NEW MUSIC

Fall Out Boy

Folie a Deux (Island Records)
**

With Folie à Deux the reigning kings of emo raise their scepter and pick up right where they left off on 2007's Infinity On High. Their songs are (still) filled with recorded music's most infectious sing-along hooks, but they are beginning to sound rather clone-ish one to the next. For hours after the album's close its insidious choruses will reverberate around your head almost to the point of mania, but good money bets that it will take at least three tries to remember which hook comes from which song—and that's not a compliment. Guest spots from Elvis Costello (“Good Catch, Donnie”) and Debbie Harry (“West Coast Smoker”) successfully raise the stakes a wee bit, but not enough to save the album from being, more or less, a sequel to what Fall Out Boy has delivered before. —BOB WERNER

Taxi Doll

Here and Now (Antidote Media)
**1/2

From the red splotch in lead singer Dahna's platinum hair, to the skinny ties and dreadful hairstyles of the male band members, Taxi Doll's debut album Here and Now reeks of “I heart the ‘80s!” before you even press play. Fingerprints from early MTV staples Missing Persons and The Motels are all over this album, yet it is only because so many years have passed since the aforementioned bands were chartworthy that Taxi Doll can come off sounding ironically original. Breezy pop ditties like “A Little More Love” and “Notice Me” may have no more depth than a metaphorical candy dish, but it's what's in the dish that counts, and though lacking in originality, these confections are—omigod, like, totally bitchin'! —B.W.

Kylie Minogue

Boombox (Astralwerks)
***

Remixes are often ways to bilk more money from an artist's fans. And there's a bit of that in this collection of remixed Minogue, but it's also one-stop shopping for those who waste top dollar on promo-only vinyl 12-inch singles and rarities. So thank Astralwerks for packaging these dance-floor ditties in one place, and the artist herself for attracting top-notch talent. Fischerspooner's “Come Into My World” sounds like an outtake from their last release, the Chemical Brothers take on “Slow” is future-fonky, and the “Can't Get Blue Monday Out of My Head” mesh is disco for the ages. —DAN LOUGHRY

Take That

The Circus (Polydor)
**

Best known in the U.S. for spawning Robbie Williams, this U.K. boy band regrouped (Robbie-less) in 2006 to big international sales and the usual U.S. yawn. The Circus will hardly change that. It's crammed with pleasantly innocuous pop along the lines of David Archuleta (without Archuleta's generous hooks), though they do notice the real world (as witnessed on the jaunty music-hall stroll of “Hello” where they mention falling prices in the housing market!). “Greatest Day” awaits its destiny as a rom-com staple for the next few years. Otherwise, it's business as usual for a franchise that's seen better days. —D.L.

CONCERT CALENDAR

The Fab Faux

Beatlemania invades L.A., a la Beatles-tribute, making you feel like you just stepped into the days of psychedelic drawings, DayGlo colors and Volkswagen Microbuses. Orpheum Theatre. Sat., Jan. 24. 8 p.m. $49-120. 877/677-4386; ticketmaster.com

Boyz II Men

Those glorious boys of classic ’90s R&B/soul prove they’re boys no more. “Water Runs Dry,” “End of the Road,” I’ll Make Love to You” and their new works—Yes, please! Club Nokia. Fri., Jan. 16. 7:30 p.m. $21.50-56. ticketmaster.com

The Walkmen with Beach House

The New York-based indie rock band The Walkmen, with their preferred vintage-instrument sound, combine their musical talents with the boys from Baltimore to treat Angelenos to their individually unique sounds. The Music Box at the Fonda. Tue., Jan. 20. 8 p.m. $18. ticketmaster.com

Sara Lov

Hawaiian-born Lov, of the dream pop duo Devics, hits the solo road and makes a stop right here in L.A. to help launch her debut album The Young Eyes EP. Spaceland. Tue., Jan. 20. 9 p.m. $10. ticketmaster.com

Homo Must

Amy Ray

Indigo Girl Amy Ray, plays from her discography—Stag, Prom, Live from Knoxville and Didn’t It Feel Kinder—for her fans in the City of Angeles. Troubadour. Wed., Jan. 28. 8 p.m. $15. 310/276-6168; ticketmaster.com