Emo, it’s a tricky old thing. Like a fat girl at a party, one minute it’s all bouncy, loud and fun, the next it’s sitting in a corner crying for no reason. Nobody really knows what to do about it, nobody really knows what to say about it, and people are starting to get pissed off about it. It has all led to something of a backlash against a supposed growing number of mopey wrist slitters and their scary music, at least according to The Daily Mail.
After the huge commercial success of Under The Cork Tree, Fall Out Boy have found themselves catapulted to the forefront of emo. This has made them iconic figures to some, but figures of derision to others. Now on their fourth album, Fall Out Boy are looking to tackle this issue head on. Infinity on High opens with a cameo from Jay-Z thanking the fans and bashing ‘the critics’ before racing into the highly personal and self-analytical Thriller and This Ain’t A Scene It’s An Arms Race, which seem to target those who have built them up only with the aim of knocking them back down. It’s a bold move to open your album with such a defiant, ‘up-yours’ statement. Bands would do well to remember the snotty Mr Writer by The Stereophonics and the increased critical onslaught it bought them. However despite all this, Fall Out Boy actually manage to make it work.
Why does the album work so well? Well, because it’s a pop album. It needs to be understood that Fall Out Boy aren’t aiming to be the next Slayer. The songs are short, snappy little tracks about adolescent angst. Instrumentally it is arguably a little basic, but they know what their fans want, it is never too heavy or too difficult to listen to. There’s a head banging, foot stomping, sing-your-heart out moment in every one of these songs, each of which could be a future single. It’s the soundtrack to High School Movie had the characters been a gang of pierced, hairy skateboarders. It is pop music.
What is interesting is how much they seem to draw from, brace yourselves indie boys and girls, The Smiths. Perhaps not musically but their style of lamenting lost loves definitely takes it cues from Morrissey et al and the impact their lyrics have on fans undoubtedly draws a close parallel to the adoring super fandom The Smiths achieved all those years ago.
It is not perfect by any means. At 15 tracks and close to an hour in length it is far too long for their pop-rock style, like their songs it should have been kept short and simple. It’s also easy to argue that this is no different to their previous efforts. If you listen to Infinity on High hoping to hear some grand musical departure or the future of rock blasting out of your stereo you may be left a little disappointed. If you want rock frankly you’d be better off visiting a quarry. But it is still a commendable album and one that will ensure that emo, like it or not, will be sticking around a little longer than we thought.
For more information you can visit: http://www6.falloutboyrock.com/falloutboy/
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