Spring Break
'Infinity on High' embellishes pop-spirit
Brandon Weiss
Issue date: 4/6/07 Section: Arts & Entertainment
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With the release of their latest album, Infinity on High, the boys in Fall Out Boy have reached a pinnacle that only a handful of bands get to experience in their time. Since they formed in 2003, the band has transformed from a punk rock band, playing shows in Knights of Columbus halls as an unsigned band around the Chicago area, to touring around the world as a major-label (Island Records) pop-rock band. After two full-length albums (Take This to Your Grave, and From Under the Cork Tree), the band has altered their sound to a more mature, refined brand of pop-rock music, with quirky, punk-ish elements that define the band itself, and hold them to their roots.
It is interesting to recognize the revolution of Fall Out Boy. "I think our biggest influence as a band is the band Lifetime," says Fall Out Boy's drummer, Andy Hurley. "They're a hardcore punk band from NJ. We come from a hardcore scene, so that's just a big influence that really inspired us."
With that said, it is impossible not to wonder how the band has ended up where they are currently. What used to be a hardcore-inspired, punk band, has transformed to something that does not sound much like hardcore at all. The new album, Infinity on High, is, in fact, more of a hybrid between a hip hop album and a pop-rock album.
"I think there's always been that dynamic in Patrick as a songwriter being that most of his favorite artists are Prince, and a lot of soul and R&B," states Hurley. "We all grew up listening to hip hop. I think it's something that's always been there. I think it's something that's always been in our music, especially in Patrick's vocals, because that is his biggest influence, soul singers."
Not to mention, the security of writing together as friends, and not just band mates, has allowed the foursome to think clearly when writing.
"I think with this record, having written two other records together and being really comfortable with each other, it kind of was able to be a bigger step, and show our influences a little more than before. We put together all the things that make us who we really are."
It is interesting to recognize the revolution of Fall Out Boy. "I think our biggest influence as a band is the band Lifetime," says Fall Out Boy's drummer, Andy Hurley. "They're a hardcore punk band from NJ. We come from a hardcore scene, so that's just a big influence that really inspired us."
With that said, it is impossible not to wonder how the band has ended up where they are currently. What used to be a hardcore-inspired, punk band, has transformed to something that does not sound much like hardcore at all. The new album, Infinity on High, is, in fact, more of a hybrid between a hip hop album and a pop-rock album.
"I think there's always been that dynamic in Patrick as a songwriter being that most of his favorite artists are Prince, and a lot of soul and R&B," states Hurley. "We all grew up listening to hip hop. I think it's something that's always been there. I think it's something that's always been in our music, especially in Patrick's vocals, because that is his biggest influence, soul singers."
Not to mention, the security of writing together as friends, and not just band mates, has allowed the foursome to think clearly when writing.
"I think with this record, having written two other records together and being really comfortable with each other, it kind of was able to be a bigger step, and show our influences a little more than before. We put together all the things that make us who we really are."
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