Panic attack
Panic At The Disco
‘Pretty. Odd.’
90 Decibels
Techno Dance Rock
Sounds Like: Cobra Starship, Fall Out Boy
Life for Panic At The Disco, sans exclamation point, is an adventurous one. The group’s latest release, ‘Pretty. Odd.,’ does not fit into any one genre, as it features dance-pop cabaret, easy listening ballads, country twang and even surfer rock all on one epic album. This second album proves Panic’s early fame was not short-lasting.
The Las Vegas foursome – consisting of vocalist/pianist/guitarist Brendon Urie, lead guitarist and lyricist Ryan Ross, bassist Jon Walker and drummer Spencer Smith – shed its first-album, more traditional roles in lieu of mixing it up.
For example, on ‘Behind The Sea,’ Ross sings lead, while on multiple tracks Urie pens the lyrics. ‘Pretty. Odd.’ was a collaborative effort, and that teamwork shows in the depth of Panic’s new sound.
Kicking off the new record is ‘We’re So Starving,’ the band’s promise to its fans – ‘You don’t have to worry, we’re still the same band.’ But, the album is proof the band and its music has evolved.
The hype for ‘Pretty. Odd.’ began as a viral marketing scheme on the band’s Web site. A set of puzzles, built on the site, slowly clued in fans to what the band was up to during its three-year recording hiatus.
The first single, ‘Nine in the Afternoon,’ is an obvious change, as the band uses chorus lines for the name of the song instead of longer popular culture references, which it was known for from its first album. Less-danceable than the old Panic, the single displays the band’s adventurous take on harmonies, layering of instruments and a clear vision for the future of the music.
The only similarity to the first album is the lyrical vocabulary. Panic keeps its verses packed with words only a dictionary can define.
By far, the centerpiece of the album is ‘That Green Gentlemen (Things Have Changed).’ Giving birth to the album’s name, the song is an epic one. A commentary on the struggles the band has gone through (losing its original bassist, leaving Vegas and a constantly changing lifestyle), it sounds like a more mature track.
However, ‘Pretty. Odd.’ misses the mark on one key thing in that every song seems so disconnected. Transitioning from the oddball ‘Folkin’ Around,’ to the music box style of ‘She Had The World’ is a stretch.
The final track, ‘Mad As Rabbits,’ has a few hippie-sounding parts – the last line of the song being ‘We must reinvent love’ – and some nonsensical lyrics, but the alternating vocals from Ross and Urie illustrate the organic nature of ‘Pretty. Odd.’
Following in the footsteps of The Beatles – who Panic covered on its last tour with the song ‘Eleanor Rigby’ – the band recorded part of the album in the legendary Abbey Road Studios in London, as well as in the group’s hometown of Las Vegas.
Love ’em or hate ’em, Panic At The Disco pulled out a more-than-impressive sophomore effort by branching out of its dance emo roots and exploring other genres.
Panic at the Disco might have dropped the exclamation point from its name, but several other bands are still keeping punctuation cool. Here are our five favorites:
1. ? and the Mysterians
2. !!!
3. Godspeed You! Black Emperor
4. Against Me!
5. ?uestlove
Published on March 24, 2008 at 12:00 pm
