This past week has been the most stressful for the city of Boston because of the public transit being in complete disarray, the national guard coming to help clear out the massive amounts of snow (FYI there is no where to put it), and the amount of inhumanity I have seen in a long time; all in one week. Needless to say, I have been spending an exorbitant amount of time on the public transit where lately it takes me about two and half hours to get work and another two and half hours to get home. I have learned that my kindle is my godsend and my iPod is my savor; they have both gotten a workout trying to keep me sane. For those of you who don’t live in Boston, the commute is comparable to the reaction of George Feeny and Corey Matthews in “Boy Meets World” after they ride a death defying roller coaster. Basically an entire city speechless and wanting to scream…a lot.
On my lovely commute, I have had a lot of time to spend in my head. Have you ever had the music you are listening to become the soundtrack of your life, and you create this giant story line in your head from the people you meet throughout the day, then base everything on the lyrics and music on your playlist? Fall Out Boy’s new album “American Beauty/ American Psycho” has done just that. Fall Out Boy’s catalog has been in my music selection since their first album in 2003 “Take This to Your Grave.” Patrick Stump has a voice that you can get lost in and the band has become inventive with playing with voice pitches during choruses and harmonies as well as connecting with the digital synth technology and combining that with their rock sound makes for an edge to their new album.
The trumpet type sound that comes in on “Irresistible” creates a powerhouse introduction on what to expect is going to be big, and in Boston’s case it’s a transportation war. Stump sings, “Too many war wounds and not enough wars, Too few rounds in the ring and not enough settled scores.” As a city drowns in snow the day must go on even though it has been a constant struggle to get to work or home, but this city is full of fighters and as this thought rolls through my head “Immortal” begins to play. Stump says “Sometimes the only payoff for having any faith, Is when it’s tested again and again everyday” and with this line I see an old women get pushed over at a shuttle stop. As I helped her up it brought me to a realization that you can be someone’s superhero by having compassion and even for a moment you can be immortal. As my shuttle commute came to an end “Favorite Record” began to play, and as the guitar came in it reminded me of dancing with my friends at home this past Christmas to old school hip-hop and rock ‘n’ roll, which made my frustration subside for a moment. The thought of a simple moment in time can make you laugh no matter how bad your day has been and bring you to a moment of peace.
Fall Out Boy, you showed me that music can bring you out of the dark, gave me a soundtrack that brought me back from the edge of this horrible transportation week, and are continuing to push the boundaries of your music through new technologies, power brass instruments, and lyrics that brought me back to a place of humanity. “You were the song stuck in my head. Every song I’ver ever loved, played again and again.”
Click Here for American Beauty/ American Psycho!
Dancing In Tune 