As you return inside from the bitter cold you hope your adventure out for Fall Out Boy’s Infinity on High will be well worth the walk in freezing temperatures. For some fans, your heart might stop when you hear rap star Jay-Z’s voice at the start of the first track “Thriller.” Worry not, there is no attempt at a punk-rock rap”the band stays true to their hard-hitting lyrics and energetic beats. There is only a guest appearance from Jay-Z as the CEO of Def Jam, which owns Island, Fall Out Boy’s label.
As the album begins, one wonders if it’s just a continuation of From Under the Cork Tree, but the tide quickly turns as the break-out single “This Ain’t a Scene, It’s an Arms Race” shows the band’s growth. Each track has just the right mix of old and new styles for Fall Out Boy, trying to stay loyal to the fans who brought them to the big time while still experimenting with their sound. The song “Golden” shows this growth as the band slows things down for a really emotional track. Patrick Stump nearly surprises you with his powerful and skillful singing.
But don’t think they have gone soft; following “Golden” is “Thanks for the Memories,” with a quick tempo change and harsh lyrics like “Thanks for the memories / Even though they weren’t so great.”
“The (After) Life of the Party” is another track that pushes the envelope for the band. With an almost sickeningly sweet melody, Stump’s vocals soar and take the album to an entirely different level. The album finishes with a classic ridiculously long title “I’ve Got All This Ringing in my Ears and None on my Fingers.” There is another guest vocalist, but instead of Jay-Z, it is Microsoft Sam”that delightful little program where you try and make your computer say dirty words.
If there are any complaints about Infinity on High, one might think it is overproduced. One or two tracks lose some of their energy because there is just so much going on that it is hard to appreciate the song. Also, some die-hard fans may not like the direction the band has taken, trying to appeal to a wider audience.
Overall, Fall Out Boy have put out another great rock album. Pete Wentz, the egocentric bassist/lyricist, supplies plenty of uncompromising lyrics and, once again, attracts a lot of the spotlight. However, the real star is Patrick Stump, whose winning vocals tie the entire album together. Stump also writes all the music for Wentz’s lyrics and is the real talent of Fall Out Boy. Stump and Wentz have created an album well worth listening to.
