“We Were Doomed From The Start (The King Is Dead)” is the first song on Fall Out Boy’s new EP album, called “PAX AM Days.” And wow, is it fitting. The album was produced by Ryan Adams, previously a member of the alternative country band Whiskeytown.  Already a bad sign, right? They recorded the mini-album, comprised of only eight very short songs, at Adams’s own recording studio named PAX AM Studio, hence the name.

Fall Out Boy returned from their four-year hiatus with the album “Save Rock And Roll” earlier this year, and blew their fans away. There was a lot of worry that the band was going to change when they came back, that they were going to lose their harsh and perfect pop-punk synthesized angst-y glory rock sound, but “Save Rock And Roll” was perfect, and Fall Out Boy returned to their rightful place at the top of the charts.

As it turns out, all that worrying wasn’t for nothing. Fall Out Boy has followed up their brilliant comeback with an EP consisting of what is quite possibly the worst-sounding music they have ever released.

It’s completely different from anything we’ve heard from them before. The sound is a lot more raw, and not in their usual emotional emo-rock way, either. It just sounds unpolished. The bulk of every song is nearly drowned out by the rough guitar, and what singing you can make out is gravelly, unmelodious and meaningless. The few drum and guitar solos are repetitive and awkward, and there isn’t a single decent chorus to be found anywhere on the album. Fall Out Boy has ditched the electric pop, gone for a classic rock/garage band sound, and totally butchered it.

Who knows? They might just be able to rise from this, like a phoenix. They really could save rock and roll. But if they don’t, this album just might mark the end of my dedication to the band.  Oh Fall Out Boy, how the mighty fall. Just one yesterday, you meant the world to me.  I used to dance, dance my heart out to your songs. But now I don’t care. I listened to your album, and I’ve got all this ringing in my ears and none on my fingers. I don’t know how to tell you this. You’re crashing, but you’re no wave. Sugar, we’re going down. Now in my mind, your fame is less than infamy.  So goodbye for now, Fall Out Boy, and thnks fr th mmrs.