Review: Fall Out Boy - Infinity On High

Never let it be said that Fall Out Boy doesn't read the papers. Infinity On High, their fourth album and second major-label release, can best be described as a commentary of the two years since 2005's chart topping From Under The Cork Tree. Cynics and core fans scoffed at their rise to success, but frontman Patrick Stump offers no apologies, musing on the album opener "Thriller", "We're just poster boys for the scene / But we're now making an acceptance speech". Instead, Fall Out Boy continues to embrace stardom in their own sarcastic, self-deprecating manner. The result is the album we all knew Fall Out Boy was capable of; a remarkable display of talent and fun that expands beyond the tired formulaic punk most had become accustomed to.

For all the praise that From Under the Cork Tree got and deserved, it only went through the motions of offering anything new. The comedically long song titles were arguably the most creative part of that CD. Those ridiculous, deceptively meaningless titles remain (See "I'm Like A Lawyer With The Way I'm Always Trying to Get You Off (Me & You)"), but the songs on Infinity On High have more than just a pretty face. Lead single "This Ain't A Scene, It's An Arms Race" is a much angrier Fall Out Boy, written as a response to fans that suggested the band lost touch with their roots, while "Thnks Fr Th Mmrs" is a bitter message from someone slighted one too many times. The lyrics and musicianship on this album are remarkable, most notably on the piano ballad "Golden" (yes, you read that right) and the melodic courtroom farce "You're Crashing, But You're No Wave"

Overall Fall Out Boy finally reached their full potential on Infinity On High. Cynics and nay-sayers be damned; this time around, Fall Out Boy has earned every ounce of praise for this effort.

==TJ==