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

[stumphed.livejournal.com]

*smiles happily* It is all about the music. Which is why I am SO SO happy when I see such good stuff on my Friends List about FOB. Because I'm glad to see that people can set aside their OMG NOT MORE FALL OUT BOY SHIT and just listen and yay. Just yay.

And dude, how did you NOT already know how amazing Patrick's voice is? You should check this out if you don't already have it. It's Patrick doing a very very gorgeous cover of "So Sick." Did I have this on a CD we listened to while we were in Ohio? I don't think I did. And maybe you already have it. But when I think of Patrick's beautiful voice, I always think of that song.

[thirdbeatred.livejournal.com]

Oh man, I have been jocking this record for awhile now. Whenever leaked put it up. It's so good. Their songs are just so damn catchy. I think "Hum Hallelujah" is my favorite. But am I the only one who thinks that the start of "Thnks Fr Th Mmrs" sounds a bit like something out of West Side Story? Or is that just me???

Anyway, no shame in loving this record! Although I say that while making a point to turn off my last.fm scrobbler while I play it on repeat! :P

[leighrowena.livejournal.com]

Well, good, because I didn't want to have to fight you for Patrick, anyway. You're scrappy, and I'm not sure if I'd win. ;)

I'm so glad you're loving the album, though! Over a week in and I still cannot stop listening to it. Constantly. I mean, I loved the other albums (I bought Cork Tree after seeing "Sugar" on Fuse once or twice, totally on a whim, and it did the same thing to me, so I suppose I shouldn't be surprised) but there are things about this set of songs I cannot put into words. It's straight up good music, and I'm so happy that so much of the flist seems to be embracing it, too!

[mikeyface.livejournal.com]

I LOVE the new album. I think PattyCake definitely took voice lessons. And aww, I love him!! :) Poor kid. He's probably off crying in a corner, lol. He's adorable :)

[and-ed.livejournal.com]

Great review...especially the note on the song titles. LOL I really do need to hunt this stuff down and give it a listen myself. I feel like I"m missing out now.

[revid.livejournal.com]

It doesn't come out until 6 Feb, but....

http://www.sendspace.com/file/yofmj1

[revid.livejournal.com]

I haven't heard a bad review yet. :-)

[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.

[revid.livejournal.com]

I'm going to be doing a mini-music spam of "Songs I Was Reminded Of While Listening to the New FOB CD" I think.

I'm pretty sure they were all accidental on FOBs part, but it started cracking me up every time I thought of another song.

[revid.livejournal.com]

No, I don't think I heard that one before. :-)

It's just that the voice and the look are so incongruous.