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Special Event: atrlcritic | Ed Sheeran's new songs after the upgrade
Member Since: 1/1/2014
Posts: 43,331
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| Heartbeat Song - Kelly Clarkson
Kelly Clarkson | RCA | Release Date: January 12, 2015 | Review Period: January 22, 2015 - February 2, 2015
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68 | Member Score
Generally Favorable Reviews
based on 6 Reviews | ddddd. | dddddd
6.7 | Experimental Top Critic Score
Generally Favorable Reviews
based on 2 Top Critics |
| | dddddddddddddd | Summary: The lead single from Clarkson's upcoming 7th album was produced by frequent collaborator Greg Kurstin | Record Label: RCA
Genre(s): Pop |
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| Member Reviews | | d | .iPositive: ████████████████ 4 | | d | ....iMixed: ████ 1 | | d | Negative: ████ 1 |
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| | Top Critic Reviews | | d | .iPositive: ████████████████ 1 | | d | ....iMixed: ████████████████ 1 | | d | Negative: 0 |
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Member Since: 1/1/2014
Posts: 43,973
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What happened to my negative review of Title?
Or is 25/100 considered Mixed? That's only 1/4 
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Member Since: 1/1/2014
Posts: 43,331
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Quote:
Originally posted by Superpower
What happened to my negative review of Title?
Or is 25/100 considered Mixed? That's only 1/4 |
Sorry, that's a typo. It should be 1 Negative. Let me fix that
edit: fixed
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Member Since: 2/20/2012
Posts: 24,225
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Also, I gave Title a 3/5 = 60. Isn't that considered mixed?
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Member Since: 2/20/2012
Posts: 24,225
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Fall Out Boy - American Beauty/American Psycho
The guys behind Fall Out Boy have never played by the rules. Since the band's inception, they have undergone a variety of stylistic changes, with each album providing a clear progression in sound from its predecessor. American Beauty/American Psycho is no exception.
With this album, Fall Out Boy was determined to find a perfect balance between top 40 radio and their pop-influenced punk sound in order to remain culturally relevant, and they don't even try to hide it; not only do most of the songs seem fitting for pop radio, but they are also stuffed with pop culture references.
American Beauty/American Psycho maintains the slick, polished production from Save Rock and Roll, while incorporating new elements to the band's sound. The most prominent of these new ideas is the group's use of samples. Overall, this use of samples yields mixed results. "Uma Thurman" borrows the opening theme from The Munsters to provide a link between the verse and chorus, which proves to be equally annoying as it is catchy. "Fourth of July" liberally borrows from Son Lux's "Lost It To Trying," resulting in a track that lacks any real personality from Fall Out Boy; the bland chorus (that is repeated four times) and Patrick's strained vocals don't help its case. "Twin Skeleton's (Hotel in NYC)" is equally bad; it's an album closer that fizzles out and provides no real closure, not to mention that the chorus is desperately in need of drums.
On the other hand, Fall Out Boy snag a chord progression from Mötley Crüe's "Too Fast For Love" for the title track, morph it, drown it in synths, and somehow make it work. The only other sample is included on lead single "Centuries," the track that best represents the album and epitomizes the band's vision. Over Suzanne Vega's "Tom's Diner," the quartet incorporate a (proven) radio-ready chorus and hook that is still grandiose enough to fill arenas of die-hard fans.
Elsewhere on the album, the band successfully manages to mix their pop-leaning vocals with their inherently rock sound. On "Novocaine," they create a song that manages to be both danceable and hard-hitting at the same time with one of the album's best choruses where Patrick gets to effectively use his upper range. "Favorite Record" and "Immortals" are some of the most pop-influenced (and best) tracks on the record. The former's upbeat feel is buoyed by the inclusion of an altered vocal sample and tambourines in the instrumental, while the latter contains a repetitive hook that is worthy of top 40 radio.
In interviews leading up to the release of American Beauty/American Psycho, the band made it known that in order to still be successful and relevant, rock music needed to change. In this case, the group experimented with their music by including a variety of things, from horns in "Irresistible," to the prominent whistle in "The Kids Aren't Alright." The biggest "no-no" in rock music, according to Patrick Stump, was the inclusion of samples, but the band went for it anyway. As a rock band that emerged during the pop punk explosion of the 2000s decade, it's rather surprising to still see them around. However, their consistent success can only be attributed to one thing, and that is their ability to constantly go against the crowd and alter their primary genre, causing them to be both ahead of the curve and relevant to mainstream audiences at the same time. I just can't wait to see what they do next.
Skip to: "American Beauty/American Psycho," "Novocaine," "Favorite Record"
Skip: "Fourth of July," "Twin Skeleton's (Hotel in NYC)"
3.5/5
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Member Since: 8/28/2012
Posts: 34,863
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Quote:
Member Score
82
Universal Acclaim
based on 8 Reviews
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Also 61 isn't Mixed.
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I'll do FOB in a while 
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Member Since: 8/15/2012
Posts: 6,964
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Guys, let's review Marilyn Manson's 'The Pale Emperor'!!!!
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Member Since: 1/1/2014
Posts: 43,331
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Sorry @ the messy Title scoring.
60 is on the border between mixed and positive. I read your review and thought it was more positive than mixed, but if you would like me to change that I can.
Yes, the 6.1 should be positive. I'll make the changes this afternoon after school.
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Member Since: 1/1/2014
Posts: 43,973
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0 to 33 = negative
34 to 66 = mixed
67 to 100 = positive
This is how I would do it
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Member Since: 9/15/2012
Posts: 22,487
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Fall Out Boy - American Beauty / American Psycho
Fall Out Boy returns to the scene with sixth studio album American Beauty / American Psycho. The album has been seeing success from old fans and new fans alike. Shockingly, the album even produced a hit single, the Suzanne Vega-sampling Centuries. This was obviously an intended success, and they got what they craved. However, most of the album feels rather cold and calculated. On Fall Out Boy's previous albums, they felt wild and uncontainable, like they could go anywhere, but on their newest effort they feel truly contained, as if the songs were written for examples on how to write a song in a songwriting class ("Look, the hook is here! And then there's the verse!"). Fall Out Boy is best when they're not afraid to have a little fun and go past routine on tracks like the title track where they feel like they can still give us something new after all these years. Unfortunately, American Beauty / American Psycho is largely a disappointment, but maybe we shouldn't have even expected anything from the band.
4/10
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Member Since: 1/1/2014
Posts: 43,331
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Quote:
Originally posted by Superpower
0 to 33 = negative
34 to 66 = mixed
67 to 100 = positive
This is how I would do it
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Right now the official policy is
0-39 negative
40 either mixed or negative, I read review and determine
41-59 mixed
60 either mixed or positive, I read review and determine
61+ positive
I can think about changing it though. We could have a vote.
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Member Since: 1/1/2014
Posts: 37,384
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I like the way it currently is. I tend to rate a little higher than I should, so I would never have a negative review if it was the way SP suggested 
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Member Since: 3/15/2013
Posts: 13,055
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American Beauty/American Psycho - Fall Out Boy
I was expecting a good album because I have always liked FOB's music and their last effort was fantastic but I have to admit that they surprised me once again. The album is not only good but a really solid, complex and flawless album. I was planning to do a review of every song but I'm afraid that is going to be hard because I would be writing similar ratings for every song and that would not be fun at all.
The lead single, "Centuries" is definitely one of the best songs on the album. They mantain their old style mixing it with their new influences. Tracks like Uma Thurman, Novocaine, Immortals and Twin Skeleton's (Hotel in NYC) should remind everyone why they were (and still are) strong competitors in the Rock community.
The lead vocalist, Patrick Stump and his peculiar voice makes the songs even better, along with their fun and creative lyrics, which is what makes them what they are and what they represent in the music world.
10/10
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Member Since: 3/7/2012
Posts: 11,952
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Heartbeat Song - Kelly Clarkson
Kelly Clarkson is back! After more than three years since her last pop album ( Stronger, 2011) the new mama's era started. First single "Heartbeat Song" from her upcoming album Piece by Piece is nothing more than we expected – uptempo anthemic pop song with catchy chorus and great vocals decorated by Clarkson's typical belts. The song produced by Greg Kurstin definitely has potential to become Kelly's next smash. The uplifting track portrays a bit new side of the songbird: Kelly, known for her break-up anthems like "Since U Been Gone" or "Stronger (What Doesn't Kill You)", celebrates her new love, a theme that was previously explored in her recent singles "Catch My Breath" or "Underneath My Tree". While the verses might remind you of Jimmy Eat World's "The Middle", the biggest surprise comes with the chorus. The tempo is slowed down while Kelly sings the „up up up up all night long“ hook. With this hook comes "Heartbeat Song's" only minus – after a few listens you might find it repetitive.
85/100
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Member Since: 3/15/2013
Posts: 23,127
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AMERICAN BEAUTY/AMERICAN PSYCHO - FALL OUT BOY
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Fall Out Boy has been around for almost decade at this point and still releasing albums that don't sound hardly anything like each other. They've grown and evolved with the times while still having fun and sticking to their vision. With this album they decide to throw in some samples to shake things up. Uma Thurman contains nice little guitar and horn line from The Munsters theme, Centuries adds in a "duh duh duh" hook from Suzanne Vega's Tom's Diner, and the title track even incorporates a chord progression from Motley Crue's Too Fast To Live. They don't distract from the listen and are used so smartly you hardly realize they're samples at all.
All of the songs are pop radio ready while also screaming for arena show rocking. The songs flow together seamlessly while still providing huge highlights such as Uma Thurman and the hard hitting dance-rock anthem Novocaine. Even the weaker tracks such as Fourth of July and Twin Skeleton's blend in and don't make for a difficult listen. SRAR had far bigger duds, but also greater highlights. So if we're going to compare albums like we all love to do, they're on the same level in terms of quality. If you loved their 2013 comeback album, you'll absolutely love Patrick's soaring voice on the tracks' glorious hooks, Pete's still clever and on point lyricism, and the guitar/synth based instrumentals combined with huge banging percussion.
83/100
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Member Since: 8/28/2012
Posts: 34,863
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01. Irresistible
02. American Beauty/American Psycho
03. Centuries
04. The Kids Aren't Alright
05. Uma Thurman
06. Jet Pack Blues
07. Novocaine
08. Fourth Of July
09. Favorite Record
10. Immortals
11. Twin Skeleton's (Hotel In NYC)
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9.5
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9.5
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Fall Out Boy American Beauty / American Psycho
- 98/100 -
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This is the first time I experience a Fall Out Boy album in full, so this is coming from someone that doesn't know the sound of the rest of their albums apart from a few individual singles.
After hearing the lead single Centuries, then the promo singles one after the other: the title track, then The Kids Aren't Alright, then Uma Thurman, I had no doubt that this going to a perfect album, and I was right.
The album as a whole is solid, hyper-energetic and cohesive. All of the songs have great replay value, the lyrics are outstanding and the lead singer is serving vocals on each one of them.
One can easily tell that this album, from start to finish, is essentially made for radio. However, they succeeded to balance the songs perfectly and served their purpose without making generic lyrics and cliche lyrics to appeal to radio listeners.
American Beauty/American Psycho contains no fillers, no bad choruses, and no boring songs. Infact, the songs not only have explosive and catchy choruses, but they also have explosive and catchy verses that are, in some songs, even better than the choruses.
I would mention my favorite parts from the album, but it's perfect from start to finish.
Special mention to the biggest eargasm on the album:
Did you ever love her? Do you know?
Or did you never want to be alone?
And she was singing “Baby, come home”
"Baby, come home"
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Member Since: 2/20/2012
Posts: 24,225
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Kelly Clarkson - "Heartbeat Song"
Kelly Clarkson has finally made a proper return to music after her foray in holiday music with 2013's Wrapped in Red. "Heartbeat Song" serves as the lead single to her upcoming album and is produced by Greg Kurstin, who she had previously collaborated with on the hit "Stronger (What Doesn't Kill You)." Over a bouncy bass line and programmed guitars, Clarkson sings about falling in love. Unfortunately, the track bears a bit too much resemblance to Jimmy Eat World's "The Middle" to feel completely original, and it doesn't quite match the irresistibility of the duo's work on her previous album.
2.5/5
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Member Since: 1/1/2014
Posts: 43,973
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You should have the Rihanna single up for review tonight or tomorrow while there's still some hype. No need to wait for 3 requests
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Member Since: 8/28/2012
Posts: 34,863
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Yeah, let's review the Rihanna song.
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ATRL Contributor
Member Since: 4/24/2011
Posts: 8,547
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Haven't done a review (a negative one) in such a LOOOONG time, so I guess I'll try my best. 
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Fall Out Boy – ‘American Beauty/American Psycho’ --- (2.7)
Genre: Pop Rock, Electropop, Dance-Pop
To be honest, I’ve never been a huuuuuge fan of Fall Out Boy’s music. Never been really interested in their music, but I must admit some of their singles are actually pretty good. It’s simple pop-rock, it hasn’t got to be bad, right? And I actually recall liking ‘Folie a Deux’, so why not?
They supposedly broke up in like mid-00’s, and I didn’t care a bit for that. I guess their fans were sad? But I knew that they had some solo projects, so I don’t know. But what really devastated me was the fact that they got back together. ‘Save Rock and Roll’ was one of the worst albums from 2013, if not the worst overall. More like destroying Pop and Rock? Whatever.
And if that wasn’t embarrassing enough, guess what, they’re releasing another album! ‘American Beauty/American Psycho’ sounds how little they have changed their sound. Although I can appreciate the catchy melodies here and there I guess (s/o to "Uma Thurman"), which makes it better than their previous album, it just doesn’t feel right.
The lyrics… they can occasionally work, so I guess I got to give them credit for that, but other than that, they’re just unmemorable and bland. And it is worse when they are trying to go “deep” or whatever they’re trying there, that’s just abysmal.
It’s just basic, soulless, emotionless, radio-filler Pop music, and not the good kind of Pop music, to be honest. It wouldn’t look out of place for people like Maroon 5, even One Direction! There is basically no reason for this to exist. I guess that this (and the other) album is the essential proof that if you don’t have any good stuff going on, a reason, a message, or something good, you probably shouldn’t get a band back from the dead.
Highlights: "Uma Thurman"
You’ll like it if you like: The Script, Maroon 5, even One Direction or any other mainstream pop-“rock” band.
Honestly, TRF.
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