Fall Out Boy released Believers Never Die Vol.2 November 15th, it stands as a curated album of old and new making for an exciting mix of sound from the alt rock group. When I first checked out the tracklist I knew I was in for a treat, the list was full of heavy hitters from start to finish. The album features 13 songs that I consider to define the band from different times in their more recent history. Volume two comes to us a decade after the first greatest hits album was released in 2009 before their hiatus. There are a mix of tracks from their albums Save Rock and Roll, American Beauty/American Psycho, and Mania their most recent album from 2018, along with a couple previously unreleased songs.
Immediately out of the gates it starts off strong with rock heavy hits like ‘My Songs Know What You Did in the Dark (Light Em Up)’ and ‘The Phoenix’. They really got me amped up and the upbeat theme continued on with ‘Uma Therman’ and ‘Last of the Real Ones’. Overall the experience while listening was a positive one, each song was lively in its own way and made me appreciate them more since they were all paired together.
The last part of the album featured a new single released earlier this year; ‘I’ve Been Waiting’ was a collaboration with Lil Peep and ILoveMakonnen. It gave a sound fans had never heard before from the band, mixing a pop hip-hop vibe with the classic voice we are used to hearing from Patrick Stump. It then transitioned to ‘Dear Future Self (HandsUp)’ featuring Wyclef Jean which was a major pick me up, high bpm, surf rock feel, even though the lyrics seem to be hitting on some heavy relationship turbulence. It wraps on a previously unreleased song from the American Beauty/ American Psycho era called ‘Bob Dylan’ it’s an epic pop rock love ballad. Lyrics like, ‘Baby, no one ever thinks of you, no one ever thinks of you as much as I do, not, not even you’ create the theme of the song.
I had a good feeling from the album listening sesh, I would have liked to see one or two more from Mania like ‘Hold Me Tight or Don’t’ but it still remains a great mix. I think it comes at a strategic time due to the Hella Mega Tour with Green Day and Weezer happening next summer. Hopefully this pumps fans up for what is sure to be an epic experience.
TRACKLIST
My Songs Know What You Did in the Dark (Light Em Up)
The Phoenix
Alone Together
Young Volcanoes
Centuries
Immortals
Uma Thurman
Irresistible
Champion
The Last Of The Real Ones
I’ve Been Waiting (with Lil Peep & iLoveMakonnen)
Dear Future Self (Hands Up) ft. Wyclef Jean
Bob Dylan
