Music Review: Fall Out Boy "This Ain't A Scene, It's An Arms Race"

Fall Out Boy

This Ain’t A Scene, It’s An Arms Race

Album: Infinity On High

Year: 2007

                  Inspired by Keltie Knight’s (of the Insider) post on her Twitter.

            Competition with his peers and fulfilling contractual obligations have gotten to Patrick Stump in the potent  “This Ain’t A Scene, It’s An Arms Race.”

             Trickling synths open the single, setting an apprehensive tone.  The record company nixed one of their tracks, stating it’s not commercial enough. The fans on the Internet are begging for another “Sugar, We’re Goin’ Down.” At this point, he’d rather go back to the clubs where the band first began playing. (“I am an arms dealer/Fitting you with weapons in the form of words/And don't really care, which side wins/As long as the room keeps singing/That's just the business I'm in.”)

            In the chorus, the competition is fierce among the other bands. Each one is trying to prove their credibility. They are doing their best to maintain some sense of who they are. Hearing complaints from their peers who are not speaking up for themselves is annoying to them. Just like their peers, there is a line they have toe. They have to do photoshoots and publicity, too. It’s a part of what they chose to do. (“This ain't a scene, it's a god damn arms race/This ain't a scene, it's a god damn arms race/This ain't a scene, it's a god damn arms race/I'm not a shoulder to cry on, but I digress/I'm a leading man/

And the lies I weave are, are oh so intricate, oh so intricate/I'm a leading man/And the lies I weave are, are oh so intricate, oh so intricate.”)

                There have been times where they band has argued with the record label over song choice, video directors, etc. Sometimes, he returns home and wants to apply for an office job. They have survived one-hit wonders and flameouts on their label. The pressure is on for them to sell. They still want to produce a good product that they can be proud of yet still be able to promote. (“I wrote the gospel of giving up/(You look pretty sinking)/But the real bombshells have already sunk (Pre-Madonnas of the gutter)/At night we're painting your trash gold while you sleep/Crashing not like hips or hearts/No, more like parties.”)

            In the second chorus, he says the yes people around them need to go. They suddenly appeared once the money started rolling in. (“This ain't a scene, it's a god damn arms race/This ain't a scene, it's a god damn arms race/This ain't a scene, it's a god damn arms race/Bandwagon's full. please, catch another/I'm a leading man/And the lies I weave are, are oh so intricate, oh so intricate/I'm a leading man/And the lies I weave are, are oh so intricate, oh so intricate.”)

               In the bridge, he wants to people to get into their music for the right reasons and enjoy it. (“All the boys who the dance floor didn't love/And all the girls whose lips couldn't move fast enough/Sing until your lungs give out.”)

          An extended chorus is sung to end the single. (“This ain't a scene, it's a god damn arms race/This ain't a scene, it's a god damn arms race (Now you)/This ain't a scene, it's a god damn arms race (Wear out the groove)/This ain't a scene, it's a god damn arms race

(Sing out loud)/This ain't a scene, it's a god damn arms race (Oh, oh)/This ain't a scene, it's a god damn arms race/I'm a leading man/And the lies I weave are, are oh so intricate, oh so intricate/I'm a leading man/And the lies I weave are, are oh so intricate, oh so intricate.”)

               Stump’s plainspoken vocals have experienced some low morale and needs to get it out. The arms dealer metaphor is unique and well-thought out. The band is fighting not to be a fad and have a career they can live with.

               The excellent “This Ain’t A Scene, It’s Arms Race” is a must listen