That is not the case with FOB which still proved to be a force to reckon with after their latest single “My Songs Know What You Did in the Dark (Light Em Up)” immediately made an impact, lording the singles chart in the US in almost no time.
Their newly released album “Save Rock And Roll’ debuted at number 1 in the US Billboard 200 albums list with sales of more than 150,000 units in just one week of hitting the market.
Here in the Philippines, the anticipation for the FOB return not only thrilled regular fans but also topnotch rock artists themselves. Premier Pinoy rock act Chicosci, who fronted for FOB when it first visited Manila in 2007, even made an effort to express their admiration for the group.
Collectively, they imparted juicy thoughts on their high regard for the Chicago native group comprising of Patrick Stump (vocals/guitar), Pete Wentz (bass), Joe Trohman (guitar), and Andy Hurley (drums).
Chicosci noted, “Fall Out Boy remains to be one of the biggest bands in recent history. Their hiatus has only brought anticipation for a reunion or a new album. Fans are expected to react positively to their return.”
“Save Rock And Roll” is FOB’s fifth studio album and their first since 2008. It debuted at number 1 on Soundscan as it also topped the iTunes ranking in, yes, 27 countries including the Philippines.
Lead singer Stump is being credited by Chicosci for the unpredictability of the band’s material which resulted to fan excitement. They chorused, “FOB has been experimenting with their music over their last few albums. Main songwriter Patrick Stump is known to make songs beyond the ‘realm of rock’ and one can’t really tell what kind of music FOB will be playing on an album.”
They added, “We admire Patrick Stump’s open-mindedness to different forms of music and incorporating them to the FOB context. He’s a pretty cool dude.”
When FOB launched their new single last February, tickets to their promo shows and tour since 2009 were sold out in record time.
It seemed they were terribly missed by their fans. So Chicosci, upon being queried of their view on the risk of taking a relatively long recording break, which to other bands may mean a permanent breakdown, they handed their good-natured perspective as rock artists with a long history of recording experience themselves. “Sometimes,” they argued, “it’s good to step back and take a break from what you’re doing. It keeps things fresh and new once you go back and start doing it again.”
Both FOB and Chicosci are under the stable giant label MCA Music. Chicosci cherished the moment when they met their idols, describing the foursome as “very nice and accommodating” who “even went to see our set when we opened for them.”
One wish by members of Chicosci is quite the obvious. That is, to work with FOB members in the studio.
Save Rock And Roll is now available in all record stores nationwide and online via iTunes Philippines under MCA Music (Universal Music Philippines).