i have 2 disclaimers, though.




(1) this is not a classic. this isn't the second coming of *INSERT LEGEND*. but it's very good.




(2) if you thought 80's music was a pop wasteland,
this album isn't for you. but if you think that
1984 was one of the best years in pop music... keep reading,
b/c you might dig this album.





alright. onto my pitch for why you should
listen to the links below and give this album a chance.

patrick stump used to be the lead singer for fall out boy.
since i like pop and r&b more than rock, i always dug
a few songs from this band. mostly b/c their tunes were
usually fairly catchy, and their admittedly uncharismatic lead singer
always had a cool voice.


so when i heard he was going solo, i was curious.
i got excited when i saw the youtube link
that showed him building a pop track from the ground up
playing all of the instruments.

but this guy has 0 star power, so i forgot
that he was releasing a solo album. apparently, it debuted at
number 47 and promptly fell off the charts.


and i felt bad about that, b/c i bought the album earlier this month, and it's quite good.




here are some of the highlights.








here he is trying to break pop.
if you like any of those europop tunes out there,
you'll probablly like this one.


but if you've never heard a europop song that you like,
skip this one...



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HRQTWmmrNVo





and listen to THIS one...
here he is showing off some r&b vocal chops,
and playing synths that make it sound like he is a big fan of stevie wonder's "in square circle"


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DxwqAdcIBYk




here is another r&b song. the production
sounds like something you'd hear on a sleepy brown album.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oNEP-lGFSQU




and here is one of my personal favorites,
although it starts off weird. if you liked anything else
that you heard above, hear this one out until it gets to the hook... the song takes flight.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YaGJt7M43oM




and finally,
here's a song about regretting not having the balls
to seal the deal with a chick you had a chance w/ when you were 14.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cGETs-Kt5Es


the drums sort of rock in the beginning.








i can't really sell you on it any more than this.
if you don't like it, that of course is your right.
but i just wanted to let folks know it was out there.



and for all of you rockists out there,
(and i am one, to a degree) he's playing all the instruments,
he wrote all the songs, he's singing all of the vocal parts,
and and he produced the entire thing by himself.




it's not "high art" but it's catchy as hell.

give it a try.