Panic at the Disco

Panic at the Disco is a young band from Las Vegas. The band actually formed in 2004 and to date two albums have been released; A Fever You Can't Sweat Out, and Pretty Odd. Whilst I was a huge fan of the first, I wasn't at all a fan of the bands second release and did in fact believe that their sophomore offering was an absolute disaster. Such excitement and energy had always characterised the bands first album, the second however lacked any such energy and to me was just a complete disappointment.

Originally the band consisted of the following four members; Brendon Urie, Ryan Ross, Spencer Smith, and Brent Wilson. In 2006 however Brent Wilson was ejected from the band amidst great controversy and replaced by Jon Walker on bass guitar. It would seem that the other three members of the band were not happy with Brent Wilson's contribution to the music and felt it was the best option to get rid of him from the bands line-up. It has also been suggested that Brent Wilson did not like the direction that the band was taking with the music and therefore the reasons for his leaving the band were due to musical differences. Whatever the reasons, the fact of the matter is that Brent Wilson was removed from the band and replaced by Jon Walker.

The current band members are given the following roles:

- Brendon Urie - Vocals, Guitar, Keyboard
- Ryan Ross - Guitar, Keyboard, Vocals
- Jon Walker - Bass Guitar, Vocals
- Spencer Smith - Drums, Percussion

Ryan Ross is the member that writes the band lyrics, it is he then that can be thanked for the bands witty one-liners throughout début album 'A Fever You Can't Sweat Out', and for the not so intelligently put together lyrical laziness of second album 'Pretty Odd'. All four of the members do their bit in order to contribute to the sound that Panic at the Disco produces as a band and it would seem that all of the bands members play an important part in the creation of the bands sound.

Formerly the band had an exclamation mark in the name after the word 'Panic', the exclamation was however removed for the second album; perhaps the band thought it detracted from the professionalism of Panic at the Disco. Sadly, when the band removed the exclamation mark they also removed all fun and excitement from the music and 'Pretty Odd' was resultantly a huge disappointment. Whilst I'm a massive fan of the bands first album, I really don't enjoy the second and to follow I shall now give you my honest opinion about each of the bands two studio releases to date.

Panic at the Disco (they've dropped the exclamation mark now don't you know) formed in 2005, and this debut album was released in the September of that same year. The album has gone on to sell over 1.6 million copies worldwide, making Panic at the Disco a massively popular and hugely sought over band. Since releasing this album they have parted ways with former bassist Brent Wilson and he has been replaced with Jon Walker who was formerly the bass technician for The Academy Is... It has been stated by the bands front man Brendon Urie that Wilson was removed from the band as he did not like the direction that the band were going in, and having heard Panic at the Disco's new album 'Pretty Odd' I can fully understand and appreciate where he was coming from, but I shan't be going into that too much.

'A Fever You Can't Sweat Out' is an excellent album from Panic at the Disco, a superb debut and one which I have listened to many times since purchasing. It kicks off with the energetic little number 'The Only Difference Between Martyrdom And Suicide Is Press Coverage' and never once in the albums run time do the band ever show any signs of slowing down. I would describe the music of Panic at the Disco as Fall Out Boy with keyboards, and that's pretty much all there is to it. I feel that Fall Out Boy and Panic at the Disco have a very similar sound, but I am quite a fan of Fall Out Boy so in my opinion this is not at all a bad thing. The keyboard adds a great element of excitement to the music and this is brilliant to hear as the band progress their way through this 'A Fever You Can't Sweat Out' release. Obviously if you're not a fan of Fall Out Boy then you probably won't like Panic at the Disco either, but on the flip side; if you happen to be a fan of Fall Out Boy then the chances are that you will like this band also.

In total, five tracks were released from this album; the last of which being 'Build God, Then We'll Talk', a track which was released as a download only single. I think it just goes to show how strong an album this is that five tracks were able to be released from it. Every single track stands out when listening to this album and not a single one disappoints. Before the band came up with any new material they just used to play their album in its entirety when they played gigs, something they could do with ease as every track from this album is a highlight and with each and every one the band explode into life and are hugely impressive. It's such a fantastic album to listen to and I feel that it is one that could be appreciated by all.

In spite of the fact that every track stands out when listening to this album, there are a couple that do so a little more than others. The hit single 'I Write Sins Not Tragedies' for instance is a prime example of a track that does exactly this. It is by far my favorite of the Panic at the Disco songs, there is just something about it which makes it truly exceptional. It is complete with the most amazing of choruses and it is not hard to see why it remains firmly as the most well known and best respected of tracks that the band have ever written. There will be plenty out there that hate the track, but I am a huge fan of it and every time I hear it I smile.

'Lying Is The Most Fun A Girl Can Have Without Taking Her Clothes Off' is another of my favorite tracks from this album also. Ever in favor of choosing a long-winded title, the band blast their way through this one and it is complete with an absolutely brilliant chorus. The guitars sound excellent, the drums provide the perfect back beat, and everything about the track generally shines through as excellent. The closing track 'Build God, Then We'll Talk' is similarly brilliant and is a superb way in which for the band to end the album. The album ends as it begins; with great precision and superbly timed guitar licks, well placed keyboards and an interesting array of sounds coming through from within the music. Panic at the Disco are an excellent band with a lot of big and bold ideas, something which comes across mountainously in their sound with them always coming across as hugely talented and massively motivated musicians.

This breakthrough album from Panic at the Disco is one that I personally find to be hugely impressive. At no point in the albums duration do the band ever sound at all tired or uninspired; their music is constantly excellent and not a single track from this album disappoints. Panic at the Disco are young, talented, and full of zest for life which should propel them effortlessly through their career in one which I hope shall be long and fruitful for them. The band deserve all the best of success in the music business, and if they can come up with another album that rivals this one in terms of quality then that will be another strong step towards securing success and making it happen for them. Shifting over 1.6 million units, it is clear that there are a lot of people out there that still do not own this album and if you happen to be one of them then I suggest that you get out there and buy yourself a copy of 'A Fever You Can't Sweat Out' as soon as possible.

Rating: 5 out of 5

My review can also be found at Helium.com

When Panic at the Disco released the début album 'A Fever You Can't Sweat Out' in early 2006 they quickly became the nations favourite band. In truth the band was little more than a Fall Out Boy clone with an added synth element to their sound, but nonetheless the music appealed to many and thus over 2.2 million copies of their début have been shifted in the U.S. alone. Whilst I'd be the first to admit that their sound was not particularly progressive and was merely a regurgitation of sounds which in truth had already been done to death before Panic at the Disco even came to be, I must say that I personally am a huge fan of the first album and it is in fact one that I still play an awful lot now. When Panic at the Disco emerged in early 2008 with new track 'Nine in the Afternoon' it came as quite a shock then that the music I was hearing I actually found to be terrifically dull and boring. All the life and energy that the band had previously possessed was all but gone, Panic at the Disco were a mere shadow of their former selves and any excitement that had formerly existed in their sound was now seemingly no more.

'Pretty Odd' opens with the disappointing 'We're So Starving', a minute and a half of lacklustre self loving nonsense. There's a great irony of the band here singing 'You don't have to worry cause we're still the same band', a complete lie of a statement which completely contradicts the fact that the music on this second album is entirely uninspiring and devoid of any of the great energy that their début was so packed with. As Panic at the Disco plod their way through this lethargic opener you know right from the offset that this album really isn't going to be up to much and that 'Pretty Odd' is in actual fact going to be pretty rubbish. 'We're so sorry we've been gone' Brendon Urie doth sing, oh how I wish that they'd never come back; at least that way I'd have purely fond memories of the band, as it stands however the mere thought of Panic at the Disco fills me with anger at how such a talented and enthusiastic band could let it all go so horribly wrong.

Before listening to this album I was not at all looking forward to once more hearing the track 'Nine in the Afternoon' that has been polluting the airwaves of national radio for some weeks now. When listening to this album though you start to realise that it is in fact one of the highlights here. It's by no means a good track, it is however more tolerable than much of the tracks on this album. It quickly becomes irritating, drags along painfully and never do Panic at the Disco here show any real talent. Now I'm not one to dissect the lyrical content of bands of this sort, but when lines as poor as 'It's nine in the afternoon, and your eyes are the size of the moon' are thrust upon you, it's quite hard not to pass comment about them. I'd love to know what the bands guitarist-come-lyricist Ryan Ross was thinking when this track was written, surely no one in their right mind would truly see these lines as well written? As the band further progress through this album though you learn that the cringe worthy lines definitely don't stop here. As Brendon Urie so eloquently puts across the line of 'I know it's sad that I never gave a damn about the weather, And it never gave a damn about me' you can't help but have a wry smile to yourself. The lyrics of Panic at the Disco have never been particularly excellent, but they surely could have done better than this. Some may argue that Panic at the Disco are here purely further exploring the subtly ironic humour that was exhibited on début album 'A Fever You Can't Sweat Out', I however see these heinous lyrical crimes as nothing but laziness.

The first real moment of promise on this album comes in the form of 'That Green Gentleman (Things Have Changed)'. The only way to really describe this track is that its sort of how the band sounded on their first album, but the music just isn't quite right. The guitars go off in a strange distorted manner, and the band all seem to be progressing in different directions. This is not a band, but instead four different musicians that each want to achieve something different with the music. The vocals are quite like the more successful anthems from the 'A Fever You Can't Sweat Out' album, the way in which the tune progresses however just isn't anywhere near as appealing. The band members all sound tired, you get the impression that the band don't want to be producing music any more and have merely released a second album in order to cash in a little more on the success that was garnered with the first album. The lyrics are lazy, the tunes are half cocked, and everything about the music is just entirely uninspiring and really kind of irritating.

What I hate most about this 'Pretty Odd' album is the fact that there are fifteen tracks here meaning that the album clocks in at over 48 minutes in length. Whilst with 'A Fever You Can't Sweat Out' there were thirteen tracks and subsequently eight minutes less of music, when I listened to that album I was left wanting for more, but when I listen to 'Pretty Odd' I am constantly wanting for it all to come to a close. The album drags and it drags, track after track the band continues to disappoint and never once do Panic at the Disco here offer up anything even close to lively or exciting. There are a couple of tracks that are interesting to begin with, but even those fast become boring. Panic at the Disco completely lose the plot halfway through this album, the second half drags even more so than the first and never is there anything remotely interesting to cling on to for a little bit of listening satisfaction. By the time that final track 'Mad As Rabbits' is reached, four or five tracks have already come before that leave no lasting impact whatsoever. At best 'Pretty Odd' is background music, and I don't know about you but personally I have standards for my background music and definitely wouldn't offend my ears with such background bilge as this.

'Mad As Rabbits' as a closing track is not at all effective. It's a lifeless bore that fails to ever really get going and in truth is perhaps the perfect closer for an album that disappoints so heavily. You're not expecting anything to happen here, and in that respect I guess the track does it's job in providing for the lacklustre close you always knew it would be. The lyrics are ridiculous, the back beat will wash right over you, and the vocals have no life in them whatsoever. It is the lifeless nature of the vocals I feel that makes the 'Pretty Odd' album such a great disappointment, Brendon Urie was always hugely enthusiastic as he sung his way through the bands 'A Fever You Can't Sweat Out' début album, here however he sounds incredibly bored at almost all times and rarely does he show any signs of perking up. The vocal skill of Brendon Urie was what I loved most about Panic at the Disco, and although he alone is not to blame for the failure of the band on this album; he must take a fair proportion of it. In the bands first album however, the tracks were always blessed with a catchy chorus and super guitar hook as well which would never fail to press all the right buttons. Throughout the 'Pretty Odd' album there is not one such brilliant guitar hook that I can think of, even the riffs that were remotely interesting to begin with were repeated so many times in a track that they became infuriatingly irritating. The general melody of the tracks just isn't the same as it were with 'A Fever You Can't Sweat Out', interesting and quirky has now been replaced with tiresome and predictable. The music plods, the vocals drone, and on every level 'Pretty Odd' is pretty ineffective.

Panic at the Disco is probably the biggest rock band in the world right now, the fact of the matter though is that this second album 'Pretty Odd' just isn't very good. The band show no real signs of promise here, the music is dull and uninspiring; energy is kept to a minimum and when listening to this album you get the distinct impression that after four years together as a band Panic at the Disco no longer want to be making music under this name. All four members of the band seem to be dragging in different directions, the music has therefore been ruined and the sound that Panic at the Disco produce on this 'Pretty Odd' album is incredibly poor and at too many times provides for a painful listening experience. Had Panic at the Disco released this album as their first then I have no doubt that success would never have come for them, as it stands though 'Pretty Odd' will no doubt go on to sell far more copies than it really should. This is not a good album, it's not even an average one for that matter; 'Pretty Odd' is incredibly poor and Panic at the Disco really should have done a lot better than this.

Rating: 1 out of 5

My review can also be found at Alt-UK.com