Are pigs flying yet?

[revid]

So, I've been listening a lot to the new Fall Out Boy CD, Infinity On High, and somewhat to my surprise, I rather like it! I say that because I was pretty underwhelmed by Cork Tree for the most part. Even "Sugar, We're Going Down" I like mostly because I associate it with this, the first Mike/Billie Establishment log I ever read. :-)

Although it doesn't drop for another week, it's already all over the net, so a gave it a listen. Or 2. Or 3. Or 18. And whadayaknow? It's good! Now this review won't be nearly as entertaining as undone0705's here, but I've got a few thoughts to share. (You asked for my opinion, right?)

Fall Out Boy does choruses much better than verses. There isn't a song on the album that doesn't have a catchy, sing-along chorus. As a matter of fact, there are some songs that I keep thinking I want to skip, then it gets to the chorus, and I remember why I didn't skip them.

Speaking of singing, let's talk about Patrick for a moment. Boyfriend obviously went to the same University of Muddled Vocals that Billie Joe Armstrong graduated Summa Cum Laude from. It makes it quite frustrating to try to sing along when you have no idea what you're singing. Thank god for internet lyric sites. "...and also into caaaaaaaaaaats" anyone? Having said that however, where the hell is that voice coming from? That pudgy, pale, balding, vaguely misanthropic looking creature hiding behind a hat and a guitar and his bass player's dickpersonality? The vocals throughout the album are superb. The highlight for me comes at 2:35, at the last chorus on the song I call "Party" (more on that topic coming up), where instead of the melody he sings a high harmony part that is just stunning to hear.

Oh yeah. Song titles. I'm going to paraphrase oneandonlytrey here (because I think it's funnier reversed): It's Not a Thesis (It's a God Damned Song Title). One cutesy song title per album from now on, OK? It's not clever, it's highly annoying. And when you're done with this memo, could you please pass it on to your buttbuddies in Panic! At The Disco? plzkthnx.

Some of the stand out songs for me are "Thriller", which is just infectious from open to close, "Hum Hallelujah," which is the biggest earworm on the album, and the pretty little piano ballad "Golden," with it's lovely minor chords. "Thnks Fr Th Mmrs" (yep, that's how it's spelled) is a kiss-off song reminiscient (lyrically) of "Sugar...," but once again has a chorus that you cannot listen to without singing along. My favorite song is the aforementioned "The (After)Life of the Party," both for the beautiful chorus, and for the best lyrical couplet of the CD:

I'm a stitch away from making it.
And a scar away from falling apart.

Nice one Pete.

Bottom line? I'll be buying this when it actually comes out. Not that I'll be putting in an application for damnyouwentz anytime soon, and leighrowena & booshgal33 don't have to worry about me dropping Mike Dirnt for their pudgy little boyfriend, but hey, ultimately it's all about the music, isn't it?

Comments

[revid.livejournal.com]

I can't explain why Cork Tree did nothing for me, yet I like this one a lot, but there it is. But really, it's the FOB fandom that gives me hives :-), not the music. If I ever see them live, I don't think I'll be in the pit.