Note From The Editor: This article was written by my 13 old son. We both share a love for the work of Patrick Schneeweis. Naturally my son was super hyped about the new Friends In Real Life album and thought he would try his hand at doing what I do. Please enjoy his review.
Artist: Friends In Real Life
Album: ??? ??A??????
Music Video: Johnson Road
Released: March 06, 2026; Self Release
Johnson Road is the first single from Friends In Real Life’s new album, and if it’s anything like the first album, it will be bliss. The song brings upbeat, cheerful story telling despite being on real world issues. The song focuses on a nature loving office worker, as said by the description of the official music video, who faces a difficult decision that changes his life.
The horns and upbeat music really transfer you into the moment. It makes you feel what it means when Pat says “I got a low fuel light down on Johnson Road”. As the story progresses, it goes on to say that sure, not everyone has time, but you gotta be in the moment and witness the world’s “marvels”. The song is very chill, Pat has a calming voice and it is just the kind of song to listen to if you need to get out of a funk.
Due to Datacorps plans, the office worker stands up and quits. This particular action really lets us see the person he is because sure, he could just let them build the datacenter, and they probably still will, if this was real, but it’s actions like these that really drive home that he wants to protect the nature that he loves. It made me realize in a way that maybe more music is like storytelling. Pat could have written it, so if he didn’t stand up, the datacenter was built.
Theme, see the theme would have changed because of it. It could have gone from cheery and upbeat to sad and reconciling, but Pat didn’t write it like that and due to that the song has a stronger narrative and overall impact.
Friends In Real Life’s Johnson Road shows the challenges we face in society and the things we can do to handle it. The music video shows great cinematics and further explains the story they are trying to tell. Despite all of this, the story is incomplete because it is but one of a series, so I can’t wait to listen, watch and maybe even review the others.