Fall Out Boy, Song of the “Centuries”

After a cryptic, six second, Morse code video was released on Fall Out Boy’s VEVO, the entire world wanted to know what it meant. The band was quick to enlighten us – although not their blackened social media icons: “Centuries”, their next single! They just finished off touring Save Rock And Roll and apparently the pop-punk quartet, who are notorious for experimenting with new styles, had been writing on the road!

If the quiet chanting in the beginning sounds eerily familiar to you, that’s because it should be. Not only is it the well-known melody from 1987 hit “Tom’s Diner” by Suzanne Vega, but it is sung by someone most Fall Out Boy fans will recognize: the very same LOLO that performed “Miss Jackson” with Panic! At the Disco on Too Weird To Live, Too Rare To Die! I recommend you familiar yourself with the original if you haven’t already; homage is kind of why they featured the bit.

I listed the lyrics below because I feel they, like most Fall Out Boy lyrics, are a defining feature, and I’m more happy with this song than I was for most of Save Rock and Roll. Feedback? Here’s the song

After this familiar segment, it cuts right into the powerful, chanting chorus with and pretty piano melody in the background along with clapping in the form of quarter notes.

“Some legends are told

 Some turn to dust or to gold

 But you will remember me

 Remember me, for centuries

 Just one mistake

 is all it will take

 We’ll go down in history

 Remember me for centuries”

The verses follow Fall Out Boys reliably unpredictability, with an unique rock vocal style backed by a pop beat.

“Mollify my teenage dreams

No, it’s nothing wrong with me

The kids are all wrong

The stories are off

Heavy-metal broke my heart

Come on, come on, and let me in

 Bruises on your thighs like fingerprints

 This is for tonight, the darkness that you felt

 I never meant for you to fix yourself”

The first verse was my favorite for no particular reason, although I love the word mollify.

You have to enjoy that strange thing Patrick does to the word amnesia. More of that Fall Out Boy spontaneity.

“And I can’t stop till the whole world knows my name

 Cause I was only bold inside my dreams

 Until you die for me, as long as there’s a light

 My shadow’s over you cause I, I am

 the opposite of amnesia

 and you’re a cherry blossom, you’re about to bloom

 You look so pretty but you’re gone so soon”

The most interesting part of this song’s lyrics is the big bridge,

 “We’ve been here forever

 And here’s the frozen fruit

 I could scream forever

 We are the poisoned youth”

If you consider the post Fall Out Boy made on their website when the song was released, it’s really interesting that you can connect their biblical reference of David and Goliath to these lines. At least I think so.

All in all, the song speaks for itself. The vocals, the interesting use of backing sounds and instruments, it seems like it should feel generic but it’s so unique Fall Out Boy. It is an experiment. It is an anthem. It is a promise from Fall Out Boy, but also a call to action. Pick up your weapon, no matter what style or denotation, and fight with it.

Oh and seriously, what is up with the thing on the wrist of their cover art?

What do you think?

Xoxo,

Radium Rollercoaster

Paramore: Paramore Album Review

One of the biggest female-fronted bands of this generation and THE biggest female-fronted band of their genre, Franklin-based Paramore seems indestructible. But when the Farro brothers left, many fans weren’t sure of what would happen to the punk-pop group. Would the band fall apart without what fans considered an essential part to the band, or would they- like a phoenix- rise from their metaphorical ashes and come back with the hardest hitting album of their career and 2013?

“Now”, however, all anticipation is over! Two singles and undoubtedly much work later, Paramore is proud to present Paramore, their self-titled album. The title may seem self-absorbed, but it represents the beautiful transformation of maturity the band has gone through, and it expresses their new sound and their new direction.

This is still Paramore. It’s undeniable that change is apparent in these songs, but they are made with love and inspiration, something that I think all fans can appreciate. Whether your favorite song is Misery Business, Emergency, or The Only Exception, you’ll love Paramore.

The album has all sorts of dynamic, with interludes that sound like nevershoutnever with a 50’s flair, tuned that sound inspired by all sorts of artists like My Chemical Romance- who’s “Na Na Na” can be compared to the driving anthem “Now”-, P!nk-whose bluesy vocal style Hayley matches in the meaningful, relatable “Grow Up”, Florence and The Machine- “Last Hope” sounds a lot like the airy style they usually bring to their records, and even Michael Jackson- which the dancing, spiteful “Ain’t It Fun” reminds me of personally. Even “Fast In My Car”, which wasn’t my favorite on the record, sounded like “Automatic Systematic Habit” in its techno characteristics and style.

The album is lyrically important to Hayley, Jeremy, and Taylor, and you can tell that in some form each song is directly from the heart of at least one of them. “Fast In My Car” was definitely a shout out to the Farro brothers, with the lines “  “The three of us were initiates/we had to learn how to deal/ and when we spotted a second chance/ we had to learn how to steal.” My second favorite on the record, “Daydreaming”, has really powerful meaning and most teenagers will be able to connect with the verse, “Not that I won’t remember where I’m from/ Just don’t wanna be here no more”.

There was a pretty big difference in style from not only previous albums but the tracks from this record itself. “Let The Flames Begin” doesn’t really stand out, and neither does “Hate To See Your Heart Break”, or “Future”, but they are the songs you really have to listen to in order to appreciate. I will point out that the almost tango “(One of Those) Crazy Girls” is only distinctive because the lyrics throw you off like Blondie’s “One Way (Or Another)”. Contrary-wise, there are a few songs that are just super upbeat and perfect for dancing. “Anklebiters” has a really punk rock beginning and would be perfect for a jumping crowd, and “Proof” has the bite that reminds me of “Feeling Sorry”, along with “Be Alone”. My personal favorite was the upbeat love song, “Still Into You” which had an Aerosmith edge with style and an impressive bridge that is the pinnacle of Hayley’s vocals for the album in my opinion.

In some ways, Paramore is a lot more pop then older albums, but it’s heartfelt and determined, and you can tell the trio put in a lot of work to make this exactly what they wanted and what they thought would be the best direction. Because of its diversity, not everyone is going to have the same favorite and least favorite songs from this album, but that’s what makes it even better. Everyone is going to love the album for different reasons, and everyone is going to connect with a different song. I love it and think it’s safe to say it has definitely set the bar for future music they will make.

What do you think?

Radium Rollercoaster

Xoxo,

Radium Rollercoaster

Album Review: Memphis May Fire’s Challenger

Title: Challenger

Artist: Memphis May Fire

Release Date: June 26th, 2012

Album #: 3

Rating: 8 out of 10

Album Art for “Challenger”

Even after nearly a year, this album proceeds to be one of the top albums on my listening list, for many reasons. I feel that the blend between screams and clean vocals is phenomenal, along with the emotional pull that I get from the lyrics themselves and the great instrumentals really make the album one of the best from 2012 and it’s a great marker of Memphis May Fire’s overall talent and potential. Not that they couldn’t do better, but they definitely raised the bar in my opinion.

Here are a few songs that demonstrate the album’s high points.

Prove Me Right: In what may or may not be a direct attack toward record companies, quite frankly corporations in general or even false individuals, MMF takes a stand for themselves and inspires people to do the same. I think that this song exudes a lot of anger in a very feisty yet serious manner that many people can pull emotion from.

Generation: Hate: With a new generation of technology comes a new generation of hatred and bullying which is found in every facet of the internet. At the same time as degrading these people, MMF attacks their anti-fans and the people that define the term “cyberbullying”.

Alive In The Lights: Everyone who has a dream knows someone else that feels like their only job is to lower the self-esteem of the dreamer until they have nothing left inside of them. MMF takes the understanding of hate and pain into proof that no matter what anyone else says, you are allowed to live your life the way you want and achieve what you want to do.

Miles Away: Many musicians write love songs, but how many can take real emotion and experience and transform it into a non-conforming love song? This song presents a real, unique perspective of a musician torn between music and love, with just barely less fluff. Kellin Quinn’s vocals do not harm this song in my opinion.

All in all I think this album reaches out to this generation of fans in a way that most disconnected bands are failing to do. I would like to see MMF keep moving forward in their music yet stay completely true to themselves and of course their dedicated fans.

All of the tracks on this album are on Rise Records’ Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/user/riserecords/videos?flow=grid&view

Let me know your opinion!

Xoxo,

Radium Rollercoaster

Fall Out Boy Back With A Mission: Save Rock And Roll

The early morning of February 4^th, 2013 saw an uproar of fans all over the world with this news: Fall Out Boy is back. The group had been denying all rumors (including a tweet from blessthefall’s Beau Bokan) about their reunion until their producer Butch Walker finally revealed the truth: the band had been recording for a while and the record (Save Rock And Roll) was scheduled to be out on May 5^th, 2013. This announcement came with a song, “My Songs Know What You Did In The Dark (Light Em Up)”, and tour dates!

After five albums and then a four year hiatus, many critics are probably wondering, “When is Fall Out Boy going to fall?” And the answer is simple: never. Unlike many “sell-out” bands or bands that have had one too many lineup changes, Fall Out Boy stays true to themselves in their first song released. Is there a change in sound? Of course, there’s a difference, but if they were to play the same music on every record, they would not be respected and adored by so many people around the world.

There’s a reason, however, that I as a music aficionado believe that the new Fall Out Boy record will be nothing but classic. Start with the title of this first track. “My Songs Know What You Did In The Dark (Light Em Up)”. This sounds exactly like a title from any other record they had ever produced. While this song itself may be a little slower than your favorite Fall Out Boy song, the style is the same. Patrick’s range and stuttering vocal pattern takes you away from his “Soul Punk” and back to the Fall Out Boy of 2009 with “Folie à Deux”.

There’s nothing about this reunion that promises anything but an amazing comeback of a band that started off a line of records that still echo in the IPods everywhere. I don’t doubt the quality of this record at all.

Let’s Save Rock And Roll, Fall Out Boy.

Xoxo,

Radium Rollercoaster

Papa Roach Is Still Swingin’

The Connection is Papa Roach’s seventh studio album; it was released on October 2nd, 2012. It was produced by James Michael, the M in Sixx.A.M. The question you might be asking yourself is this: “After seven albums, Papa Roach has probably done everything they can. Are they still making new music, and is it worth listening to?”

The answer is yes, most definitely yes. From “Still Swinging” alone [the album’s first single], you can see that Papa Roach is far from done with music and their band. The introduction guitar riffs are scattered and more chaotic than the power chords of older Papa Roach music. The vocals in the beginning (and through most of the song) are powerful and loud, yet breathy and coarse at the same time. The distortion makes the voice seem farther away, and don’t read TOO much into my perspective, but I believe that it represents the album itself because the whole song seems like from far away, and the album represents the connection between the band and fans.

The lyrics are just as well equipped as the instrumentals, it’s simply wrote but in a way that the message is clear. Papa Roach is not dead, they are not fading away, and they are “never coming down”. Papa Roach can still kick butt and they will because “P Roach is the new black”. It’s a call to arms for Papa Roach fans. The only thing I do not like about it is the synth/bass part in the ending of the song. It seems like a very common thing to do, and it is not really related to what one thinks of when they think of Papa Roach. But it is small and irrelevant to the point that you will most likely never realize it is there.

All in all, Papa Roach is back on the scene. ❤

Xoxo Radium Rollercoaster

Sleeping With Sirens: Roger Rabbit Music Video

Yesterday, MTVU released a new music video: specifically “Roger Rabbit” by Sleeping With Sirens, my favorite song from their newest EP If You Were A Movie, This Would Be Your Soundtrack. Now, while the song may have many interpretations, the music video doesn’t give it a meaning; it gives it a feeling. All the video is composed of is a beach, the ocean, some grass, the band, and a dog. It seems boring but watching the interactions and simply enjoying the video gives the song more ambience without completely trying to steer your perception of the song away from YOUR perception. Simple, but it does the job. Enjoy!

Xoxo Radium

Punk Goes Pop 5: Hit Or Miss?

Last week, a video uploaded by Bryan Stars brought up the question: Why is Punk Goes Pop so popular? “I think it’s because, as music fans who genuinely love like punk music, we don’t understand why people like One Direction and Justin Bieber and all the other garbage we hear on the radio, and we love it when they take songs that everyone else like, and actually make them god. Because then we can actually understand ‘oh that’s why they like it.’”

This is almost the perfect explanation. Punk Goes Pop takes songs that we all know (even if not by choice) and gives them more personality and spice that we personally can relate to because we like these bands. We like to show that our favorite bands can take a Jason Derulo, Lady Gaga (although I am guilty of actually liking her), or even a Miley Cyrus song and give it a bass drop or make it faster, when most pop musicians just can’t take a Breathe Carolina or A Day to Remember song and cover it.

From the first to the fourth I have been in love with 95% of what comes out of Punk Goes Pop. Most of them turn out to be amazing. Reviewing the two released songs of Punk Goes Pop 5, I’m questioning whether or not the album will turn out to be a huge success, or will the masses of “punk” lovers turn away from it?

The first song I listened to was Upon This Dawning’s cover of “Call Me Maybe”. Being unfamiliar with the band, I took a minute to scan through a couple of songs. I have one word: Hardcore. It’s farther away from punk than most rock genres, but that perception was skewered a while ago, so I judge little on that. In a nutshell, this cover is also hardcore. I present this argument: the lyrics themselves were meant for little more than a colorful rock song. The constant screaming leaves little more for Punk Goes Pop fans than to smirk at how much ‘better’ this genre is than pop. Radium…is not impressed.

Memphis May Fire picks up the slack with Grenade. The verses and choruses are a rock-ified version of Bruno Mars’ original, with Matty’s vocals adding personality with vocal runs and the screaming during the bridge’s drop.  The lyrics fit with an angry-yet sensitive rock musician, and the instrumentals are great. I like this cover.

So, with two covers of different styles (and for me, different opinions), and songs from recent radio “Glad You Came” covered by We Came as Romans, “Boyfriend” covered by Issues, and “Payphone” covered by Crown the Empire, and older songs “Billie Jean” covered by Breathe Carolina and “Girls Just Want To Have Fun” covered by The Maine-  this new Punk Goes Pop could go any which direction. What do YOU think?

Xoxo Radium

Just Give Me A Reason

Recently P!nk has uploaded lyric videos to all the songs on her new album. I enjoyed her first single, “Blow Me (One Last Kiss)”, and went to check out the rest of the songs. I think one of the most impressive tracks was “Just Give Me A Reason.” The song starts out with a slow piano part, with P!nk singing softly. It’s an unfamiliar sound to her, but I think it sounds really pretty.

Then there’s the part where the drums come in and it picks up the pace a little. A voice, a very specific voice, joins in with her melody like Steven Tyler’s sneak appearance in “Misery”. The sound of the sound fits this voice perfectly, and the two- male and female- voices harmonize perfectly. The lyrics fit both musicians, the other being Nate Ruess, the frontman for new popular band Fun. It reminds me of “Some Nights” another song I am absoulutely obsessed with. Fun is definitely bringing around a new sound of music, and P!nk’s voice is beautiful with range and emotion. I love this song and I think that people will remember it for awhile after the album’s popularity is gone.

Xoxo Radium Rollercoaster