The mid- to late-2000s was a very strange time for music. Boys in tight pants with even tighter heartstrings wouldn’t stop complaining about, well, everything.

Panic! At The Disco was upset with whoever left that door open in “I Write Sins Not Tragedies.” Hayley Williams tried not to brag but totally failed in Paramore’s “Misery Business.”

But the kings of emo-pop were Chicago-based Fall Out Boy.

They had the look, the sound and lyricist-bassist Pete Wentz to reign supreme in the scene. Then, after four successful studio albums, the band members went their separate ways.

Luckily for fans, those of Fall Out Boy put away their solo careers and side projects to get back together. This Monday, their new album, titled “Save Rock And Roll,” started live-streaming on the band’s website. It will officially be available on iTunes next week.

Apparently, the band is trying to save rock n’ roll by remaking it. The boys took everything they started on their former albums, matured the sound and added more enthusiasm than anyone could ever expect. These were the emo kids in high school after all, but now they’re all grown up.

Although the band was pop culture fodder, there’s a lot you can learn from its reunion, especially with the G-word — graduation — creeping closer.

Despite the FOB lyric, “Never means forever” from the song “Alpha Dog,” whenever someone says “never again,” it actually means “until later.”

When the band went on an “indefinite hiatus” back in 2009, its members started other projects. Adorable singer Patrick Stump tried a solo career. Pete Wentz — eyeliner and all — started an electronic-reggae band called The Black Cards, and that venture went as badly as you could expect. Finally, guitarist Joe Trohman and drummer Andy Hurley started a heavy metal group.

The former superstars never saw any of the success or recognition they received with Fall Out Boy. Now, here they are, back together and making radio-friendly music.

Since college students probably can’t reunite with world-famous band mates when the world seems bleak, they usually settle for an old flame.

You might swear you’re going on a “break,” like Fall Out Boy, with your significant other. But once you’ve finished one too many Long Island Iced Teas at Chuck’s Cafe or are going through a particularly dry spell, there’s a good chance you’ll iMessage him or her in no time. Eventually, there’s going to be a reunion.

Even the themes throughout the album are rooted in remnants of the past. Both classic lyrics “Until your breathing stops” from the song “Chicago is So Two Years Ago” and “Goin’ Down Swinging” from the band’s first radio hit are featured in the new album’s closing song, “Save Rock and Roll.”

When FOB got back together once life became boring, they also opened themselves up to new people and sounds, too.

“Save Rock and Roll” features rapper Big Sean, Courtney Love and British duo Foxes, while Elton freakin’ John closes the whole album. I can’t be the only one that didn’t see that coming.

But for college students, it proves you can never be sure of where life will take you. I doubt Fall Out Boy expected Adele openings and dubstep flavor to power any of their albums. But that’s exactly what you’ll find in “Save Rock and Roll.”

Going into the great unknown, embrace anything that inspires you — even if you would expect yourself to hate it. Growing up is about accepting the new while respecting the past — which is exactly what Fall Out Boy did with the album.

Who would’ve ever expected those whiny guys from the Chicago emo band could be this wise?

Ariana Romero is a junior magazine journalism and political science major. Her column appears every week. She can be reached at akromero@syr.edu or followed on Twitter at @ArianaRomero17.

Published on April 11, 2013 at 1:26 am