Panic! At The Disco - Death Of A Bachelor (Album Review)
Thursday, 14 January 2016
Written by Laura Johnson
‘Death Of A Bachelor’ may arrive under the Panic! At The Disco banner, but it’s really the solo masterpiece of mastermind Brendon Urie, who played every instrument on the album. It is a lesson in pop-rock brilliance and, in all honesty, it’s hard not to gush about it. It’s that good.
Victorious, which boasts a writing credit from Weezer frontman Rivers Cuomo, is an explosive opener and a statement of intent for the rest of the record. It kicks off with the momentum of a freight train, something that is maintained until closer Impossible Year rings out.
Every song here showcases Urie’s outstanding vocal range, though it is on Victorious and Golden Days that he truly excels, ricocheting between the upper and lower registers with ease.
Don’t Threaten Me With A Good Time allows us further insight into Urie’s lyrical prowess, with corkers such as “I’m not as think as you drunk I am” and “I lost a bet to a guy in a chiffon skirt, but I make these high heels work” popping up. He’s got this humour with a pop hook thing down. When you can laugh at yourself, you’re on to a winner.
But it’s not all fun and games. Despite it’s ‘woah ohs’ and ‘uh ohs’, LA Devotee covers some dark ground:“You got two black eyes from loving too hard.” Similarly, Hallelujah, on which Urie sings “all you sinners stand up sing Hallelujah” could be written off as an attempt at a pop hymn. If you’re completely immune to irony, that is.
Those craving a nostalgia hit from the Panic! of old will be pleased with Emperor’s New Clothes which, with its “finders keepers, losers weepers” chant, is reminiscent of their earlier material, but with a steroid injection. It’s also a shining example of why they attracted the baroque pop label.
Urie confessed in a recent interview with us that, when conceptualising the record, he wanted “a full Sinatra-esque album – full big band, Nelson Riddle arrangement, the whole deal”. Until he realised, of course, that he had no idea how to do that and opted for going about things the Panic! way. Despite that, those swinging Sinatra influences are abundantly clear on Crazy = Genius, an apt title for a brilliantly bonkers song, and Impossible Year, a lament of a finisher on which he goes part way to realising his original ambitions, brass section and all.
‘Death Of A Bachelor’ is as absurd as it is accomplished. Each song contains a million ideas, which for some may muddy waters, but Urie has considered everything down to the accompanying hums. This is meticulously-planned pop-rock madness and the result is toe-tappingly brilliant.
Panic At The Disco Upcoming Tour Dates are as follows
Tue January 19 2016 - LOS ANGELES California - Tower Theater - Los Angeles (USA)
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