Fall Out Boy takes music to a new ‘High’

By Meredith Goldfarb

Modern punk music is thriving on trends like long song titles and catchy lyrics. Out of nowhere, it seems as though bands have just discovered ordinary things in the English language, producing poetic verses with epic–length titles.

Leading the way through this trend is Fall Out Boy (FOB). The band’s newest album, Infinity on High, is a mix of rock ballads and lyrics peppered with metaphors and clever phrases that make the songs and the overall album as successful as its previous project, From Under the Cork Tree.

Patrick Stump, FOB’s vocalist, would not be anywhere without the bassist and lyricist of the band, Pete Wentz. Together, Stump and Wentz molded into a singer-writer unit that produced mainstream hits like “Sugar, We’re Going Down” and “Dance, Dance.” Wentz writes the songs, and lets the other band members do the rest.

The song “The Take Over, The Break’s Over” captivates the listener, drawing them in with its fast beats. The chorus begins with ‘Don’t pretend you’ll ever forget about me’ and it’s almost as if FOB is confident that its music is here to stay.

The song “Thriller” is a song of accomplishment. It begins with, “What you critics said that never happened, we dedicate this album to anybody, people that said we couldn’t make it, to the fans that held us down until everybody came around.” The track is a huge thank you to the fans that stuck around, despite those who thought FOB could not make it.

With songs like “The Carpal Tunnel Of Love,” the band proves it can pair mega melodies with playful lyrics. The song, for instance, describes the pain of relationships as “ice cream headaches and sweet avalanche.” These clever lyrics will definitely have people singing along and tapping their feet.

The album overall is full of fast beats, but you won’t be bobbing your head for the entire album. The song “Golden” takes a different turn, bringing the upbeat tunes to a halt.
All in all, Infinity on High is a catchy album. Its punk rock beats and solid lyrics give it a strength that make it a successful album. If you enjoyed FOB’s previous ventures, then you shouldn’t miss out on Infinity on High.