Fall Out Boy's Latest Holds Your Attention Nicely

The reliable Fall Out Boy has built its cred on big production numbers like "This Ain't A Scene, It's An Arms Race" and "Thnks fr th Mmrs" so to hear them come out with a Dio De Los Muertos spicy bonbon like the brand new "Hold Me Tight Or Don't" strikes me as being the ultimate change-up. Of course the usual Fall Out Boy elements are represented. Vocalist Patrick Stumpf's vocals come in loud and clear and his rhythm guitar playing benefits the effort greatly. Drummer Andy Hurley proves he's right at home with both programmed or organic drum beats. He really puts his best foot forward kicking out attitude wherever and however he can. I'm digging the whistle opening at the intro. It showcases the FOB sass we've come to know and love. The chorus never fails to be infectious. It feels like an old friend who's stopped in for a visit. Amidst the Dio de los Muertos dancers, Pete vows this isn't how the story ends, that he and his lady were more confidants than friends. Is it possible to be in a gay mood with Day of the Dead spookiness looming in the background? Appears only Fall Out Boy could make that dream a reality. Pete Wentz lays down the law on bass. Kind of the smooth undercurrent to this ritmo caliente. When the sound gets reduced to clap along fun you could almost hear the sultry Sonora breeze lilting in the dusk air. You can't beat the pacing because it's kicking into high gear before you have a chance to freshen up your margarita glass. "Hold Me Tight Or Don't" thrives when it opts to stay in fourth gear. You want to party well into the wee hours of the morning. This song's D chord was an excellent choice by the powers that be, be they label brass or FOB itself. Again it's an element that begs for somebody to get a fiesta going...pronto. Lyrically my choice for best line would have to be "And when your stitch comes loose I want to sleep on every piece of fuzz that comes out and stuffing that comes out of you." Highly romantic, yes? Anyway Fall Out Boy delivers high quality steam while staying true to its schoolboy swagger. "Hold Me Tight Or Don't merits much more than a listen in passing. Check it out as part of the M A N I A album due out January 19th.

Bastille Proves That Sometimes Madness Pays Off

Wisely calibrated intensity marks the return of the British band you know to be Bastille with what to these ears is one of their strongest efforts to date. "World Gone Mad" pulls out all of the melodramatic stops but because it's not crammed down our throats the effectiveness resounds in spades. Vocalist Dan Smith serves as our guide through the urban carnage using his beautiful pipes as kind of a beacon in uncertain times. He has the talent to cut through the muck which makes us all the wiser for it. "World Gone Mad" starts off in an acoustic vein, sneaking up on us like a cat burglar in the dead of night. The beat sways along confidently as Mr. Smith elaborates on how our collective journey didn't get us to the destination we were hoping for. Essentially the mad world has been divided into two halves, one half not even inclined to care how society's fabric is unraveling. Will Farquarson's acoustic guitar makes Dan's caustic commentary go down smoother. At the 1:30 mark, Chris "Woody" Wood enters the fray on drums. Again, nothing overly flashy to throw in, simply efficient timekeeping that lends gravitas to this outing. "World Gone Mad" stays in the same warm color wheel color throughout and so while the messages may be relentless the beat lends you a hand through the maze. Kyle Simmons ably lends his guitar to the mix and again the power of the song benefits. Can't even begin to do justice to the earwig inducing chorus. Though it may be one of the absolute last rock efforts of 2017, Bastille saved its best for last. The video also ratchets up the drama level to a noticeable degree. A stage has been set and we're glued to our seats watching the drama unfold. "World Gone Mad" doesn't overstay its welcome, clocking in on the north side of 3 minutes 37 seconds. You want that in your rugged troubadours, tell us something and be quick about it. The song lays itself out in three different parts: First comes acoustic followed by the second verse's drum kicking into gear. At the climax Bastille goes all symphonic convergence on us. It's a masterstroke of genius. Bastille doesn't know how to make a boring song. "A World Gone Mad" deserves mention in the pantheon of Bastille classics.