The Oswegonian

The Independent Student Newspaper of Oswego State

DATE

May. 8, 2024 

PRINT EDITION

| Read the Print Edition

Laker Review Music

Fall Out Boy releases new album ‘Believers Never Die…’

American rock and punk band Fall Out Boy dropped a new album titled “Believers Never Die…” in order to end this year on a high note. While the album mostly recovers songs that had already been covered in their 2013 studio album “Save Rock and Roll,” it will delight fans with some unexpected surprises. Containing some of their infamous tunes such as “My Songs Know What You Did In The Dark,” “Alone Together” or “Immortals,” listeners will have to scroll all the way down in order to catch the new releases.

The first extract comes in the form of the 11th track, “I’ve Been Waiting,” featuring the late Lil Peep (“Broken Smile”). Beginning with a catchy upbeat, an unaccented beat preceding an accented beat, it is sure to get music-holics up on their feet. In terms of the beat, it blends both drums and a slight electric beat in a subtle, perfect way that will make listeners put this one on repeat for a long time. Despite its explicit lyrics, it is the only song in the album marked as containing inadequate verbiage, the tune lyrics allude to the artists’ love for someone or something, although this part is not clear enough. There are certain clues in the lyrics such as the use of the words “needle,” “addicted” or “blood” that altogether point to consumption of some sort.

The second pick might be noticeably the shortest track out all of those included in the compilation, yet that does not mean it is not as energetic as the rest. “Dear Future Self,” which is seeded as the album’s 12th track, too refers to the possible side effects of an addiction to drugs. Essentially, the lyrics talk about how vocalist Patrick Stump may have faced in the past or currently embraces. As a result of such problems, Stump indicates money-related troubles, and a clear example of this can be found in the song’s pre-chorus. “We prepared for the turbulence / But there’s no preparing for this / Got paid on Tuesday, but I’m still broke when the weekend ends” are perfect proof of such.  

Last but not least, is the album’s closing track, “Bob Dylan.” Marked by a powerful mix of guitars and drums, it almost points more towards the direction of a punk track rather than just rock. The lyrics discuss vocalist Stump’s desperate search for a lover that will accept him as he is. The reason for the track’s title is that, back in the day, everyone loved Bob Dylan as he was and therefore Stump asks his lover for that sort of respect. From beginning to end, Stump compares him to celebrities aside from Dylan and the type of lifestyle that all of them have in common. The song’s chorus even questions if his lover would “bury him next to Johnny Cash,” suggesting such desperate search for a much needed love in his life.

Image from Fall Out Boy via YouTube