People often say that you can't rank your children because each one of them provides something different and special, and honestly, that is how I feel with Fall Out Boy's albums.
As hard as it's been, I've spent the past month reflecting on their music to finally decide which album is my favorite.
Fall Out Boy is a band that has stood the test of time. Between a three and a half year hiatus to the ever changing music industry, the band has certainly experienced change, but each album brings something into the music scene that I fell in love with.
Although it slightly pains me to say this, here is my definitive ranking of Fall Out Boy's albums.
7. "American Beauty/American Psycho" (2015)
I have to give this album a lot of credit. It was the first Fall Out Boy album I owned in its entirety and really sparked my new love for this band and genre as a whole; however, it lacks the earlier rock sound that I didn't know at the time that I was missing.
I don't dislike this album, it just pales in comparison to its predecessors.
Favorite songs: "The Kids Aren't Alright" and "Twin Skeleton's (Hotel in NYC)"
6. "Save Rock and Roll" (2013)
This album concept is genius, and the Young Blood Chronicles was an amazing choice to link together all of the songs into one cohesive movie-like music video, but when I look at some of the songs individually without the visuals, there isn't anything that special about them.
There are several songs that are strong on this album, it just lacks consistency.
Favorite songs: "The Phoenix" and "Young Volcanoes"
5. "M A N I A" (2018)
In my opinion, this is Fall Out Boy's best album post hiatus. A couple songs bring back some of their older, rock sound while others incorporate more of Patrick Stump's soulful vocals. It just works in a way that the previous two albums were lacking; however, nothing can really top the style of their pre-hiatus albums.
Favorite songs: "Stay Frosty Royal Milk Tea" and "Wilson (Expensive Mistakes)"
4. "Folie à Deux" (2008)
This actually used to be my favorite album, but I think I listened to it so many times that I fell out of love with it a little bit. This album is full of brilliant songwriting, different sounds, and featured singers on a couple songs (Brendon Urie included).
Favorite songs: "What a Catch, Donnie" and "20 Dollar Nose Bleed"
3. "From Under a Cork Tree" (2005)
There is no question that this album is a classic staple in Fall Out Boy's discography. It was the album that brought them into the mainstream pop punk scene and gave them several singable hits such as "Sugar, We're Goin Down" and "Dance, Dance."
I've recently been listening to this album more and it's made me appreciate the album more than I ever had before.
Favorite songs: "Sophomore Slump or Comeback of the Year" and "Nobody Puts Baby in a Corner"
2. "Take This To Your Grave" (2003)
It seems to be an unpopular opinion to put this album above the hugely more popular "From Under a Cork Tree," but this album contains every bit of early 2000s pop punk that I love. The band was still finding themselves, but so was I when I found this album.
It was a brilliant first album, and I still continue to listen to it and sing along to every song.
Favorite songs: "Chicago is So Two Years Ago" and "Saturday"
1. "Infinity on High" (2007)
This album broke the band apart from being like every other band they were lumped into the same category with in the mid 2000s. It incorporates horns and piano, plays into how to deal with their newfound fame, and continues to perfect the balance of Pete Wentz's lyrical additions with the music of the entire band.
Favorite songs: "Bang the Doldrums" and "This Ain't a Scene, It's an Arms Race"
