So Much (for) Stardust
{{Short description|2023 studio album by Fall Out Boy}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2023}}
{{Use American English|date=December 2023}}
{{About|the album|the song|So Much (for) Stardust (song)}}
{{Infobox album
| name = So Much (for) Stardust
| type = studio
| cover = Fall Out Boy - So Much (for) Stardust.png
| alt = Black square with a smaller image in its center. This image depicts a doberman biting at bubbles. The image appears dreamlike and makes use of heavy highlights. Above the image, in bubbly text, is the band's name. Below the image is similar bubbly text which reads "So Much (For) Stardust".
| length = 44:14
| artist = Fall Out Boy
| released = March 24, 2023
| genre =
- Pop rock
- alternative rock
- {{nowrap|pop-punk}}
- power pop
- {{nowrap|symphonic rock}}
| label =
| producer = Neal Avron
| chronology = Fall Out Boy studio album
| prev_title = Mania
| prev_year = 2018
| misc = {{Singles
| name = So Much (for) Stardust
| type = studio
| single1 = Love from the Other Side
| single1date = January 18, 2023
| single2 = Heartbreak Feels So Good
| single2date = January 25, 2023
| single3 = Hold Me Like a Grudge
| single3date = March 24, 2023
| single4 = So Much (for) Stardust
| single4date = February 28, 2024
}}
}}
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, following the release of Mania (2018), thus marking the band's 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 album saw a return 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 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. The album received positive reviews from critics.
Background
After receiving mixed reviews for their 2018 album, Mania,{{cite web|url=http://www.metacritic.com/music/mania/fall-out-boy|title=Mania by Fall Out Boy Reviews and Tracks|work=Metacritic|access-date=January 19, 2023}} the band went silent on new music, besides releasing a second greatest hits album in 2019.{{cite web|first=Brii|last=Jamieson|url=https://www.rocksound.tv/news/read/fall-out-boy-new-single-wyclef-jean-hella-mega-best-of-album-believers|title=Fall Out Boy Just Dropped A New Single Feat. Wyclef Jean + Announced 'Believers Never Die, Vol. 2' – News|work=Rock Sound|date=September 10, 2019|access-date=January 19, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191001042751/https://www.rocksound.tv/news/read/fall-out-boy-new-single-wyclef-jean-hella-mega-best-of-album-believers|archive-date=October 1, 2019|url-status=dead}}
Vocalist Patrick Stump discussed the album's creation:
{{Blockquote|"Technology has made it really easy to make records much more quickly these days. There's nothing wrong with that, and that spontaneity can be exciting... But we wanted to get back to the way we used to work. We wanted to make a record that was really lovingly crafted and deliberate and patiently guided – like someone cooked you a delicate meal. I'm not a very proud guy, but I'm pretty proud of this record."{{cite web|first=Emma|last=Wilkes|url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/fall-out-boy-announce-new-album-so-much-for-stardust-3383048|title=Fall Out Boy announce new album 'So Much for Stardust'|work=NME|date=January 18, 2023|access-date=January 18, 2023}}{{cite web|url=https://blabbermouth.net/news/fall-out-boy-announces-so-much-for-stardust-album-shares-love-from-the-other-side-single|title=Fall Out Boy Announces 'So Much (For) Stardust' Album, Shares 'Love From The Other Side' Single|work=Blabbermouth.net|date=January 18, 2023|access-date=January 18, 2023}}{{cite web|first=Emily|last=Carter|url=https://www.kerrang.com/fall-out-boy-new-single-album-pop-punk-love-from-the-other-side-patrick-stump-joe-trohman-andy-hurley-pete-wentz|title=Fall Out Boy return with new single, announce eighth album So Much (For) Stardust|work=Kerrang!|date=January 18, 2023|access-date=January 18, 2023}}}} Due to the band's album deal with Island Records ending, the band signed with Fueled by Ramen and Elektra Records for the album's release, marking their first release under Fueled by Ramen since Take This to Your Grave. It was also announced that the album was produced by Neal Avron, making it the first time Fall Out Boy had worked with him since Folie à Deux.
On the same day of the single release and album announcement, guitarist Joe Trohman announced on social media that he would be taking a break from the band to focus on his mental health.{{cite magazine|first=Katie|last=Atkinson|url=https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/fall-out-boy-joe-trohman-leaves-band-1235201344/|title=Fall Out Boy Guitarist Joe Trohman Announces Break From the Band Ahead of New Album Release|magazine=Billboard|date=January 18, 2023|access-date=January 18, 2023}}
On March 3, 2023, the album's tracklist was confirmed.{{cite web|first=Rhian|last=Daly|url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/fall-out-boy-announce-intimate-uk-shows-and-share-so-much-for-stardust-tracklist-3407944|title=Fall Out Boy announce intimate UK shows and share 'So Much (For) Stardust' tracklist|work=NME|date=March 3, 2023|access-date=March 3, 2023}}
Composition
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."{{cite web|first=Sarah|last=Jamieson|url=https://diymag.com/review/album/fall-out-boy-so-much-for-stardust|title=Fall Out Boy - So Much (For) Stardust|work=DIY|date=March 23, 2023|access-date=March 23, 2023}} Writing for Clash, Shannon Garner felt that with this album, "[the band pulled] themselves back into the pop-punk realm."{{cite magazine|first=Shannon|last=Garner|url=https://www.clashmusic.com/reviews/fall-out-boy-so-much-for-stardust/|title=Fall Out Boy – 'So Much (For) Stardust'|magazine=Clash|date=March 23, 2023|access-date=March 23, 2023}} The album also has disco, soul and funk influences.{{cite web|first=Aliya|last=Chaudhry|url=https://www.altpress.com/fall-out-boy-so-much-for-stardust-review/|title=Review: Fall Out Boy's So Much (For) Stardust isn't a comeback—it's an expansion|work=Alternative Press|date=March 24, 2023|access-date=March 24, 2023}} Mark Beaumont of The Independent stated that "[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."{{cite web|first=Mark|last=Beaumont|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/features/fall-out-boy-interview-patrick-stump-b2305907.html|title=Fall Out Boy: 'Trump is like the cat on The Flintstones – I just threw him out, why's he in the house again?'|work=The Independent|date=March 27, 2023|access-date=April 3, 2023}} Mathew Abraham of Caliber Tv considered the album to be a "return to a [rock and alternative rock kind of sound] for them, while it also mixes in poppier elements in...some of these songs."{{cite web|first=Mark|last=Beaumont|url=https://calibertv.net/reviews/review-fall-out-boy-so-much-for-stardust/|title=Review: Fall Out Boy – ‘So Much (For) Stardust’|work=Caliber Tv|date=March 27, 2023|access-date=November 5, 2024}} Writing for The Line of Best Fit, Jasleen Dhindsa stated, "So Much (For) Stardust...inflicts dynamic, theatrical and intense production values onto power pop and symphonic rock."{{cite magazine|first=Jasleen|last=Dhindsa|url=https://www.thelineofbestfit.com/features/interviews/the-meteoric-restoration-of-fall-out-boy|title= The meteoric restoration of Fall Out Boy|magazine=The Line of Best Fit|date=March 23, 2023|access-date=November 6, 2024}}
The album marks a return to a more guitar-driven sound. 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."{{cite web|first=Ali|last=Shutler|url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/fall-out-boy-patrick-stump-interview-so-much-for-stardusy-joe-trohman-love-from-the-other-side-lyrics-meaning-3384299|title=Patrick Stump on Fall Out Boy's 'So Much (For) Stardust': "It's not a throwback record"|work=NME|date=January 20, 2023|access-date=January 23, 2023}} Songs like "I Am My Own Muse" and "Love From The Other Side" "feature massive orchestral parts."{{cite web|first=Brooke|last=Phillips|url=https://www.thepostathens.com/article/2023/03/album-review-fall-out-boy-so-much-for-stardust-out-of-this-world|title=Album Review: Fall Out Boy’s 'So Much (For) Stardust' is out of this world|work=The Post Athens|date=March 26, 2023|access-date=November 5, 2024}} "Heaven, Iowa" has been described as an arena rock track that starts slow, "but blows the audience away once the massive drums and riveting guitar hit near the halfway point." "What a Time To Be Alive" demonstrates disco and funk influences.
Promotion
=Singles=
In December 2022, the band released a claymation animation homage, and began teasing a new song. The band made a website called sendingmylovefromtheotherside.com.{{cite web|url=https://loudwire.com/fall-out-boy-new-album-newspaper-ad-chicago-tribune/|title=Fall Out Boy Tease New Music With Claymation Video, Newspaper Ad + More|work=Loudwire|date=January 18, 2023|access-date=January 18, 2023}} 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".{{cite web|first=Rhian|last=Daly|url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/fall-out-boy-sending-seashells-fans-now-bring-me-the-horizon-oli-sykes-3378146|title=Fall Out Boy are sending seashells to fans now, including Bring Me The Horizon's Oli Sykes|work=NME|date=January 10, 2023|access-date=January 21, 2023}}{{cite web|first=Emily|last=Carter|url=https://www.kerrang.com/fall-out-boy-just-sent-bring-me-the-horizon-oli-sykes-a-teaser-for-their-new-album|title=Fall Out Boy just sent Oli Sykes a teaser for their new album|work=Kerrang!|date=January 11, 2023|access-date=January 21, 2023}} The lead single, "Love from the Other Side", was announced on January 11, 2023.{{cite web|first=Rhian|last=Daly|url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/fall-out-boy-announce-new-song-love-from-the-other-side-3378974|title=Fall Out Boy announce new song Love From The Other Side|work=NME|date=January 11, 2023|access-date=January 11, 2023}}{{cite web|first=Jack|last=Rogers|url=https://rocksound.tv/news/fall-out-boy-are-releasing-a-new-song-next-week|title=Fall Out Boy Are Releasing A New Song Next Week|work=Rock Sound|date=January 11, 2023|access-date=January 11, 2023}} The song was released on January 18, alongside the band confirming the album title and setting the release date for March 24, 2023.{{cite web|first1=Ellise|last1=Shafer|first2=Jem|last2=Aswad|url=https://variety.com/2023/music/news/fall-out-boy-new-album-elektra-records-so-much-for-stardust-1235234976/|title=Fall Out Boy Signs With Fueled by Ramen-Elektra, Announces New Album 'So Much (for) Stardust'|work=Variety|date=January 18, 2023|access-date=January 18, 2023}} 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.{{cite web|first=Isaac|last=Hamlet|url=https://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/entertainment/music/2023/01/20/did-fall-out-boy-just-announce-an-album-song-by-hiding-a-box-in-an-iowa-field/69826397007/|title=Fall Out Boy sends fans on scavenger hunt to Iowa with a clue, 'If you build it, they will come'|work=The Des Moines Register|date=January 20, 2023|access-date=January 21, 2023}} 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".{{cite web|first=Stephen|last=Ackroyd|url=https://upsetmagazine.com/news/it-looks-like-were-getting-another-new-fall-out-boy-song-heartbreak-feels-so-good-next-week/|title=It looks like we're getting another new Fall Out Boy song, 'Heartbreak Feels So Good', next week|work=Upset Magazine|date=January 20, 2023|access-date=January 21, 2023}} 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.{{cite magazine|first=Glenn|last=Rowley|url=https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/fall-out-boy-teases-new-song-with-nicole-kidmans-help-1235204343/|title=Fall Out Boy Teases New Single 'Heartbreak Feels So Good' With Some Help From Nicole Kidman|magazine=Billboard|date=January 24, 2023|access-date=January 24, 2023}}{{cite web|first=Arielle|last=Gerber|url=https://www.musictimes.com/articles/89804/20230124/fall-out-boy-collab-with-nicole-kidman-band-unveils-new-song-heartbreak-feels-so-good-watch.htm|title=Fall Out Boy Collab With Nicole Kidman? Band Unveils New Song 'Heartbreak Feels So Good'|work=Music Times|date=January 24, 2023|access-date=January 24, 2023}} A third package was left outside Wrigley Field in Chicago, Illinois.{{cite web|title=Who found the shell at Wrigleys @Cubs|url=https://twitter.com/falloutboy/status/1618432064751292419 |access-date=2023-01-26 |website=Twitter |language=en}}
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.{{cite magazine|first=Emily|last=Carter|url=https://www.kerrang.com/fall-out-boy-tease-the-most-ambitious-music-video-that-weve-attempted-to-make-in-the-past-10-years|title=Fall Out Boy tease "the most ambitious music video that we've attempted to make in the past 10 years"|magazine=Kerrang!|date=March 14, 2023|access-date=March 16, 2023}} 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".{{cite magazine|first=Neville|last=Hardman|url=https://www.altpress.com/fall-out-boy-hold-me-like-a-grudge-watch/|title=See Fall Out Boy continue "This Ain't A Scene" in new video for "Hold Me Like A Grudge"|magazine=Alternative Press|date=March 24, 2023|access-date=March 24, 2023}}
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.{{cite magazine|first=Teddy|last=Coward|url=https://rocksound.tv/news/fall-out-boy-drop-new-video-for-so-much-for-stardust-featuring-jimmy-butler|title=Fall Out Boy Drop New Video For ‘So Much (For) Stardust’ Featuring Jimmy Butler|magazine=Rock Sound|date=February 28, 2024|access-date=February 28, 2024}}{{cite web|first=James|last=Rettig|url=https://www.stereogum.com/2253638/jimmy-butler-fall-out-boy-music-video/news/|title=Emo-Country Jimmy Butler Stars In New Fall Out Boy Video|work=Stereogum|date=February 28, 2024|access-date=February 28, 2024}}
=Album=
In May 2023, the band released CRYNYL, a limited edition tear-filled vinyl of the album in partnership with the art studio BRAIN. {{cite magazine|first=Larisha|last=Paul|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/fall-out-boy-teardrops-so-much-for-stardust-vinyl-record-1234726951/|title=Fall Out Boy's Literal Teardrops Are Pressed Into Limited-Edition 'So Much (for) Stardust' Vinyl|magazine=Rolling Stone|date=May 1, 2023|access-date=May 3, 2023}}{{cite web|url=https://hypebeast.com/2023/5/fall-out-boy-so-much-for-stardust-vinyl-crynyl-release-info-pete-wentz-tears|title=Fall Out Boy's 'So Much (For) Stardust' "Crynyl" Is Pressed With The Band's Real Tears|work=Hypebeast|date=May 1, 2023|access-date=May 3, 2023}}
=TV performances=
The band performed "Love from the Other Side" on Jimmy Kimmel Live! the same day it was released. The band performed "Heartbreak Feels So Good" on Jimmy Kimmel Live! on January 31, 2023.{{cite magazine|first=Emily|last=Carter|url=https://www.kerrang.com/watch-fall-out-boys-nautical-themed-performance-on-jimmy-kimmel-live|title=Watch Fall Out Boy's nautical-themed performance on Jimmy Kimmel Live|magazine=Kerrang!|date=February 1, 2023|access-date=February 1, 2023|quote=A couple of weeks back Pete, Patrick and Andy hit late-night TV on January 18 for the first live run-through of Love From The Other Side, and last night they did the same again for more recent single Heartbreak Feels So Good.}}
=Tour=
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.{{cite magazine|first=Larisha|last=Paul|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/fall-out-boy-so-much-for-tour-dust-tour-dates-1234671499/|title=Fall Out Boy Share Full 'So Much for (Tour) Dust' Tour Dates After Cryptic Venue Teasing|magazine=Rolling Stone|date=January 31, 2023|access-date=January 31, 2023}} 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. Due to overwhelming demand, a second London date was added shortly after. The band was joined by Pvris, and nothing,nowhere. for this leg.{{cite magazine|url=https://rocksound.tv/news/fall-out-boy-announces-so-much-for-dust-uk-europe-arena-tour-featuring-pvris|title=Fall Out Boy announces So Much For Dust UK/Europe arena tour featuring PVRIS|magazine=Rock Sound|date=February 8, 2023|access-date=November 5, 2024}}
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.{{cite web|first=Tim|last=Peacock|url=https://www.udiscovermusic.com/news/fall-out-boy-dates-2024-north-america/|title=Fall Out Boy Announces ‘So Much For (2our) Dust” North American Dates For 2024|work=udiscovermusic|date=September 7, 2023|access-date=November 5, 2024}}
The tour began on June 21, 2023, at Chicago's Wrigley Field and concluded on April 6, 2024 at Target Center in Minneapolis.
Critical reception
{{Music ratings
| MC = 79/100{{cite web|url=https://www.metacritic.com/music/so-much-for-stardust/fall-out-boy|title=So Much (for) Stardust by Fall Out Boy Reviews and Tracks|publisher=Metacritic|access-date=April 6, 2023}}
| rev1 = AllMusic
| rev1score = {{rating|4|5}}{{cite web|first=Matt|last=Collar|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/so-much-for-stardust-mw0003914630|title=Fall Out Boy - So Much (For) Stardust|work=AllMusic|access-date=March 24, 2023}}
| rev2 = Clash
| rev3 = DIY
| rev3score = {{Rating|4.5|5}}
| rev4 = Dork
| rev4score = {{Rating|4|5}}{{cite magazine|first=Dillon|last=Eastoe|url=https://readdork.com/albums/fall-out-boy-so-much-for-stardust/|title=Fall Out Boy – So Much (For) Stardust|magazine=Dork|date=March 23, 2023|access-date=March 23, 2023}}
| rev5 = Exclaim!
| rev5score = 7/10{{cite web|first=Ian|last=Gormely|url=https://exclaim.ca/music/article/fall_out_boy_so_much_for_stardust_review|title=Fall Out Boy Reclaim Some Glory on 'So Much (for) Stardust'|work=Exclaim!|date=March 23, 2023|access-date=March 23, 2023}}
| rev6 = Kerrang!
| rev6score = 4/5{{cite magazine|first=Nick|last=Ruskell|url=https://www.kerrang.com/album-review-fall-out-boy-so-much-for-stardust-patrick-stump-pete-wentz-neal-avron-fueled-by-ramen|title=Album review: Fall Out Boy – So Much (For) Stardust|magazine=Kerrang!|date=March 24, 2023|access-date=March 24, 2023}}
| rev7 = The Line of Best Fit
| rev7score = 8/10{{cite magazine|first=Steven|last=Loftin|url=https://www.thelineofbestfit.com/albums/fall-out-boy-so-much-for-stardust-finding-way-home|title=Fall Out Boy "So Much (For) Stardust"|magazine=The Line of Best Fit|date=March 22, 2023|access-date=March 23, 2023}}
| rev8 = NME
| rev8score = {{Rating|4|5}}{{cite web|first=Erica|last=Campbell|url=https://www.nme.com/reviews/album/fall-out-boy-so-much-for-stardust-review-3418458|title=Fall Out Boy – 'So Much (For) Stardust' review: an audacious return from theatrical rockers|work=NME|date=March 23, 2023|access-date=March 23, 2023}}
| rev9 = Sputnikmusic
| rev9score = 4.2/5{{cite web|author=Rowan5215|url=https://www.sputnikmusic.com/review/86600/Fall-Out-Boy-So-Much-For-Stardust/|title=Review: Fall Out Boy - So Much (For) Stardust|work=Sputnikmusic|date=March 26, 2023|access-date=March 26, 2023}}
| rev10 = The Telegraph
| rev10score = {{Rating|3|5}}{{cite news|first=Neil|last=McCormick|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/music/what-to-listen-to/depeche-mode-honour-dead-lana-del-rey-self-indulgent-weeks/|title=Depeche Mode honour the dead, Lana Del Rey is at her most self-indulgent – the week's best albums|newspaper=The Telegraph|date=March 24, 2023|access-date=March 24, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230324183559/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/music/what-to-listen-to/depeche-mode-honour-dead-lana-del-rey-self-indulgent-weeks/|archive-date=March 24, 2023|url-status=live}}
}}
So Much (for) Stardust received positive reviews upon release. The album holds a score of 79 out of 100 on review aggregator Metacritic, based on eleven critics' reviews, indicating "generally favorable reviews". Matt Collar of AllMusic called the album "a gloriously welcome return to form". Shannon Garner writing for Clash, felt that "[the band] achieved a sound that is rigorously maintained despite the wide array of influences track-to-track." Sarah Jamieson of DIY stated that the album "exudes charm and euphoria". Dillon Eastoe of Dork stated, "By the time the bombastic and addictive title-track closes things out, Fall Out Boy have achieved something remarkable; that after years of fans comparing their past to their future, the two eras of the band feel reconciled."
Ian Gormely of Exclaim! called the album "Fall Out Boy's best album in 15 years." According to Nick Ruskell of Kerrang!, "[the album] does have a foot in a past FOB, but where they're taking you is somewhere you weren't expecting...they sound like Fall Out Boy again." Steven Loftin writing for The Line of Best Fit states, "So Much (For) Stardust's main takeaway is the palpable, radiating carefree joy. While there's no doubt Fall Out Boy have probably believed in their last 15 years' worth of output, this is the first time that actually feels like they're reaching into something truer to themselves."
Erica Campbell of NME feels that the album "[advances] their sound and [while also] acknowledging their roots." Sputnikmusic states that producer "[Neal Avron] strips away the suffocating layers of unnecessary production which choked all life out of Mania, restoring a freeing sense of dynamics and coaxing out the best performance from Stump in more than a decade." Neil McCormick of The Telegraph felt that if "[the] album had cut some of the filler, it could have been a stellar return to form."
In June 2023, Alternative Press published an unranked list of the top 25 albums of the year to date and included this release, calling it "a refined, angry, and classic work of pop-punk gold with smart lyrics, stirring instrumentals, and the head-banging rock that fans have been clamoring for".{{cite magazine|first1=Anna|last1=Zanes|first2=Neville|last2=Hardman|first3=Alessandra|last3=Schade|url=https://www.altpress.com/best-albums-2023/|title=25 best albums of 2023 so far|magazine=Alternative Press|date=June 23, 2023|access-date=September 22, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230623203827/https://www.altpress.com/best-albums-2023/|archive-date=June 23, 2023|url-status=live}}
Commercial performance
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.{{cite magazine|first=Xander|last=Zellner|url=https://www.billboard.com/music/chart-beat/jimin-first-bts-member-number-one-artist-100-chart-1235297897/|title=Jimin Becomes First BTS Member to Rule Artist 100 Chart Solo, Thanks to 'FACE' & 'Like Crazy'|magazine=Billboard|date=April 4, 2023|access-date=April 4, 2023}} The album also reached the top ten in Australia, Germany, New Zealand, Scotland, South Africa and the United Kingdom.
Track listing
{{Track listing
| headline = So Much (for) Stardust track listing
| all_writing = Pete Wentz, Patrick Stump, Joe Trohman and Andy Hurley. Additional co-writers are noted.
| title1 = Love from the Other Side
| length1 = 4:39
| title2 = Heartbreak Feels So Good
| length2 = 3:37
| title3 = Hold Me Like a Grudge
| length3 = 3:35
| title4 = Fake Out
| length4 = 3:29
| title5 = Heaven, Iowa
| length5 = 3:56
| title6 = So Good Right Now
| note6 = co-writer: Robert Byrd
| length6 = 2:58
| title7 = The Pink Seashell
| note7 = featuring Ethan Hawke; co-writer: Hawke
| length7 = 1:02
| title8 = I Am My Own Muse
| length8 = 3:45
| title9 = Flu Game
| length9 = 3:38
| title10 = Baby Annihilation
| length10 = 1:07
| title11 = The Kintsugi Kid (Ten Years)
| length11 = 3:55
| title12 = What a Time to Be Alive
| length12 = 3:42
| title13 = So Much (for) Stardust
| length13 = 4:51
| total_length = 44:14
}}
{{Track listing
| headline = Digital deluxe edition
| title14 = We Didn't Start the Fire
| note14 = co-writer Billy Joel
| length14 = 3:35
| total_length = 47:56
}}
Notes
- "So Good Right Now" contains interpolations from "Little Bitty Pretty One", written by Robert Byrd.
- "The Pink Seashell" features dialogue spoken by Hawke from the 1994 film Reality Bites.
Personnel
Fall Out Boy
- Andy Hurley – drums, percussion (all tracks except 7 and 10)
- Patrick Stump – vocals, rhythm guitar (all tracks except 7 and 10); arrangement (tracks 1, 7, 8), horn arrangements (tracks 1, 8, 13) , keyboards
- Joe Trohman – lead guitar (all tracks except 10), keyboards
- Pete Wentz – bass guitar (all tracks except 7 and 10), vocals (track 10), lyrics
Additional musicians
- Bill Reichenbach Jr.– bass trombone, trombone (tracks 1, 8, 12, 13)
- Dan Fornero – flugelhorn, trumpet (tracks 1, 8, 12, 13)
- Wayne Bergeron – flugelhorn, trumpet (tracks 1, 8, 12, 13)
- London Metropolitan Orchestra{{efn|The London Metropolitan Orchestra consists of conductor Andy Brown, orchestra leader Jerry Hey, orchestrator Jeff Toyne, leader Janice Graham, violin leader Mark Robertson, cellists David Low and Tim Loo, violists Jonathan Moerschel and Luke Maurer, and violinists Alyssa Park, Ben Jacobson, and Eun Mee Ahn.}} – orchestra (tracks 1, 7, 8, 12, 13)
- Dan Higgins – woodwinds (tracks 1, 8, 12, 13)
- Julia Waters Tillman – choir (tracks 5, 9, 13)
- Luther Waters – choir (tracks 5, 9, 13)
- Maxine Waters Willard – choir (tracks 5, 9, 13)
- Oren Waters – choir (tracks 5, 9, 13)
- Ethan Hawke – vocals (track 7)
- Marvel Jane Love Wentz – additional vocals (track 11)
Technical
Charts
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
=Weekly charts=
class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
|+ Weekly chart performance for So Much (for) Stardust ! scope="col"| Chart (2023) ! scope="col"| Peak |
{{album chart|Australia|4|artist=Fall Out Boy|album=So Much (for) Stardust|rowheader=true|access-date=March 31, 2023}} |
{{album chart|Austria|15|artist=Fall Out Boy|album=So Much (for) Stardust|rowheader=true|access-date=April 5, 2023}} |
{{album chart|Flanders|42|artist=Fall Out Boy|album=So Much (for) Stardust|rowheader=true|access-date=April 2, 2023}} |
{{album chart|Wallonia|61|artist=Fall Out Boy|album=So Much (for) Stardust|rowheader=true|access-date=April 2, 2023}} |
{{album chart|BillboardCanada|13|artist=Fall Out Boy|rowheader=true|access-date=April 4, 2023}} |
{{album chart|Netherlands|91|artist=Fall Out Boy|album=So Much (for) Stardust|rowheader=true|access-date=April 1, 2023}} |
{{album chart|France|84|artist=Fall Out Boy|album=So Much (for) Stardust|rowheader=true|access-date=April 3, 2023}} |
{{album chart|Germany4|6|id=514746|artist=Fall Out Boy|album=So Much (for) Stardust|rowheader=true|access-date=March 31, 2023}} |
{{album chart|Hungary|17|year=2023|week=15|rowheader=true|access-date=April 20, 2023}} |
{{album chart|Ireland3|3|date=20230331|rowheader=true|access-date=March 31, 2023}} |
{{album chart|Oricon|39|date=2023-04-03/p/4|rowheader=true|access-date=March 29, 2023}} |
scope="row"| Japanese Digital Albums (Oricon){{cite web|url=https://www.oricon.co.jp/rank/dia/w/2023-04-03/|title=Oricon Top 50 Digital Albums: April 3, 2023|publisher=Oricon|language=ja|access-date=March 29, 2023}}
| 9 |
---|
scope="row"| Japanese Hot Albums (Billboard Japan){{cite web|url=http://billboard-japan.com/charts/detail?a=hot_albums&year=2023&month=04&day=03|title=Billboard Japan Hot Albums – Week of March 29, 2023|website=Billboard Japan|language=ja|access-date=March 29, 2023}}
| 24 |
scope="row"| New Zealand Albums (RMNZ){{cite web|url=https://aotearoamusiccharts.co.nz/archive/albums/2023-03-31|title=NZ Top 40 Albums Chart|publisher=Recorded Music NZ|date=April 3, 2023|access-date=April 1, 2023}}
| 9 |
scope="row"| Polish Albums (ZPAV){{cite web|url=https://www.olis.pl/charts/oficjalna-lista-sprzedazy/albumy|title=OLiS – oficjalna lista sprzedaży: Albumy|publisher=ZPAV|language=pl|access-date=April 6, 2023|type=Select week 24.03.2023–30.03.2023.}}
| 63 |
{{album chart|Scotland|2|date=20230331|rowheader=true|access-date=April 1, 2023}} |
{{album chart|Spain|98|artist=Fall Out Boy|album=So Much (for) Stardust|rowheader=true|access-date=April 4, 2023}} |
{{album chart|Switzerland|52|artist=Fall Out Boy|album=So Much (for) Stardust|rowheader=true|access-date=April 2, 2023}} |
{{album chart|UK2|3|date=20230331|rowheader=true|access-date=March 31, 2023}} |
{{album chart|UKRock|1|date=20230331|rowheader=true|access-date=March 31, 2023|refname=UKRock}} |
{{album chart|Billboard200|6|artist=Fall Out Boy|rowheader=true|access-date=April 4, 2023}} |
{{album chart|BillboardAlternative|2|artist=Fall Out Boy|rowheader=true|access-date=April 4, 2023}} |
{{album chart|BillboardRock|1|artist=Fall Out Boy|rowheader=true|access-date=April 4, 2023}} |
{{col-2}}
=Year-end charts=
class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
|+ Year-end chart performance for So Much (for) Stardust ! scope="col"| Chart (2023) ! scope="col"| Position |
scope="row"| UK Cassette Albums (OCC){{Cite web|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/the-official-top-20-biggest-cassettes-of-2023/|title=The Official Top 20 biggest cassettes of 2023|publisher=Official Charts Company|last=Griffiths|first=George|date=January 3, 2024|access-date=January 11, 2024}}
| 19 |
---|
scope="row"| US Top Current Album Sales (Billboard){{Cite web|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2023/current-albums/|title=Year-End Charts: Top Current Album Sales (2023)|magazine=Billboard|access-date=April 13, 2024}}
| 52 |
scope="row"| US Top Rock Albums (Billboard){{Cite web|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2023/top-rock-albums/|title=Year-End Charts: Top Rock Albums (2023)|magazine=Billboard|access-date=November 23, 2023}}
| 46 |
{{col-end}}
Notes
{{notelist}}