2008 Woodie Awards
Panic! At the Disco - "Pretty. Odd."
Issue date: 4/23/08 Section: The Edge
"Pretty. Odd." is an apt title for the new release by Panic! At the Disco. Be prepared for a complete 180 in the band's sound and lyrics.
This CD is one to be listened to on a lazy spring afternoon, not in the bars. All the songs are laid back, lacking the upbeat tempo and sound of the band's first CD, "A Fever You Can't Sweat Out."
The titles for the tracks have more to do with the songs than before (if you're a Panic! fan, you'll know what I'm talking about), but it's definitely something different. They mix in a variety of music styles that, in a way, is almost Beatles-ish and throw in a dash or two of folk, country and '50s.
On the first listen, I couldn't get through the whole album. It was just too much of a difference and I made the mistake of listening to the old album first (do that if you really want to hear the vast differences). But I gradually got into "Pretty. Odd.," listening to snippets every now and then.
This CD has its own charms. The lyrics are beautiful, and I love listening to some of the dichotomies in the songs, like "Do You Know What I'm Seeing." It starts off very melancholy and flat, then it's upbeat during part of the chorus, then the upbeat tempo turns flat and melancholy again.
Some of the songs are a bust, but there are some really good ones. First and foremost is "We're So Starving." It's the first track on the CD, and I suggest you listen to the lyrics very carefully because the whole song is the group apologizing for taking so long to release a new CD.
It starts with "oh, how it's been so long, we're so sorry we've been gone, we were busy writing songs for you," and pretty much continues on like that with them telling us they're "still the same band." And then off into the next song, "Nine in the Afternoon," which is phenomenal.
A few of the other songs I really liked are "That Green Gentleman," "When the Day Met the Night" and "Mad as Rabbits."
This new CD might not be as great as the band's first release, but it's OK. I suggest you give it a try and ease yourself into it. Don't listen to the first CD before trying "Pretty. Odd." because that might turn you off to it forever.
Next time you're sitting around on a lazy afternoon, pop in this CD and relax the day away. I give it 3 stars out of 5.
- Karen Tableriou
edge staff
This CD is one to be listened to on a lazy spring afternoon, not in the bars. All the songs are laid back, lacking the upbeat tempo and sound of the band's first CD, "A Fever You Can't Sweat Out."
The titles for the tracks have more to do with the songs than before (if you're a Panic! fan, you'll know what I'm talking about), but it's definitely something different. They mix in a variety of music styles that, in a way, is almost Beatles-ish and throw in a dash or two of folk, country and '50s.
On the first listen, I couldn't get through the whole album. It was just too much of a difference and I made the mistake of listening to the old album first (do that if you really want to hear the vast differences). But I gradually got into "Pretty. Odd.," listening to snippets every now and then.
This CD has its own charms. The lyrics are beautiful, and I love listening to some of the dichotomies in the songs, like "Do You Know What I'm Seeing." It starts off very melancholy and flat, then it's upbeat during part of the chorus, then the upbeat tempo turns flat and melancholy again.
Some of the songs are a bust, but there are some really good ones. First and foremost is "We're So Starving." It's the first track on the CD, and I suggest you listen to the lyrics very carefully because the whole song is the group apologizing for taking so long to release a new CD.
It starts with "oh, how it's been so long, we're so sorry we've been gone, we were busy writing songs for you," and pretty much continues on like that with them telling us they're "still the same band." And then off into the next song, "Nine in the Afternoon," which is phenomenal.
A few of the other songs I really liked are "That Green Gentleman," "When the Day Met the Night" and "Mad as Rabbits."
This new CD might not be as great as the band's first release, but it's OK. I suggest you give it a try and ease yourself into it. Don't listen to the first CD before trying "Pretty. Odd." because that might turn you off to it forever.
Next time you're sitting around on a lazy afternoon, pop in this CD and relax the day away. I give it 3 stars out of 5.
- Karen Tableriou
edge staff
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