Fall Out Boy
What the rockers are planting in the studio post the Cork Tree
Here’s something a little unexpected. Chicago rockers Fall Out Boy hired Kenneth “Babyface” Edmonds, who has worked with R&B/pop greats TLC, Whitney Houston and Michael Jackson to produce two songs for the follow-up to its 2005 multi-platinum album, From Under the Cork Tree.
“We are very R&B influenced, so I think we’re going to bring that into what we do,” explains singer/guitarist Patrick Stump of the decision. “One of the reasons we wanted to work with Babyface is that I want him to teach me to ‘sing’ sing.”
The band, which has put out three full-length albums and two EPs, wanted to work with Babyface after listening to an usual project he produced — the soundtrack to the Josie and the Pussycats movie. “It’s a really, really good pop-rock record and he killed it. It was perfect,” says Stump. “We’re tremendous R&B fans and I think that’s what people mostly know him for — but he’s also a lot more versatile than people think he is. He has done some stuff that’s not decidedly R&B, such as Eric Clapton (songs) and the Pussycats soundtrack.”
Fall Out Boy has recorded the rest of its album with New Found Glory/Yellowcard producer Neil Avron. The band — Pete Wentz (bass, backing vocals), Joe Trohman (lead guitar) and Andy Hurley (drums) — wrote between 20 and 30 songs, and began paring them down in preparation studio sessions in Los Angeles this summer.
“We don’t really feel the pressure of making a follow-up. We just want to make a good record,” says Stump.
As for the lyrical direction, Stump says, “I think people know us for heartbreak kinds of stuff, which is something we do, and some (songs like that) will be on this record, but I think there will be more than that on the record. Suffice to say, there will be a vast majority of songs not about break-ups.”
Stump actually doesn’t write his own lyrics, which is somewhat unusual for a frontman. Wentz does. Asked if he’s ever thought of doing a solo album on the side to express himself, he emphatically says,
“Solo? No, no, no, because my band’s wonderful and I love them very much and I need Pete’s lyrics.”
No word on when the new Fall Out Boy album will be out, but likely before Christmas.
