It’s time to squeeze into your skinny jeans, sweep the fringe forward and smear on the guyliner (you know you did it guys) because it’s time to step back to 2007 and look at Infinity on High, Fall Out Boy’s third studio album which celebrates it’s 10 year anniversary on February 6th this year.
Upon release Infinity on High became a major success for the band worldwide becoming their first number one album in the US and debuting at number three here in the UK. Having sold over 2 million copies, going platinum just over a month after it’s release and receiving positive reviews from critics it’s clear Infinity on High is the album that would launch Fall Out Boy onto the next level of their careers-until a poorly received fourth album, Folie a Deux, (although I would advise anyone to listen back to this album as I think it’s actually quite underrated) leading to a multi year hiatus would derail the group until their musical rebirth in 2013 with their 5th album, Save Rock and Roll followed by American Beauty/American Psycho in 2015.
What is as clear today as a decade ago is that the album is a clear step away from the group’s previous albums, the fact that Jay-Z is the first voice you hear on the album really sets this off and from there the remaining songs showcase more experimentation, either with use of instruments not heard on previous efforts or a switch from the standard ‘pop punk’ sound fans would’ve been used to hearing from the band at that point.
Kicking off with Thriller the album then proceeds to leap from one hit single to another with FOB classics such as This Ain’t a Scene,It’s an Arms Race and Thnks fr th Mmrs making their appearance on this album.
Whilst many of the songs on the album are an indication of FOB’s ability to write a catchy tune – you’d have to be quite picky to find a total dud on the album, it is frontman Patrick Stump’s vocal ability that shines through across each track as he became more confident and comfortable in the role beginning to showcase his true range and giving a glimpse of what was to come in the future.
The Fall Out Boy of 2017 has clearly evolved from the group that began way back in 2001 and this is the album, whilst remaining in touch with their trademark sound, where that evolution and transition from being considered ‘just another emo band’ to growing into the mature pop/rock sound FOB produce now began.
Having grown with the band as they matured it is now a blessing to be able to listen without having a fringe to straighten but that’s just me personally…
Infinity on High is the album that showcased just what Fall Out Boy are capable of and it still holds up as an intensely enjoyable, fun listen 10 years on.