Fall Out Boy’s Best Comeback

March 27, 2025
8:27 pm

On April 12, 2013, Fall Out Boy dropped Save Rock and Roll, and did they actually save rock and roll?

Look, I’m a die-hard for the rock gods of the ‘70s. Aerosmith, ACDC, Iron Maiden—those legends built the foundation that today’s bands stand on. But I’ll admit, Save Rock and Roll caught me off guard…in the best way.

It all started with “The Phoenix,” an opener that hit harder than a double shot of whiskey, and then “My Songs Know What You Did in the Dark (Light Em Up)” lit the whole damn place on fire. It wasn’t the rock I was used to, but man, I liked it.

When Fall Out Boy made their comeback in 2013, it was almost like a distant memory. I had friends decades younger than me losing their minds–like FOB was some long-lost childhood friend who finally came home. Turns out, they weren’t wrong.

Where Were They for Five Years?

After Folie à Deux in 2008, Fall Out Boy went poof. Disappeared. Patrick Stump tried his hand at a solo career, dropped some weight, and married his longtime girlfriend. Pete Wentz wrote a novel (because, of course, he did). Andy Hurley and Joe Trohman played in other bands. But the magic was missing.

Then, after years of silence, Stump and Wentz met up. Both realized they needed that creative spark again. Next thing you know, the band’s back together—grown up and a million times better.

From Emo Kinds to Rock Royalty

Gone were the skinny jeans and eyeliner (well, sort of), and in came a sound that was edgier, bolder, and loaded with unexpected twists. FOB wasn’t chasing their old glory…they were reinventing it.

“My Songs Know What You Did in the Dark” was the spark, but the album didn’t stop there. They weren’t afraid to shake things up, bringing in unexpected collaborators like Big Sean and Courtney Love (yeah, that Courtney Love). But the real kicker? Elton freaking John on the title track. When Sir Elton lends his pipes to your comeback album, you know you’re not playing around.

The Tracklist That Defined Their Comeback

The Phoenix
My Songs Know What You Did In The Dark (Light Em Up)
Alone Together
Where Did The Party Go
Just One Yesterday
The Mighty Fall (Feat. Big Sean)
Miss Missing You
Death Valley
Young Volcanoes
Rat A Tat (Feat. Courtney Love)
Save Rock And Roll (Feat. Elton John)

More Than Just a Comeback Album

Save Rock and Roll wasn’t just about radio hits and surprise guests. It was a statement. FOB took the chaos, heartbreak, and angst of their hiatus. Tracks like “Alone Together” and “Just One Yesterday” hit hard with that signature emo punch, while “Young Volcanoes” gave us a sing-along anthem perfect for late-night summer drives.

And let’s not forget the Young Blood Chronicles—a 45-minute visual saga that turned the entire album into a twisted cinematic experience. Who else was doing that? Nobody.

12 Years Later, It Still Hits Hard

Twelve years later, Save Rock and Roll isn’t just a great album. It’s a reminder that comebacks can be louder, bolder, and more unapologetic than the original act, no matter how long it took. After all, they’ve grown, and so have we. Fall Out Boy didn’t just save rock and roll. They proved that sometimes, the best way to move forward is to light it up.

Rock on,

Sam