Patrick Stump - Truant Wave Review

Patrick Stump may be most well known for his role as Fall Out Boy's slightly pudgy pop-punk vocalist, but the 26-year-old won't be letting that define his career as a musician. Since FOB's split, Stump has not only shed the pounds, long hair and hats, but has also turned his music in a whole new direction.

Late last month, Stump released, Truant Wave, his six-song solo EP via iTunes. The R&B infused record is loaded with new material that stands as both a progression from where FOB left off, and something many fans thought they would never hear.

Truant Wave opens with a quick synth beat that is more like something you'd expect to hear in a club than on the ex-punk's first solo release. There's even a whole verse that's rapped by guest artist, Alph-A-Bit. But that track certainly doesn't set the tone for the rest of the record.

Track two, "Spotlight (Oh Nostalgia)", gives hope that the Stump we all grew to love is still alive and well. It's one of two versions the artist first made available for the public to vote on a few months back. Regardless if it's the one you chose, the track stands as probably the strongest on the EP. It's uplifting lyrically and exhibits Stump's vocal talents through soaring highs and a FOB-esque bridge that will stay stuck in your head for days.

And while some of what Truant Wave offers may sound slightly like some of FOB's most experimental work, Stump is quick to point out that his new music, along with his band mate's new tunes (Black Cards, The Damned Things) has no place in the FOB empire. In an interview with The Gunz Show, Stump explained this by saying, "We were also, like, we shouldn't do either of these things with Fall Out Boy."

So naturally, Stump took his liberties when creating this EP. It incorporates the R&B side mentioned earlier, swings hard to the left on "Cute Girls" which sounds more like a Michael Jackson b-side than anything any self-conscious punk would admit to listening to, and then rounds off nicely with "Love, Selfish Love" which could actually could fit in on FOB's 2008 release, Folie A Deux.

Lyrically, it's the strongest on the album. "This is me confessing, / God bless the sad and selfish. / Stay helpless." Not bad considering Stump didn't have famed bassist Pete Wentz behind the pen and pad for this record. That's also the reason this album is a little more upbeat than what most FOB fans are used to.

And while Stump may have gone a different direction from his roots in the punk scene, he didn't lose touch with the scene entirely. He enlisted in the help of ex-Taking Back Sunday bassist, Matt Rubano for some work on various parts of the album, proving that while this music might be a long shot from anything "Grand Theft Autumn" related, Stump hasn't turned his back on his fans.

And for those who thought Stump had a full length release in his agenda, it's also important to note that that album, Soul Punk, is still scheduled for release at some point later in the year.