What astounds me the most when I read reactions to Panic! At The Disco's new album is the amount of people complaining that they've changed. I'm sorry... what? Too Weird To Live, Too Rare To Die! is the bands' fourth album and every single one of them has been quite a bit different to the last. Frontman Brendon Urie is somewhat of a genius when it comes to music, combine this with his fearlessness and ta da you have a new Panic! album. And it is always different, Panic! are always changing.
This time around Urie's inspiration was Vegas and the not so lovely side of it. Opening with second single 'This Is Gospel' a bridge is made between previous album Vices & Virtues with a big chorus and dramatic vocals followed on by 'Miss Jackson' which really starts to show off their new direction. R+B influences are distinct with yet another big chorus and a well placed feature from Lolo. It's not until third track 'Vegas Lights' kicks in that the departure from Vices & Virtues is well and truly clear. The electronic, 80's disco vibe of the album starts here and Spencer Smith's pulsing drum beat carries the track through to the dark 'Girl That You Love.' Lyrically, it's quite simple - 'girl that you love, know you don't' - but here it's the moody synth line and again the drumming that picks it up.
Back and ready to party 'Nicotine' and it's opening guitar riff is one of the best on the album. Musically it's up-beat and dancy but listen closer to the lyrics and you'll discover not only brilliant songwriting but something that's actually quite gloomy, 'cross my heart and hope to die, burn my lungs and curse my eyes.' The same goes for 'Girls/Girls/Boys' which made me go fucking yes Brendon when I heard perhaps the most important lyric i've heard in a long time, 'love is not a choice.' The only word I can think to describe the song is mellow but not even that is right. The opening is like something you'd hear on a Gameboy, the bass line thrums, the drums are steady and Urie's vocals are contained and put it like that it makes it sound terrible and boring but it's far from the truth - 'Girls/Girls/Boys' is a fantastic song. It's not upbeat and it doesn't make you want to dance but I think it's still one of the strongest on the album.
'Casual Affair' sounds like a song that's been plucked from space, fitting the lyrics that talk about, well, a casual affair that 'could go anywhere' and laying 'in the atmosphere.' Creepy and foreboding the synth line layered underneath Urie's faraway vocals extends the other-world vibe. 'Far Too Young To Die' wants to be a disco-esque song but actually remains in the corner with 'Nicotine' and co. And that's how it should be. Ominous keys open the song before poppy, but not too poppy, electrics join in. The chorus is faster but not too fast, the vocals are dark, but not too dark and the last thirty seconds sound like they're taking place underwater.
Second to last track 'Collar Full' is a fun, dancey song with no disguise. Despite a lot of the album having a cheery synth line the majority have been far from sunny, choosing actually to be more like three in the morning, but with this song it is sun through and through. Bouncy foot tapping music and a chorus of 'show me your love' makes this infectious. Last but not least 'The End Of All Things' is a ballad with weight and emotional ache. Distorted vocals, strings and a simple piano line is all it has and it's all it needs.
Overall, Too Weird To Live, Too Rare To Die! is yet another solid effort from Panic! At The Disco. The influence and the theme works well for musicians so keen on the weird and wonderful. Experimenting with more synth on the album has laden it with disco dance vibes but with Urie's lyrics providing the darkened edge. The first listen might leave you questioning what just happened but I promise the second time around you'll see this album as the masterpiece it is.
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