Growing Up with Genevieve Stokes

Genevieve Stokes’ music became the backdrop to a pivotal moment in my life—leaving behind the town I once longed to escape, only to realize its quiet beauty in my final moments there. Swimming Lessons played as I drove away from Stonington, Connecticut, capturing the bittersweet feeling of moving forward while still being tethered to the past. Now, with With a Lightning Strike in the background, I reflect on the style of her music and how that continues to shape my personal journey.

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12 Years Strong: Fall Out Boy’s Save Rock and Roll

I was too young to remember the hiatus after Folie au Deux and I’m just barely old enough to remember the release of Save Rock and Roll and American Beauty/American Psycho. However, SRAR turns 12 on April 16 and I want to commemorate this beautiful album on its last tween year. Save Rock and Roll was an epic album for Fall Out Boy to return with. Featuring artists like Elton John, Big Sean, Courtney Love and Foxes, this 11-track album was a passion project from start to finish. Many think of this album as “the one with ‘Light Em Up’ on it” but true fans know it as the one with the “Young Blood Chronicles” — a post-apocalyptic video series where the band members die and end up saving rock and roll with Elton John, or God, in the end. The videos themselves are gory, but still worth the watch (in fact, many fans theorize that in later videos, the reason all the “blood” is glitter is because of how much was used in this series). It’s goofy and out of place and everything Fall Out Boy has been known for in their entire 24 year career.

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