Fall Out Boy - This Ain't A Scene It's An Arms Race (Mercury)
UK release date: 29 January 2007
The gargantuan sales of From Under The Cork Tree, in popularising floppy-fringed metrosexuality across the Western world, was always going to set the parameters in which Fall Out Boy could operate.
To their credit, however, this highly-energised and ensnaringly catchy single, taken from forthcoming LP Infinity On High, is as far removed from the straight pop-punk of Dance Dance or Sugar, We're Going Down as it is safe for the band to be.
Having teamed up with acclaimed producer Babyface for the new record, his R&B influence is instantly recognisable. This Ain't A Scene explodes into a bouncing dance rhythm. Very quickly, the irrestistable tunefulness of this song comes through, although the main hook is spoiled by radio's decision to edit the "God Damn" arms race to which Stump refers.
The frantic pace is never relinquished, but increases as a raucous chorus, complete with "do do do" harmonies, bursting into life. Predictable as you like, but Fall Out Boy have created an image around themselves that is mostly radio friendly. The result is a pop-tastic rock anthem, which the masses will doubtless lap up.
