April 2017: New Music

One of my favorite parts of spring is the new music announcements that come along with it. Unfortunately, this year instead of that feeling of joy that comes with new, exciting music, I feel a lot of frustration and anger towards the industry, in spite of announcements from legendary bands like Fall Out Boy and Paramore.

When Paramore announced a new song and an album, I knew it could go one of two ways. Way one involved the band returning to their rock roots and release an album more in the vein of brand new eyes or Riot! Way two involved the band further pursuing the sound they introduced on their 2013 self-titled album. The band opted for the latter.

For a band that is made up of three ridiculously talented musicians, it is upsetting to watch Paramore waste their talent. The band’s new song “Hard Times” off their upcoming album After Laughter shows a new Paramore with a new sound. While fans may choose to identify the song as having an “indie-rock” feel, I can’t help but think the song is nothing but disco pop-radio trash. The song lacks both substance and musical ingenuity. It’s hard to believe that the same people who wrote the cutting song Misery Business wrote this boring, repetitive uninspired song. It is disheartening to hear a talented guitarist like Taylor York be reduced to playing the utterly simplistic riff (if you could even call it that). While their self titled album appeared to indicate Paramore testing the waters of indie rock, this new single confirms that Paramore is beginning to move in the direction of making music that sells rather than music that is inspired. I seem to be in the minority with this opinion however. Paramore fans have embraced the band’s new sound and new direction, but I worry fans may be too close to the subject to take a step back and tell the band how they really feel. I’m not scared to admit that I think the new song is catchy, but is its not good. I am disappointed with Paramore, but at the end of the day, if the band is pleased with what they’re making, I can’t really hold it against them.

If you had told me in 2010 that Fall Out Boy would return to music and would have put out three new albums by the year 2017, I would have been over the moon. Flash-forward to April 28, 2017 when Fall Out Boy announced their album since their return from hiatus and I can barely muster enough energy to care. Fall Out Boy released a new single this spring called “Young And Menace” off their upcoming album M A N I A. After the disaster that was American Beauty//American Psycho, I was more than skeptical about their new song. Turns out my skepticism was justified. If Paramore’s new song is disco pop-radio trash, Fall Out Boy’s song is the equivalent of a 15 year old kid messing around with garageband on a Thursday night to avoid to doing the dishes. I mean this with every ounce of my being: The new Fall Out Boy song is absolutely terrible. It is an insult to the fans. “Young And Menace” starts off with a sound similar to AB//AP but then dives head first into a weird techno/electro sound. There is absolutely nothing “punk” about it. The vocal are heavily altered which is upsetting because lead singer Patrick Stump has one of the most impressive vocal ranges in the industry. To limit the use of such a voice is a tragedy. Bassist Pete Wentz has been known to write some of the most honest and inspiring lyrics in the pop punk community, but it appears as though he has run out of things to say or at least he has lost his knack for delivering a punch with his words. This song has no substance; there is nothing behind it. It is simple 3 minutes and 44 seconds of my life that I’ll never get back.

Since Fall Out Boy’s return from hiatus, I have had a love/hate relationship with them. Fall Out Boy was one of my favorite bands growing up. They got me into music and helped me discover a lot of other great bands. When they returned from hiatus, I was overjoyed. I saw them play their second show back in a tiny basement show at Webster Hall. I saw their world tour for Save Rock and Roll. I made sure I got to Monumentour. It was so wonderful to have my favorite band back again. However, the longer Fall Out Boy was back in the limelight, the more apparent it became that they weren’t the same band anymore. Before they went on hiatus, the band was accused of selling out. For a long time, I defended the bands actions. But enough is enough. Fall Out Boy has now become more interested in the business of making money and making songs that will get them radio air time and will help build their name. They are no longer interested in pleasing their fans. As a devout Fall Out Boy fan, I feel hurt and betrayed. Since the release of “Young And Menace” I have felt like there has been this cloud of anger following me. There has been a tiny voice gnawing away at me asking “How could Fall Out Boy do this? Don’t they care anymore?” As much as it hurts to admit, I think I (like a lot of fans) have been forced to admit that the release of “Young And Menace” is a definitive end of the Fall Out Boy we knew and loved. The band has changed so much that I barely recognize them anymore. I understand that bands change and sounds change, but Fall Out Boy’s shift in direction feels like an straight out betrayal. I’ll still listen to M A N I A when it comes out; I owe the band at least that, but I think it might be time to tell Fall Out Boy thnks fr th mmrs and accept that they have moved on and so must I.

New music announcements have been a little disappointing, but fear not! There is good news! Tigers Jaw has announced a new album entitled spin and if their first two singles are any indication, the new album is going to be fantastic. The band has released “June” and “Guardian” both of which show a band that sounds a little more upbeat when compared to their last album Charmer. I think the change in tone is reflective of the fact that Charmer was recorded with three members of the band who had stayed on to simply record the album. The singles off of spin show a band that had to fall apart to make things a little bit better. The band sounds confident and strong as they rediscover their footing.

Hopefully, the rest of the new music announcements of 2017 will be more promising. Rumor has it The Wonder Years are working on two new projects so here's hoping there'll be some new and exciting announcements from their camp soon!

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