Beginning to See the Light

Thoughts while listening to Panic at the Disco: Pretty. Odd. (Out yesterday! On Fueled By Ramen.)

Oh great. A shitty pop band decided to make a shitty album that sounds like (gasp!) a shitty version of the Beatles (or a vague grasp on the pop hooks of the Beatles – there are no references to “Tomorrow Never Knows”-type experimental weirdness here). John Lennon’s angry ghost will soon descend upon us.

Lyric: “I know it’s sad that I never gave a damn about the weather, and it never gave a damn about me.” The emo kids have run out of things to whine about, all they have left is the weather.

Funny: Brenden Urie’s voice can’t handle happy melodies, like on “That Green Gentleman.” He sounds… misplaced. Divided between laughing and crying. And like he doesn’t know how to not be moaning about something.

“I Have Friends in Funny Places.” Panic at the Disco has traveled back to 1920. And they still sound crappy. And oddly misplaced on this otherwise 60’s rip-off album.

Ah, there it is. “Northern Downpour.” A nice downtrodden ballad. Don’t try to stray from it, guys, it’s what you know.

Thought: at least Beatle-fying things appears to mean keeping the songs short. A few are under 2 minutes. It still feels like I’ve been listening to this album forever.

“When the Day Met Night” was written after listening to “I Am the Walrus.” And the verses are vaguely enjoyable. The chorus is glaringly sparkly and jingly, though; it might make listeners motion sick. “(“In the middle of summer!!! It was golden in the sky!!!”) It seems written for one of those movies parodying a 1970’s sitcom.

“The Piano Knows Something I Don’t Know” was written after listening to “Strawberry Fields.” The bells make me think of Christmas morning in the Grinch movie.

“Folkin’ Around.” Um, dude, what’s up with cramming these random songs in the cracks of this heaping mess of Beatles-wannabe tracks? I guess this is supposed to be vaguely country (not folk, you song naming geniuses, you), and it sounds like Urie accidentally stumbled into the Cantab one night, and a few regulars became so incensed that he would invade our collective ears with this crappy album, that they made him go on stage and sing a country-ish song. Then he quickly fled to the welcoming arms of Faneuil Hall!

Thought: what’s the tour for this going to be like? Teamed up with the Cirque du Soleil: Love crew?

Verdict: Well, file that under “never listening again.” Who knew the Beatles could be mangled so?

Non-crappy music listening for you: UNGDOMSKULEN.