There are few things in life that I love more than a good, solid comeback. And I don’t mean like Snoop Dogg’s name change to whatever it may be right now. I mean a comeback like a Britney-Spears-post-head-shaving comeback.
Take the opening show of the London Olympics as a prime example. When the Spice Girls hopped on stage my eyes filled with tears and my mouth sang along to inspiring, intellectual lyrics such as “Spice up your life!” What’s better than that? Nostalgia at its finest.
So, recently, when I got in the car and turned on the radio to hear a new song by Fall Out Boy, I was stunned and excited. A wave of ironic and funny lyrics, awkward screaming and just overall musical gold from years ago came rushing back into my memory. Of course the song has a super long but interesting name: “My Songs Know What You Did in the Dark.” This is their first release since 2008 and it popped up to No. 2 on the iTunes chart right away. Macklemore’s “Thrift Shop” just wouldn’t move, I guess.
Lead singer Patrick Stump is almost unrecognizable due to massive weight loss. The band claims to have changed their punk rock ways we all loved from their early 2000s albums.
But, potentially more important than the album itself is the notion behind it.
Fall Out Boy plans to save rock and roll (that’s the album title – “Save Rock and Roll”). They’ve completely changed their look. And thank goodness for leaving the black eyeliner and skinny jeans behind. No more emo teenage angst. Just pure solid rock. At least that’s what the plan is, but I haven’t bought into that yet.
But where did rock go? I have a theory: The reason country music is becoming more popular than ever is because that genre is taking rock’s place in the music industry. A scary thought. Well, exciting for me, but scary for many.
But more than anything, I just hope Pete Wentz can stay away from the hair straightener. Let the haters hate. FOB is back.