Fall Out Boy Champions A Thirst For Rock Anthems

Fall Out Boy pulls no punches as it pertains to "Champion", the first single from its new "Mania" album. Patrick Stump belts out Rocky styled motivational tricks and, given the masculine make up of Fall Out Boy's core audience I'd say the tricks are highly effective. Joe Trohman deserves to receive better than unsung hero cred for the blazing guitar work he offers. Pairing Patrick's authoritative tonsil flashing with Joe's surgically precise chords is an exercise in brilliance. Midway through the song Joe has pretty much assured you that "Champion" gives you your money's worth and then some. Let's not forget the well placed drumming from Andy Hurley. No inspirational ditty would be complete without that. Simply put, he answers the call marvelously. So....can a song that's only 3 minutes 12 seconds in duration really motivate you to kick off the covers and put your dreams into action? In this case, yes. Fall Out Boy has the good sense not to beat around the bush. A good strong dose of "Live through this" powers the band's desire not to let limitations define it. Instead it forges forward bravely in its quest to conquer the rock world. Pete is ballsy enough to let us know he's still young enough to believe in dreams and to have the stones to question what in the world he should believe in. The video is filled to the brim with amplified gusto. You wouldn't expect inertia to spill into the recording studio now would you? Take the wheel of your life themes aren't new to the music universe but in Fall Out Boy's hands some extra zing carries the moment. Patrick utters pleasantries from the future implying the fog of the past gives him a massive headache. I can champion "Champion" because it's a concentrated burst of timely energy that, though not too similar from the self help rock songs of the past, remains worth listening to when your holstered gun has proven it fires only blanks.