk undertone that really helps frame this genre bending single. Props to Joe Trohman for the brilliant guitar work throughout this second half, the mimicking of Patrick's vocals are super clean and add to the dynamics really nicely. The choice for a piano laced bridge also works really well, and we all know Fall Out Boy can pull of a piano part, but the second or so of silence before the final chorus was something that really gave me goose bumps. It made the final chorus, set to the brilliant half time breakdown style drumming, hit so much different. In my notes on my first listen I literally wrote 'ANDY HURLEY IS THE MVP' and I really mean it. His drumming is so explosive on this track, without it, Love From The Other Side wouldn't nearly be half as good, and brings this over four minute single to a close.
What can I say? FOB are fucking back! This track feels like not only a tribute to their old sound but almost a revival, the band are playing by their own rules with this one, leaning in to what makes their distinct makeup so...well distinct. Clearly, even after all this time, all Fall Out Boy do is get better. I cannot wait to see what their new album So Much (for) Stardust has in store, because if it's anything like this, we're in for a treat.
Rating: 9/10
So Much (For) Stardust comes out March 24th
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