FALL OUT BOY
"Infinity on High" (Island;
2007)
Reviewed by Jeff Rogers
I’m not sure where to place Fall Out Boy. I could categorize them under alternative, but they’ve got some punch in the guitar department, so I might have to take a number and wait that out. They also have a punk attitude towards their lyrics so I might as well tear up that ticket and throw it on the floor. Square pegs and no where to pound them. I’ll call them "power-punked emo" (notice I put emo last).
I've heard both Fall Out Boy’s 2005 release, entitled “From Under The Cork Tree,” and this current assortment of songs. Both are good albums and without comparing Fuji apples to Red Delicious this one stands more solid in a continuous tone than the other. "Infinity on High" reached #1 on the Billboard 200; that ranking might be a little too commercial for some Rough Edge readers but I’m one and I’ll listen to anything once.
The vocals sometimes start down that punk/nasal sounding road we’ve all gotten used to (but are secretly tired of) but they don’t stray too far off the singing path. The song “Golden” has a piano driving the song while Patrick Stump sings and he really proves he has a good voice. It seems out of place for the initial play-through but coming back around helps you to realize its placement fits well enough.
The drums really impressed me. There’s a handful of stick twirlers I will mention when discussing drummers and Andy Hurley is one who is generating a buzz among those who sit in the back and keep the beat. He has a few styles and adapts perfectly to each song. The guitar keeps each song interesting too. Joe Trohman can crunch on a few songs and play happy little fun chords on another track; I admire a guitar player with a few different head stocks in his hard case.
Fall Out Boy appeals to those who like a little more guitar mixed in with their punk and it also might interest someone just starting out in music. The songs are well-crafted and not just manufactured. A few are arranged to give the listener a different experience than the tracks that follow. “Bang The Doldrums” has a Celtic sound and it’s not out of place. Most of their song titles here are taken from or named after a book, movie or a poem. If you want to do a little research to find out the origins it might help you to understand their drive.
The tracks to hit repeat on are “Thriller,” “I’m Like A Lawyer With The Way I’m Always Trying To Get You Off (Me + You),” “Thanks fr th Mmrs,” “Don’t You Know Who I Think I Am?” and “Bang The Doldrums.”
Fall Out Boy: Patrick Stump – lead vocals, guitar; Pete Wentz – bass, backing vocals; Joe Trohman – guitar, backing vocals; Andy Hurley – drums.
For more information, check out http://www.falloutboy.com.
Rating Guide:
A classic. This record will kick your ass.
Killer. Not a classic but it will rock your world.
So-so. You've heard better.
Pretty bad. Might make a nice coaster.
Self explanatory. Just the sight of the cover makes you wanna hurl.
Copyright © 2008 by R. Scott Bolton. All rights
reserved.
Revised: 16 Sep 2024 12:13:34 -0400.
