
Pretty odd, indeed...I blame the loss of punctuation
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To fully understand where I'm coming from, one has to look at the only thing I have to compare "Pretty. Odd" to. Panic's debut album, "A Fever You Can't Sweat Out", drew inspiration from death and sickness, corrupt religion and politics, unfaithfulness and loneliness, filth and perversion. Simply put, it was about the miserable downfall of society and the painful corrosion of the world. And for loving fans of Panic! at the Disco, it's what we've come to expect. What we would NOT expect is everything that is "Pretty. Odd", especially after nearly two years of anxiously waiting for their next album.
The CD's first track, "We're So Starving", opens with "Oh, how it's been so long. We're so sorry we've been gone. We were busy writing songs for YOU!" At this point, I smiled and laughed, ignoring the strange music. The song continues "You don't have to worry, cause we're still the same band" and although I'd heard rumors that the new album had a sound similar to The Beatles, I trusted Panic would deliver the kind of music I've come to love. I have never been more surprised in my life (by a CD, at least). "Nine in the Afternoon" comes next, a song I've come to enjoy on the radio, but assumed it was the extent of a 60s through back. But it only gets worse. The entire CD is an unfamiliar mixture of The Beatles and a high school marching band, plus every other style of music thrown in at least once. "I Have Friends in Holy Spaces", with its 1920s radio quality and jazzy music, inspires images of black-and-white, Steamboat-Willie-style cartoons (or Zipadee-doo-da, if you prefer). While the lyrics of "She Had the World" resemble Panic somewhat, the music belongs in a Victorian ballroom. "Behind the Sea" starts off sounding like the yellow submarine and ends up sounding like a drunk sailor's sea shanty. "Folkin' Around" is 2 hellish minutes of redneck, bluegrass-styled music straight from the deep south. The rest of the songs aren't really distinguishable from one another in any way. Instead of being dark and edgy, they all draw inspiration from love, nature, weather, and the like. While Panic has managed to keep the early 1900s feel they are normally associated with, the new songs make one think of garden tea parties and happy strolls around town, sunshine and birdsongs. The absolute opposite of what you'd think of when you hear the name Panic at the Disco.
While I'm sure they didn't intend for their new CD to be compared to The Beatles, it's hard to think of anything else that this album reminds me of. It certainly can't be compared to Panic's first CD, which might as well have come from a different band altogether! Unfortunately, you can't help but compare the two albums. The sharp contrast between the two CDs makes it hard to enjoy "Pretty. Odd", which may very well be a good CD, but you can't tell. I'm sure they want the freedom to try new things, new sounds and styles, I'm just not sure a sophomore album is the time or place to do it. Perhaps they simply ran out of angst. Either way, their latest CD is what happens when you lock yourself away in a mountain cabin, far away from civilization.
If you are looking for a sound similar to Panic's first album, DO NOT buy this CD. If you'll love Panic's music no matter what, go for it. If you've never heard Panic at the Disco before, this should be at the top of your list. I may pick it back up later, after the shock wears off, but right now, I'm just not ready for Panic's new sound (and lack of !).
Review ID: 10000000006601746

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