Fall Out Boy
By All Music Guide
By All Music Guide
Fall Out Boy eventually signed a deal with Gainesville, FLs Fueled by Ramen, the label co-owned by Less Than Jake drummer Vinnie Fiorello, but also received an advance from Island Records to record their proper debut. The advance came with a right of first refusal for Island on Fall Out Boys next album, but it also financed the recording of Take This to Your Grave, which occurred at Butch Vigs Smart Studios compound in Madison, WI, with Sean OKeefe (Lucky Boys Confusion, Motion City Soundtrack) at the helm. Take This to Your Grave appeared in May 2003, and Fall Out Boy garnered positive reviews for their gigs at South by Southwest and numerous tour appearances. Their breakout album, the ambitious From Under the Cork Tree, followed in spring 2005, quickly reaching the Top Ten of Billboards album chart and spawning two Top Ten hits with Sugar Were Going Down and the furiously upbeat Dance, Dance. The album went double platinum, and earned the guys a Grammy nomination for Best New Artist.
Fall Out Boys star status in the underground -- driven by the especially extroverted Wentz, who also gained exposure with his clothing line and Decaydance imprint (of Fueled by Ramen) -- had boiled over into the mainstream. They toured extensively behind the album, both at home and abroad, including spring 2006 arena dates, in addition to appearing on TRL, late-night television, and music award shows. Without taking a break, the guys eventually hunkered down to work on their follow-up record with From Under the Cork Tree producer Neil Avron and, somewhat surprisingly, Babyface. Infinity on High, whose title was taken from a line in one of Van Goghs personal letters, appeared in early February 2007, spearheaded by the hit single This Aint a Scene, Its an Arms Race. The album continued Fall Out Boys streak, debuting at number one on the Billboard charts and going platinum about a month later. ~ Johnny Loftus & Corey Apar,
