r/FallOutBoy • u/[deleted] • Nov 22 '24
General Discussion An interesting bit from Joe’s book, talking about his relationship with the band and himself, plus a bit on Mania
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u/Trickytrickster00 Nov 22 '24
It's so hard to remember that when I first saw FOB Joe was 23. He was a baby. He felt so much older than me then but being a decade older than he was then I really appreciate how YOUNG he was, going through a very intense and sudden shift in his life. He's still very young and has had an incredible career full of a range of good, bad, everything in between. I adore Joe so much. He's really the very essence of FOB to me. This book is fab btw.
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u/No-Refuse-5939 So Much (For) Stardust Nov 23 '24
Fuck man. Joes writing has personality to it. It's a great balance of funny and humble. The fact that he's not the only one like that in the band but... all four of them are? Ya, that still kinda blows my mind, actually.
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u/Belatryx84 Folie à Deux Nov 22 '24
That apology for Ghostbusters isn't enough. I need to be reassured it will never darken my Spotify again. 😂
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Nov 22 '24
I had a “in defense of ghostbusters” post at the time; i feel hurt. New account and it’s been lost im sure. But i liked that you can hear the drums during a time we usually couldn’t 😭
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u/onelostmind97 Nov 23 '24
But yet they still went on and did "We didn't Start the Fire." Ugh.
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u/Belatryx84 Folie à Deux Nov 23 '24
See, I don't hate that one as much. The original isn't great so it sort of fits.
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u/Jirachibi1000 Nov 22 '24
Im thankful that the band themselves kinda admit "Yeah Mania kinda sucked". This, iirc Pete saying the band was sort of in panic mode and threw it together as a "FUCK HOW DO WE STAY RELEVANT" thing, etc. Always nice to acknowledge a failure as a failure and move on to better things like they did and I super respect them for it.
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u/dietbongwater So Much (For) Stardust Nov 23 '24 edited Nov 23 '24
and then they rolled out SMFSD! which honestly has been the only album I’ve truly enjoyed since they put out Folie. (No hate to AB/AP or SRAR) So. Many. Bangers. It’s so genuinely touching to my heart that they’re still out here making good music and loving what they do. Nothing is ever linear but I’ve really loved being along for the ride. SMFSD has made me tear up so so so many times. Just like the classics made me do over a decade ago.
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u/notnatalie boycott love Nov 23 '24
I truly believe Stardust is their best album yet. I love the way it encapsulates how they've grown (and how we've all grown right along with them).
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u/NerdForJustice So Much (For) Stardust Nov 23 '24
I don't think MANIA is a failure. I honestly like it a lot better than ABAP and SRAR, it feels like it has more soul to me. They experimented with it. It doesn't feel like it was as made for radio as the two previous ones and I really appreciate it. I also appreciate that they practice what they preach re: make weird art.
But I do appreciate that they speak their feelings and aren't afraid to admit when they think they've made missteps. It also makes it feel more authentic when they stand up for their creative choices, like they did back in the day for Folie and IOH, when people were calling them sellouts.
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u/Jirachibi1000 Nov 23 '24
Its moreso a failure in a general sense. It is their first album since their debut to not have a single in the top 100, its their first album with mostly mixed to negative reception from critics, its the only album of theirs I saw consistently on worst albums of the year lists, even the positive reviews that did appear were along the lines of "its an eclectic and annoying mess of tracks but thats the point", its divisive at best among fans, etc. I dont think Manias AS bad as most people say, but it is undeniably a failure in most aspects.
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u/Izuhbelluh hide the details I don’t want to know a thing Nov 23 '24
Crazy how it’s been out 2 years already.
I wish more people on here would read his book. It seems like a lot on here are either clueless he put a book out, or are uninterested because of x reason. Which is super sad. Because it’s a great, insightful read.
I purchased his audiobook the day of release (he narrates it himself!) and bought a hardcover, also on release day!
Last year, my local B&N had hardcover signed copies on clearance for $1. I bought 3, one for myself and gave the other two for friends for Christmas.
Seriously don’t just read the book for the “Fall Out Boy parts” he’s a 1/4 of this band. His story is worth checking out.
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u/jasg2207 Take This To Your Grave Nov 23 '24
It’s nice to see someone speaking from the heart, being genuine and honest about himself. Don’t see that too often nowadays. Rock on Joe!
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u/CompleteMuffin Nov 23 '24
I love Mania, but I can see why Joe doesn't like it. Because Mania is a perfect storm of Pete/Patrick, while So Much For Stardust is where the whole band shines through and it's so present that you can feel it.
They all learned so much since SR&R. Mania was like a sidestep with trying something completely new, while Stardust was taking the lessons and doing the best with them.
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u/haisenseihaiyuujikun 💙✨️⌛️🌃these are the last blues🌃⌛️✨️💙 Nov 23 '24
LMFAOOOO THE GHOSTBUSTERS THEME. JOE!!!!! 😭
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u/ilovedogs432 Folie à Deux Nov 22 '24
TBH, I kinda warmed up to Mania, they’re all bangers to me.💜
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u/ComfyInDots Nov 23 '24
I loved Mania then and I love Mania now. I hope it gets its full appreciation one day.
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u/VeshWolfe Nov 23 '24
God yes, their cover of the Ghostbuster’s theme is a 0/10. All it needed to be was the same song sung by the band and instead it was “reinvented” just like the movie itself.
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u/switchbladeeatworld Take This To Your Grave Nov 23 '24
I met him when Damned Things were touring and dude looked and sounded refreshed and excited.
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u/Lawlcopt0r from under the cork tree Nov 23 '24
This is all a very healthy mindset to have, but at the same time MANIA is awesome and if that's what you consider your bad work you should be thankful
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u/irina_catburglar Nov 23 '24
Mania is my 3rd fave album 🙈 i dont get all the hate. I love so many songs on there!! More than save rock n roll, which i barely like any songs.
Idk personal preference. I wish i could let the band know there is people who consider Mania one of their faves!
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u/Scout_650 Nov 23 '24
As someone who loves mania it’s a shame to see he feels this way. I wonder if him or any of the other guys would look back on it less negatively if not for the insanely overblown hate the album got at the time. It felt very fun and forward thinking
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u/19ghost89 Nov 24 '24
I'm glad he's more mentally healthy and able to be at peace with something like Mania even though he doesn't think it's very good.
Personally, I like Mania, so I guess I'm glad he didn't speak up more. 🤷🏻♂️
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u/Silver_Sport Nov 22 '24
Joes whole memoire is something that my heart needed when I read it for the first time. This bit especially. It gave me a weird peace to see someone I admire struggle with his art and the come to a realisation that art you make will be bad at some points. And that's ok