So Much (for) Stardust
So Much (for) Stardust is the eighth studio album by American rock band Fall Out Boy and is their first album in over 5 years, thus marking the longest gap between studio albums. The album was released on March 24, 2023, on Fueled by Ramen, Elektra Records and DCD2. The album reunites the band with producer Neal Avron, who last produced Folie à Deux (2008), and also marks the band's return to their original record label Fueled By Ramen, which last released Take This to Your Grave (2003). The lead single from the album, "Love from the Other Side", was released on January 18, 2023, alongside the official announcement of the album. The second single, "Heartbreak Feels So Good", was released on January 25, 2023.
This article is about the album. For the song, see So Much (for) Stardust (song).So Much (for) Stardust
The album returns to a more guitar-oriented pop rock and pop-punk sound, comparable to their 2008 album Folie à Deux, with disco, soul, funk, spoken word, and orchestral elements. The album received positive reviews from critics.
Composition[edit]
According to Sarah Jamieson of DIY, "[the album] sounds closer to a continuation of their 2008 record Folie à Deux than 2018's hyper-slick Mania, there's a return to the bold, luscious pop-rock that they honed early on."[9] Writing for Clash, Shannon Garner felt that with this album, "[the band pulled] themselves back into the pop-punk realm."[10] The album also has disco, soul and funk influences.[11] Mark Beaumont of The Independent the "[album contains] grandiose orchestral passages, spoken word interludes and touches of Bruno Mars funk pop dotted among the roaring angst rock...[that blends] of their various eras...[and] pulls the plug on the rise of the machines."[12]
The album marks a return to a more guitar-driven sound.[3] However, Stump maintains that "it's not a throwback record" but rather an imagining of "what would it have sounded like if we had made a record right after Folie à Deux instead of taking a break for a few years. It was like exploring the multiverse. It was an experiment in seeing what we would have done."[13]
Promotion[edit]
Singles[edit]
In December 2022, the band released a claymation animation homage, and began teasing a new song. The band made a website called sendingmylovefromtheotherside.com.[14] On January 10, 2023, Oliver Sykes of Bring Me the Horizon posted to his Instagram story that he had received a package in the mail from Fall Out Boy containing a pink seashell labeled 1 of 13 alongside a letter with the date January 18, 2023, and the song title "Love From The Other Side".[15][16] The lead single, "Love from the Other Side", was announced on January 11, 2023.[17][18] The song was released on January 18, alongside the band confirming the album title and setting the release date for March 24, 2023.[3][4][5][6] Since then, the band has posted a photo of another package with a set of coordinates leading to the Field of Dreams Movie Site in Dyersville, Iowa.[19] The package contained another seashell marked 2 of 13 with a letter, this time printed was the date January 25, 2023, and a speculated song title "Heartbreak Feels So Good".[19][20] On January 23, 2023, the band announced the next single, "Heartbreak Feels So Good", released on January 25, 2023, with promotion featuring actress Nicole Kidman's advertisements for AMC Theatres.[21][22] A third package was left outside Wrigley Field in Chicago, Illinois.[23]
On March 13, the band announced that "Hold Me Like a Grudge" would be the next single of the album. On March 15, a clip of the song was shared.[24] On March 24, the same day the album was released, the band released a music video for "Hold Me Like a Grudge". The video is a continuation of the music video for the band's song, "This Ain't a Scene, It's an Arms Race".[25]
On February 28, 2024, the band released a music video for the album’s fourth single, title track “So Much (For) Stardust”, featuring NBA player Jimmy Butler.[26][27]
TV performances[edit]
The band performed "Love from the Other Side" on Jimmy Kimmel Live! the same day it was released.[4][6] The band performed "Heartbreak Feels So Good" on Jimmy Kimmel Live! on January 31, 2023.[30]
Tour[edit]
On January 31, 2023, the band announced their first solo headlining tour since 2019, So Much For (Tour) Dust, with 30 dates across North America. The band was joined by Bring Me the Horizon and Royal & the Serpent with Alkaline Trio, New Found Glory, Four Year Strong, The Academy Is..., Games We Play, Daisy Grenade, and Carr appearing for select dates.[31] Joe Trohman toured with the band following an end to his hiatus.
On February 8, 2023, the band announced a Europe and UK leg of So Much for (Tour) Dust with fifteen dates. A second London date was added shortly after due to overwhelming demand. The band was joined by Pvris, and nothing,nowhere. for this leg.
On September 7, 2023, the band announced a second US leg, now being stylized as So Much for (2our) Dust, which happened in 2024 with twenty-three dates. The band was joined by Jimmy Eat World along with The Maine, Hot Mulligan, Daisy Grenade, Games We Play, and Carr appearing on select dates for this leg.
The tour began on June 21, 2023, at Chicago's Wrigley Field and concluded on April 6, 2024 at Target Center in Minneapolis.[31]
Commercial performance[edit]
So Much (for) Stardust debuted at number six on the US Billboard 200 chart dated April 8, 2023, selling 64,000 album-equivalent units. It is Fall Out Boy's seventh consecutive top-ten album.[43] The album also reached the top ten in Australia, Germany, New Zealand, Scotland, South Africa and the United Kingdom.
Notes
Fall Out Boy
Additional musicians
Technical