So Much (For) Stardust is Fall Out Boy’s eighth studio album, and it is amazing. It differs from some of their previous works but stands out in a fantastic way. The album was first announced on Jan. 18 and released on March 24.

I first heard about this album when the second single, “Heartbreak Feels So Good,” was released on Jan. 25. I listened to it and was very excited for when the full album would come out. I’ve been a fan of Fall Out Boy for many years and have enjoyed all of their music, so I was curious as to what their newest album would be like.

The first song on the album, “Love From the Other Side,” starts out rather ethereal, reminding me almost of classical Chinese music, before slamming into a pop-rock beat. It’s very catchy with piano juxtaposing the guitar riffs. This song is a great example of the sound of the entire album.

Most of the songs in this album felt subdued in comparison to Fall Out Boy’s previous music. I’m more used to their songs being upbeat rock melodies. But in So Much (For) Stardust, there was almost a lo-fi beats vibe. There was energy from the guitar and bass guitar, but there was an overall chill, calming, yet engaging feeling that the album exuded. It’s the sort of music that I would enjoy listening to while I’m studying or reading. I really liked it and it’s something that I haven’t heard in Fall Out Boy as much since their fourth studio album, Folie à Deux, which might be because the producer of So Much (For) Stardust, Neal Avron, also produced Folie à Deux.

Before I had listened to So Much (For) Stardust, I had been in a bad mood due to a difficult morning. But once I put the album on Spotify, it helped calm me down and raise my spirits. I always love it when music can do that for you and was glad that Fall Out Boy’s new album was able to help me feel better.

One thing I found interesting about So Much (For) Stardust was that two songs had spoken dialogue throughout them. The first was “The Pink Seashell,” which featured actor Ethan Hawke. In this track, over the ethereal music, there’s a sample of dialogue spoken by Hawke in the movie Reality Bites.  In the dialogue, Hawke’s character describes how he discovered a nihilistic feeling of the world and now he savors all the little moments of life that he enjoys. It’s poignant and the track’s synth-like music underscores it beautifully.

Then the song “Baby Annihilation” has a poetic monologue spoken by bassist Pete Wentz. It’s dark and full of lost hope but the words paint vivid pictures in your mind. I liked how enigmatic the track felt. The monologue feels like one of those poems that despite its bizarre, flowery language, you completely understand what the speaker is talking about in it.

I don’t usually like to rank songs but “What a Time to Be Alive” might be one of my all-time favorite Fall Out Boy songs. It has a 70s disco sound, with vibes of Earth, Wind, & Fire. It’s very catchy and danceable with an epic guitar solo. It’s exactly the sort of song that I would love to play in Just Dance. It’s easily one of the best in the entire album.

And then there’s the title track, “So Much (For) Stardust.” This song was amazing. It employs dramatic violins and piano to create a darker feeling song. The lyrics are melancholy but beautifully sung by lead singer Patrick Stump. I quickly found myself singing along to the chorus because of how catchy it was.

Overall, I really enjoyed So Much (For) Stardust. It’s a load of fun to listen to with catchy and relaxing songs. I’m really glad that Fall Out Boy is still going strong with solid music for fans to enjoy.