I was really baffled when listening to the aptly titled Pretty Odd for the first time. What’s this? No trace of synthesiser or electronic driven music and no frantic crunching of as many lyrics as they could into a verse. Throughout the whole running time I kept listening out for even one track that contained a trace of their old style. Nope, guess they lied when they stated in the introduction song (We’re So Starving) “You don’t have to worry because we’re still the same band”. This whole album is such a wide departure from their previous style that it will definitely have many listeners wondering if this album is an attempt at an April Fools joke.
Pretty Odd, sees the band experimenting in a number of different styles and pulling out every trick in their music repertoire with violin, cello, trumpet, piano, tambourine, ukulele, fiddles, banjo, harmonica and organ. Folkin’ Around see the band delving into country territory, while She Had The World has them trying out a renaissance sound and I Have Friends In Holy Places sees them tackling a Dixie land tune. Despite these additions most of the tracks lack the infectiously energetic pace found on their last release and are largely forgettable. The only exceptions are the grandiose & upbeat single Nine In The Afternoon and the increased tempo of tracks That Green Gentleman and Mad Rabbit, which finally add a little bit of fun to the proceedings.
It’s a shame that Panic have undergone such a dramatic change in style as somewhere along the line they’ve lost an exclamation mark to their name and forgotten to include more entertaining material. While some of their previous work was overwhelming and overproduced at least it was notoriously catchy and fun.
In the end Panic At The Disco seems to have traded in their pretentious pop music style for an attempt at orchestral music that ironically feels dull & lifeless. At it’s best; the album could be called a failed Beatles imitation (it was mixed at Abbey Rd Studios), while at it’s worst it just sounds boring. If listen to this album with no preconceptions you might appreciate the mellow sounds more than I did.
Pretty odd? More like pretty shit.
Final rating: 50/100 pennies
I’m with you on this Crazyman. I listened to this album the other day and instantly thought why is such a pop punk band trying to recreate Sgt Peppers poorly?
Stick with what you know and know what works best.
I don’t think the album is that bad a take off of the ‘Beatles’ vibe, in fact it annoys me greatly that a band can’t play a poppy, melodic tune without being compared to the Beatles.
However, this is so different from their first album its scary. The ‘band’ may be the same, but they are definitely singing a different tune.
I can appreciate it for what it is, but its not my thing.
Bring back the !
Hello,
I like it. I like the fact that it is not just the same old shit. I agree with you Doug that the first song is a total lie as they are not the same old band. I can also see how you could hate it. I like it something about it just sucks me back into giving it a spin.
I guess my biggest problem is I really like their first album so was expecting something similar, but this is so different.
I like it, but its slightly off-putting knowing how different it is. Most bands usually have a transition period, but it was like bang! totally new sound one album later.
Exactly, you normally expect a band to slowly progress to a different style over a number of releases, but Panic at the disco have bucked the trend and completely dropped their old sound after only 1 album.
I thought their 1st release was pretty good but I got really sick of the singles after hearing them 50 times a day on the radio. I doubt their latest album will have much commercial success, but at least Panic didn’t release a lazy clone of their last one, just to keep people happy.
As far as the Beatles reference goes, try listening to Behind the Sea & say it’s doesn’t sound like them. Hand claps,string work, crashing cymbals, I mean come on even the vocals sound the same.
Crazyman I agree that it is very beatles sounding but is there anything wrong with that?