Note: I have reviewed this before (when i was new). I decided that I need to do this album justice. My other review was sh!t, but I hope you enjoy this one.
Fall Out Boy came to the punk scene with their first-ever single "Grand Theft Autumn". This song is still known as one of the best pop/punk anthems to date. FOB had tremendous success with their previous album "Take This To Your Grave". They spawned a whole new sound. One guitar plays a heavy riff while another plays a softie. This is IMO, what makes their music so good. Not to mention the incredible lyrics. When I say incredible lyrics, I mean woah! These are lyrics that will be scribbled in notebooks and journals for years to come. The overall catchiness of this band is also what leads them to success, and boy can that Patrick Stump sing. I will admit that sometimes he can get quite annoying, but I love the vox.
The band's second album "From Under The Cork Tree" deals with darker issues than the previous cd. From the angry and hate ridden track, "I Slept With Someone In Fall Out Boy and All I Got Was This Stupid Song Written About Me" (sheesh that's a mouth full) to the sad and hopeless "Get Busy Living Or Get Busy Dying (Do Your Part To Save The Scene And Stop Going To Shows". All of the songs on here are a hoot (except for one pesky bugger). I recommend more than a listen, as this is probably on the top 10 list of best pop/punk albums of all time. I know some may call them Emo, they are half right. Some of the songs are really emotional, and some are Blink-esque. The "constant love song" doesn't signify emo-ness. Songs like the last two I listed before are the Emo couple. Anyway, this was a pretty long intro and I think I should get on with the review of...
Fall Out Boy - From Under The Cork Tree
We have a long way to go on this journey of long titles, and rediculously long titles. Our first is short compared to the rest.
Our Lawyers Made Us Change The Name Of This Song So We Wouldn't Get Sued is the first track and it's a doozie. It starts off with the sound of a bunch of camera shutters. One ends the forte` and the heavy riffs begin. "The first of many..." is a quote that I hear all the time and I don't know who it's by but it's true. Anyway, the song continues with the pure heaviness, but Patricks voice is so soothing. This was the first song I heard off this album when the band played on FUSE and I've loved it ever since. The guitar stops in the bridge and Patrick catches you off guard with the lulling voice of his. Then the whole band joins in for one more chorus and the song comes to a saddning halt. But don't fret young padawan.
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Originally Posted by
Our Lawyers Made Us Change The Name Of This Song So We Wouldn't Get Sued] We will leave you high and dry/it’s not worth it but hearing you lose is.
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Why? Maybe because
Of All The Gin Joints In The World. This song is all about not being shy with your bf/gf. This is a definite highlight of the album. The verses are infectious as they change pace, tempo, and pitch every time. The guitar is up to it's usual good/evil ploy. The "Oh's" by Patrick may be a little corny, but hey, it's pop/punk at its best. I don't think I could ever get bored of these lyrics.
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Originally Posted by Of All The Gin Joints In The World
turn off the lights/and turn off the shyness/all the moves make up for the silence and oh, the way your makeup stains my pillowcase/like i'll never be the same
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Up next is one of the catchier songs here.
Dance, Dance erupts with one of the coolest (yet simplistic) drum intros. The song sounds like a guy battling with himself at a date because they don't know exactly what to do. Patrick's vocals soar in this track. He hits every high note with flying colors. The song is a bit too pop/punk and a little too generic, but it gets the job done. It hasa nice closing, with the title whispered into a fade out.
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Originally Posted by Dance, Dance
Dance, dance. We’re falling apart to half-time. Dance dance, these are the lies you learn to lead…
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The single is up next and it’s insane.
Sugar, We’re Goin’ Down Drums begin this beauty as the swift guitar pulls us out into the great mess of vocals we have aimed at our head. “Am I more than you bargained for yet…” starts it off as the Pete (bass) guides with backup vocals that are greatly placed in the song. The second verse begins and it’s a lot like “Of All The Gin Joints…”, as the verses vary as the song progresses. Then the bridge comes in. Another chorus, which is the heaviest and the song comes to a close.
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Originally Posted by Sugar’s Chorus
We’re goin’ down, down in an eariler round. And sugar we’re goin down swingin. I’ll be your number one with a bullet. A loaded god-complex, cock it and pull it.
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Next we have the poppiest here,
Nobody Puts Baby In The Corner. It’s lyrically, the best on the album. The song is amazing too. It is perfect. No other way to describe it. Great lyrics, guitar, drums, and pace. The chorus is also a big adrenaline rush. Not to mention, that this is one of the band’s remakes. This was originally acoustic, but they converted it to electric for the album. It really is the best song here.
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Originally Posted by Nobody’s Chorus
Keep quiet, nothing comes as easy as you, can I lay in your bed all day. I’ll be your best kept secret and your biggest mistake
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The next song doesn’t really get good until the chorus.
I’ve Got A Dark Alley And A Bad Idea That Says You Should Shut Your Mouth has pretty good lyrics and the song is really slow. I personally, like it. I know it gets a lot of crap in the other reviews, but I’m here to stick up for it. If I had heard it, not knowing it was FOB, I wouldn’t guesst that it’s them. It’s just a pretty big change for the band.
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Originally Posted by I’ve Got A Dark Alley’s Chorus
And the record won’t stop skipping and the lies won’t stop slipping. We can fake it for the airwaves, force a smile that’s half-dead, I can bury myself, due to everyone else around me.
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7 Minutes In Heaven is one of the more joyful songs on the album. It has one of the catchiest riffs I’ve ever heard. I guess it’s one of the poppier songs on the album, but it was my favorite for a while. The lyrics give a sense of doom, but explains how everything will be okay in the end. The bridge is a little annoying with Patrick making a series of noises that are unheard of. But then he jacks back in for one final chorus before the song comes to a stop. All I can say is ‘wow’ after hearing this.
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Originally Posted by 7 Minutes In Heaven
The only thing worse than not knowing, is you thinking that I don’t know…
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Up next is one of the best anthems I’ve ever heard. It’s so true in so many ways.
Sophomore Slump Or Comeback Of The Year begins slowly with Patrick giving a few orders. Then the song begins and the lyrical maddness begins. I must warn you, this song grows on you like fungi on mushrooms. I didn’t like it at first and now it’s one of my favorites. The bridge is some of the most lyrical creativity I’ve ever heard. You HAVE to give it a listen.
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Originally Posted by Sophomore’s Verse
We’re the therapists, pumping through your speakers delivering just what you need. We’re the chemists who’ve found the formula, that can make your heart swell and burst. / The best part of ‘believe’ is the ‘lie’
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The next title is by far one of the coolest ones I’ve ever heard.
Champagne For My Real Friends, Real Pain For My Sham Friends is a little too poppy in the verses, but it makes up for it in the chorus. The verses have that electronicy voice thing that I hate in it. Oh well, the lyrics are still great as always. There is a bass ‘solo’ (well, sort of) in the bridge that carries the song out to produce one final chorus.
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Originally Posted by Champagne…
Struck across like matches, cause’ everyone deserves the flames. We only do it for the stars and stories, not the fame. And everybody’s trying, everybody’s trying. Everyone deserves the flames, but its such a shame, such a shame
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The next song is the angriest song on the album.
I Slept With Someone From Fall Out Boy And Al I Got Was This Stupid Song Written About Me is one of my personal favorites. The lyrics are angrier than ever and they are filled with hate. The guitar is pretty generic, but still makes for one hell of a song. Wow, so many good quotes from this one. The song’s chorus is probably the best on the album. It has this feel to it, the anger and hate that makes it what it is. There’s a bridge here that trys to be screamo. It’s a little embarrasing to hear, like I actually feel bad for Patrick and Pete doing this bit together. It’s corny, but who cares when one final chorus after a wicked drum fill ends the song with a bang.
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Originally Posted by I Slept…
So douse yourself in cheap perfume, it’s so fitting, so fitting of the way you are. You can’t cover it up (you can’t cover it up) / Find a safe place, brace yourself, bite your lips. I’m sending your fingernails, and bottles you’ve sipped, back to your family because I know that you will be missed.
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The corniest track ever (but still pretty decent) is up next.
A Little Less Sixteen Candles, A Little More ‘Touch Me’ is the 80’s pop sounding track that we’re at, at the moment. It has a ‘Bowling For Soup’ feel to it which is never good. But I guess that’s only really visable in the beginning. The chorus stands out as the best part of the song. The lyrics in it are kickass as usual. The verses still bug me though. The tone in the pre-chorus is just perfect though.
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Originally Posted by A Little Less Sixteen Candles…
I’m sleeping on your folks porch again dreaming, she said (she said) why don’t you just drop dead.
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The next song sounds like a latin jazz song, no kidding. It has this feel to it that reminds me of a Mexican Sunset.
Get Busy Living Or Get Busy Dying (Do Your Part To Save The Scene And Stop Going To Shows) is by far the longest title on the album. But don’t get me wrong, it’s an effing great track. It has some amazing lyrics that captivate me. Especially in the end of the song, but I’ll get back to that later. The verses have a steady guitar driven pace. With the chorus that has Patrick almost a-capella. The bridge has some of the coolest lines and finishes with pure greatness as it fades into a closing speech. It’s filled with great anger and it ties SEAMLESSLY into our next (and final) track…
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Originally Posted by Get Busy…
I know this hurts, it was meant to. You’re secrets out and the best part is, is it isn’t even a good one. And it’s mind over (YOU DON’T) matter.
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XO is the final song on the album known as “From Under The Cork Tree”. “I comb the croud. And pick you out…” starts off this massive adrenaline rush. I love every bit of it and its lyrics. IMO, this is the 2nd best song on the album. The lyrics are phenominal. They could be a poem of lost love. The steady, but fast guitar fuels this track. The drums are faster than ever and never get old. The bridge comes in and it’s fairly long. Doesn’t matter, all I need is that final chorus. When it comes it hits you like a sack of bricks with no retaliation. This was a fantastic end to this ‘soon to be classic’ album. I can’t wait till’ the bnd releases their next symbol
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Originally Posted by XO
To the love, I left my conscience pressed between the pages of the bible in the drawer. What did it ever do for me I said?
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In conclusion, this is a fantastic pop/punk album and needs to be recognized in all it’s greatness. I hope it gets the recognition it deserves. The lyrics are what mainly make the album what it is. Without the lyrics, the band would not be where they were.
Pros
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+ Amazing Lyrics
+ Great Singing
+ Good/Evil guitar
+ Not a bad song on here
Cons
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- Some songs were too poppy.
Recommended Tracks | AKA: The Fantastic Four
Pick any four at random.
But the best two were XO and Nobody Puts Baby In The Corner
