REVIEW: Fall Out Boy Returns To Their Origins With “So Much (For) Stardust”

Fall Out Boy’s latest studio album brings redemption after “MANIA.”

Alex Gryczanowski, Editor-in-Chief|March 27, 2023

Fans receive “So Much (For) Stardust” themed posters at Homers’ listening party.

On Mar. 24, rock band Fall Out Boy’s (FOB) eighth studio album “So Much (For) Stardust” premiered. The album features 13 tracks, including singles “Love From The Other Side” and “Heartbreak Feels So Good.”

The band hosted listening parties all across the country a week before the album’s release, including one right here at Homer’s Music in downtown Omaha on Mar. 16. The music store hosted a party with free FOB themed turntable slipmats and posters to give away, along with snacks and raffles for merchandise and a signed album. The vinyl is now available to purchase in a coke bottle clear pressing at Homer’s.

Lead singer Patrick Stump’s vocals are strong throughout the entire album, which is to be expected from the singles that have been released so far. Their guitar rhythms are very prominent throughout and every song on the record brings a different atmosphere. The entire album features strong build ups in their verse that had me anticipating the chorus.

There are many elements of the new album that reminded me of their old eras. For example, the title track of “So Much (For) Stardust” reminded me a lot of the title track from their sixth studio album, “Save Rock and Roll,” due to its use of piano, strings and choir. This incorporation makes the title track of “So Much (For) Stardust” one of the most interesting and strongest of the album.

Though song “So Much (For) Stardust” arguably has the best sound on the entire album, my favorites of the album has to be “Fake Out,” the album’s fourth track and “Heaven, Iowa,” the album’s fifth track. Both songs start off extremely well and made me excited to hear the chorus because I knew it would be good. I also enjoyed the monologue in “The Pink Seashell (feat. Ethan Hawke).”

I have been a huge fan of FOB for a very long time and I was glad to hear that they have returned to their older sound, while also making something new and different. After FOB released their “pop” album “MANIA” in 2018, I was not sure what to expect next from them. I started to mourn the loss of FOB’s original rock sound, but I am glad that their new album takes a different turn and portrays the sound of their entire discography.