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Infinity on High

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Untitled

Infinity on High is the fourth studio album by American rock band Fall Out Boy. It was the follow up to their 2005 album From Under the Cork Tree. Originally planned for release at the end of 2006, it was changed to early 2007. Infinity on High debuted at number-one on the U.S. Billboard 200,[1] and has since been certified 2x platinum by the RIAA.[2]

The title is taken from a letter written by Vincent van Gogh to his brother Theo in 1888, in which he describes his renewed health and the vigor it has instilled in his painting. Van Gogh's exact phrasing has been translated as "Be clearly aware of the stars and infinity on high. Then life seems almost enchanted after all".[3]

The photography for the album was done by Pamela Littky. The sets on the album artwork were designed by Todd Fjelsted. The artwork for the album was designed by Chuck Anderson of NoPattern. Rolling Stone ranked the album at number 46 on its list of the Top 50 Albums of 2007.[4]

Track listing

All songs written by Fall Out Boy, except where noted.

  1. "Thriller" – 3:29
  2. ""The Take Over, the Breaks Over"" – 3:33
  3. "This Ain't a Scene, It's an Arms Race" – 3:32
  4. "I'm Like a Lawyer with the Way I'm Always Trying to Get You Off (Me & You)" – 3:31
  5. "Hum Hallelujah" – 3:50 (Fall Out Boy, Cohen)
  6. "Golden" – 2:32 (Fall Out Boy, Eisold)
  7. "Thnks fr th Mmrs" – 3:21
  8. "Don't You Know Who I Think I Am?" – 2:51
  9. "The (After) Life of the Party" – 3:21
  10. "The Carpal Tunnel of Love" – 3:23 (Fall Out Boy, Eisold)
  11. "Bang the Doldrums" – 3:31 (Fall Out Boy, Eisold)
  12. "Fame < Infamy" – 3:06
  13. "You're Crashing, but You're No Wave" – 3:42
  14. "I've Got All This Ringing in My Ears and None on My Fingers" – 4:06

Bonus Tracks

  1. "G.I.N.A.S.F.S." - 3:15 (UK Bonus Track)
  2. "It's Hard to Say "I Do", When I Don't" (Japan Bonus Track) - 3:24
  3. "Dance, Dance" (Latin America Bonus Track)

DVD

  1. "This Ain't a Scene, It's an Arms Race" (Live on AOL)
  2. "The Take Over, the Breaks Over" (Live on AOL)
  3. "Thriller" (Live on AOL)
  4. "Sugar, We're Goin Down" (Live on AOL)
  5. "This Ain't a Scene, It's an Arms Race" (Music video)
  6. "Thnks fr th Mmrs" (Music video)
  7. "The Take Over, the Break's Over" (Music video)

Versions

Two versions of the album were released in the United States, along with several pre-sale offers issued for certain store chains. Besides the regular edition, a limited edition "book"-style digipak version, containing tarot cards but no additional audio or video content, was released.

A bonus song, "G.I.N.A.S.F.S." ("Gay Is Not a Synonym for Shitty," sometimes edited "Gay Is Not a Synonym for Stupid"), can be found on the Irish, British, New Zealand, Australian and Japanese releases. The Japanese release also carries "It's Hard to Say 'I Do', When I Don't", a song titled by Colin Yip a fan from the United Kingdom, through a contest for the band's fan club members who were sent the lyrics and asked to come up with a title. The Latin American releases of the album have "Dance, Dance" as a bonus track, most likely due to the success of the song in those countries. Moreover, the deluxe version of Infinity on High doesn't carry the traditional plastic case and album sleeve. It contains a paperback/cardboard case, five "tarot" cards, and a different cover for the album sleeve (a crow perched on a pumpkin).[5]

Those who purchased the CD and inserted it into their computer were able to receive a free download of an EP they recorded on January 29, 2007. The EP is a live EP titled Leaked in London. The location of the recording was at London's Hammersmith Palais.[5] It is no longer available, as it was only available for a week after the album's release.

At the end of the last song on all versions of the album, a computer-synthesized voice is heard saying "now press repeat". The voice is also heard at the end of the Wal-Mart bonus track, "G.I.N.A.S.F.S".

An article in the radio trade publication FMQB stated that the band will re-issue the album on November 20, 2007, with five bonus tracks.[6] According to MTV, three of the five bonus tracks will be live cuts of existing songs.[7]

On November 20, 2007, the Deluxe Limited Edition became available for sale. It featured the original CD plus a bonus CD, with "G.I.N.A.S.F.S.", "It's Hard To Say 'I Do' When I Don't" and three live songs from the Leaked in London EP.

Song notes

  • The song "This Ain't a Scene, It's an Arms Race" is reportedly about lyricist/bassist Peter Wentz's frustration with the "emo scene". As he told Rolling Stone, "There may be other songs on the record that would be bigger radio hits, but this one had the right message."[8]
  • The song title for "The Take Over, the Breaks Over" is a reference to a line in the Jay-Z song "Takeover".
  • The song "You're Crashing, But You're No Wave" is based on the trial of Fred Hampton, Jr.. Many believe Hampton was unjustly found guilty for an arson case involving the firebombing of a Korean grocery store following the nationwide protests in 1992 after the acquittal of the LAPD officers who beat Rodney King.
  • The song "Don't You Know Who I Think I Am?" is yet another John Hughes reference repeating the concept from "A Little Less Sixteen Candles, a Little More 'Touch Me'" on From Under the Cork Tree. In the movie The Breakfast Club, the kids are instructed to write a one thousand word essay entitled, "Who I Think I Am". Also, in spite of rumors, the song is not the same song as "I Liked You a Whole Lot Better Before You Became a Fucking MySpace Whore". The latter song has never been officially released but a recorded version may be found on the internet. The song also refers to an online scuffle that took place between Wentz and former good friend Christopher Gutierrez, or "HeyChris".
  • The song "Thnks fr th Mmrs" is about two lovers who have broken up, but still have sex and question whether their relationship has really died, or if it's just for their needs. The line "He tastes like you, but sweeter" (as "He tastes like you, only sweeter") is a line from Patrick Marber's play Closer and its subsequent film adaptation in 2004.
  • The "hallelujah" choir part in the bridge of "Hum Hallelujah" is taken from the song "Hallelujah" by Leonard Cohen.
  • The line "You're a canary, I'm a coal mine..." from "I've Got All This Ringing in My Ears and None on My Fingers" is a reference to the former practice of using a canary as an early warning for the presence of toxic gases in coal mines. The concept is also referred to in the song "Canary in a Coalmine" by the Police on their album, Zenyatta Mondatta.
  • The first line in "G.I.N.A.S.F.S." ("I love everything about you that hurts, so...") is also another line taken from Closer.
  • "G.I.N.A.S.F.S." reportedly stands for "Gay Is Not A Synonym for Shitty". This has caused rumors to circulate about Pete Wentz and Patrick Stump.
  • "It's Hard to Say, 'I Do', When I Don't" is actually a title chosen by a fan through a contest conducted by 'Fall Out Boy's fan club 'overcastkids' the lyrics for the song where sent to all fan club members and was asked to come up with a name for the song, the winning title was named by Colin Yip a fan from the United Kingdom.'[5]
  • Several lyrics from Bang the Doldrums are taken from Pete Wentz's blog written during the Warped Tour 2005.
  • At the end of the song "I've Got All This Ringing in My Ears and None on My Fingers," there are a few seconds of an audience clapping. Then, a computer-generated voice says, "Now press repeat." The same phrase occurs, just without the applause, at the end of "It's Hard to Say, 'I Do', When I Don't".

Singles

Single information
"This Ain't a Scene, It's an Arms Race"
"The Carpal Tunnel of Love"
  • Released: February 5, 2007
  • Chart positions:
    • #81 (U.S. Billboard Hot 100)
    • #67 (U.S. Billboard Pop 100)
"Thnks fr th Mmrs"
  • Released: March 27, 2007
  • Chart positions:
    • #12 (UK Singles Chart)
    • #11 (U.S. Billboard Hot 100)
    • #9 (U.S. Billboard Pop 100)
    • #19 (U.S. Modern Rock Tracks)
    • #3 (Australia)
"The Take Over, the Breaks Over"
  • Released: July 2, 2007
  • Chart positions:
    • #48 (UK Singles Chart)
    • #17 (Australia)
"I'm Like a Lawyer with the Way I'm Always Trying to Get You Off (Me & You)"
  • Released: September 11, 2007
  • Chart positions:
    • #91 (UK Singles Chart)
    • #68 (U.S. Billboard Hot 100]
    • #31 (U.S. Billboard Pop 100)
    • #28 (Australia)

Band Members

Guest Artists

Chart performance

Chart Peak Certification Sales/shipments
Billboard 200 #1 2xPlatinum 2,000,000+
UK Albums Chart #3 Platinum 350,000+
Australian ARIA Albums Chart #4 Platinum 75,000+
New Zealand RIANZ Albums Chart #1 Platinum 15,000

Release history

Infinity on High was released in various countries in February 2007.

Country Date Label Format Catalog numbers
Japan February 5, 2007 Island CD UICL 1065
United Kingdom February 5, 2007 Mercury CD 1720575
United States February 6, 2007 Island CD 0008109 LP B0008109-01

References

  1. ^ Katie Hasty, "Fall Out Boy Hits 'High' Note With No. 1 Debut", Billboard.com, February 14, 2007.
  2. ^ RIAA Certifcation
  3. ^ James Montgomery, "Fall Out Boy Exclusive: Pete Wentz Reveals LP Title, Details On Single", MTV News, November 14, 2006.
  4. ^ ROBERT CHRISTGAU, DAVID FRICKE, CHRISTIAN HOARD, ROB SHEFFIELD (December 17, 2007). "The Top 50 Albums of 2007" Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2007-12-20
  5. ^ a b c d e f http://hopelessly-hopeful.infinitealchemy.com/band/discography.htm[dead link‍]
  6. ^ [1]
  7. ^ MTV.com news
  8. ^ "Exclusive: Fall Out Boy Album Deets", Rollingstone.com, November 16, 2006.
Preceded by Billboard 200 number-one album
February 18, 2007 - February 24, 2007 		Succeeded by
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