Alt-rock ensemble Panic! at the Disco hasn’t released an album for two years (since 2011’s “Vices & Virtues”) but its signature sound has yet to fade. “Too Weird To Live, Too Rare To Die!” is classic Panic! — melodic, slightly biting and bursting with energy. Front man Brendon Urie is as honest as ever with his lyrics, and the overall record (while maintaining a more pop-friendly edge) is on par with the band’s shiny, theatrics-ridden discography.
Lead singles “This Is Gospel” and “Miss Jackson” start the album off with an arguably harder edge compared to previous work. The latter embodies the term “catchy chorus” with darkly repetitive chants that will be stuck in your head hours after the song ends.
From there, the album takes a more ’80s-infused spin a la contemporaries Neon Trees — I’m definitely throwing my vote in for a co-headlining tour.
“Vegas Lights” is upbeat and full of synth — but those chants in the background maintain the album’s overall deeper tone. Similarly, “Girl That You Love” and “Girls/Girls/Boys” have a Depeche Mode vibe, mixing both lighter and darker sounds to create pieces that are catchy yet haunting.
“Casual Affair” and (my personal favorite) “Nicotine” are the most haunting tracks. Again, this album has an overlying dark effect that is reflected in both the lyrics and the musicality — but that’s what makes it so intriguing to listen to.
Urie’s vocals have always had that distinguishable edge, and he continues to stretch his range to its full extent on every track. Listen to almost any Panic! song, and you know the man can sing high, but it’s his lower register that gets a workout in songs like “Far Too Young To Die” and the very dance-able “Collar Full” (seriously, please do a collaboration with Neon Trees).
I may be a longtime fan, but honestly, if the group continues to put out records that are able to balance versatility and coherency in this fashion, I’ll listen forever.
A version of this story ran on page 10 on 10/10/2013 under the headline "Panic! At The Disco ‘Too Weird…Too Rare’ to forget"
