Spring Break
Panic's Newest Album Shows Maturity, Variety
CD Review
Erik Emanuelson
Issue date: 4/3/08 Section: Focus
Panic At The Disco has dropped the exclamation point in their name - does this mean they've grown up?
If growing up is defined as trading in your black hoodie and women's jeans for a 1968 wardrobe, listening to "Abbey Road" and growing some facial hair, then the answer is a resounding yes.
In what seems to be a growing trend among modern music, Panic has taken a step back in time to try to recreate the magic of classic albums from bands like The Beatles and Electric Light Orchestra. It goes without saying that in nearly all cases the original is always better - often profoundly better. However, it is equally true that some imitations trump others, and as long as you know what to expect, you can enjoy them. With this in mind, Panic at the Disco's "Pretty. Odd." does a "pretty" convincing job.
"Pretty. Odd." is a not-so-subtle homage to one of the greatest periods in Rock and Roll music. The band has made an attempt to recreate the total experience by opting to use live, full band recordings and real, in-studio instruments as opposed to synthesizers. Panic even went so far as to record some of the album at, yes - Abbey Road Studios. For the most part, this effort has proved to be a success. The band has shown it is actually them playing and singing - at least most of the time. All around, the instrumentation has a much more organic sound to it.
Lead singer Brandon Urie's patented voice remains as shrill as ever, but there is a certain charm and effectiveness to it. Throughout the record he moves the listener through melodies more mature and unique than those on their previous album, "A Fever You Can't Sweat Out." With the help of lyricist and guitarist Ryan Ross, it seems the band has abandoned their Fall Out Boy-esque image.
The album opens up with the frolicking "We're So Starving." It's a short tune straight from the "Sgt. Pepper" blueprints that apologizes, "We're so sorry we've been gone / we've been busy writing songs for you." The song is more or less a waste, and is one of the low points of the album.
If growing up is defined as trading in your black hoodie and women's jeans for a 1968 wardrobe, listening to "Abbey Road" and growing some facial hair, then the answer is a resounding yes.
In what seems to be a growing trend among modern music, Panic has taken a step back in time to try to recreate the magic of classic albums from bands like The Beatles and Electric Light Orchestra. It goes without saying that in nearly all cases the original is always better - often profoundly better. However, it is equally true that some imitations trump others, and as long as you know what to expect, you can enjoy them. With this in mind, Panic at the Disco's "Pretty. Odd." does a "pretty" convincing job.
"Pretty. Odd." is a not-so-subtle homage to one of the greatest periods in Rock and Roll music. The band has made an attempt to recreate the total experience by opting to use live, full band recordings and real, in-studio instruments as opposed to synthesizers. Panic even went so far as to record some of the album at, yes - Abbey Road Studios. For the most part, this effort has proved to be a success. The band has shown it is actually them playing and singing - at least most of the time. All around, the instrumentation has a much more organic sound to it.
Lead singer Brandon Urie's patented voice remains as shrill as ever, but there is a certain charm and effectiveness to it. Throughout the record he moves the listener through melodies more mature and unique than those on their previous album, "A Fever You Can't Sweat Out." With the help of lyricist and guitarist Ryan Ross, it seems the band has abandoned their Fall Out Boy-esque image.
The album opens up with the frolicking "We're So Starving." It's a short tune straight from the "Sgt. Pepper" blueprints that apologizes, "We're so sorry we've been gone / we've been busy writing songs for you." The song is more or less a waste, and is one of the low points of the album.
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