Fall Out Boy - Infinity On High

Band members
Patrick Stump - Vocals, Guitars
Joe Trohman - Guitar
Pete Wentz - Bass
Andy Hurley - Drums

FallOutBoyRock.com
Myspace.com/FallOutBoy



Tracklisting
1. Thriller
2. The Take Over, The Breaks Over
3. This Ain't a Scene, It's an Arms Race
4. I'm Like a Lawyer With the Way I'm Always Trying to Get You Off (me and you)
5. Hum Hallelujah
6. Golden
7. Thnks Fr Th Mmrs
8. Don't You Know Who I Think I Am?
9. The (After) Life of the Party
10. The Carpal Tunnel of Love
11. Bang the Doldrums
12. Fame < Infamy
13. You're Crashing but You're no Wave
14. I've Got All This Ringing in my Ears, But None on my Fingers

The third album from the Chicago-based "pop-punk" band, Fall Out Boy hit stores on Tuesday. The much anticipated album received mixed reviews from fans and critics. This album, quite a departure from their last release, opens with an intro from the hip-hop mogul Jay Z.
The first song, "Thriller," doesn't disappoint, with lyrics such as "our hearts beat for the die hards" it is hard to deny this is a band who loves their fans.
The album's first single, "This ain't a scene, its an arms race" is a tongue in cheek mock of all the rumors that spread like wildfire about Fall Out Boy and its members. The line, "bandwagon's full, please catch another" is obviously about the "preteen" fangirls who stumble on the band because they found pictures of Wentz and go to shows to profess their undying love for him. Surprising tracks on this album were the ballad type songs, "Golden" and "The (after) life of the party." The lyrics, written by Wentz, are still melodramatic and depressing at times, but when paired with the musical ideas from lead singer Stump, they seem to take on a new identity and sound. Most likely it will take fans time to grow to love these "power ballad" tracks.
"Carpal Tunnel of Love" is more reminiscent of their first major album release, "Take This to Your Grave," with its heavier guitar riffs and more rock sound. An interesting addition to the track "Bang the Doldrums" is that instead of screaming incomprehensible words as he has done in the past, Wentz actually talks, and you can understand him. He, along with Butch Walker, talk about knowing the end is coming. Walker lends his vocal talents to other tracks on the album as well, along with Sophie and Lindsay from his band, "The Lets Go out Tonites."

Fall Out Boy, it seems to me, took an idea from the band, Panic! At the Disco with their song, "You're Crashing, but You're no Wave." This song tells a story of a trial of a man about to be hanged. Again, this is something the band has never done before. Usually the lyrics are an insight into Wentz's crazy, twisted mind. Most of the lyrics have listeners wondering how he can be so depressed all the time and what exactly his lyrics are talking about.

Although it is nothing like its predecessors, Infinity on High has songs, it seems, for people of all ages. It really shows how the members have grown, both musically and as individuals. Stump's vocal capabilities have matured tenfold since 'From Under The Corktree', as has the group's ability to play as a band. The foursome had some help on this album from Kenny "Babyface" Edmonds; however they didn't lose what makes them Fall Out Boy. So, these particular tracks don't stand out from the rest. On the whole, this album was more than I expected. Skepticism had me wondering if they could top the success of 'From Under The Corktree', but the Chicago natives proved me wrong. Even though they've grown up and changed, they still stand to who they are: four down to earth boys from the cold, frozen Midwest.

Album Rating: 4 3/4 stars

Review by Jennifer Sycks


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