Artist: Panic! At the Disco
Album: A Fever You Can’t Sweat Out
Release Date: September 27, 2005
Label: Decaydance
Web: www.panicatthedisco.com
Rating: 3 out of 5
The Las Vegas based Panic! At The Disco was discovered by Pete Wentz of the band Fall Out Boy and subsequently the first band signed to his new label, Decaydance Records.
When I first heard the record I was a bit taken back at how similar Panic! At the Disco sounds to Fall Out Boy. The pop-punk sound that makes teenage girls swoon is right on target, but Panic! takes the music a bit further with great success. I must admit that the pop-punk sound grew thin for me before the turn of the century. The Green Day, Blink-182, Fall Out Boy sound is just plain overdone and no longer interests. However, even though this worn-out sound can be found in the debut by Panic! At the Disco I found myself really listening and truly enjoying what I heard. Their progressions are just a little more complicated without giving up on hooks, however it's the melding of electronic elements and vaudevillian pianos, horns, stings and accordions that take the record to a higher plane. "A Fever You Can't Sweat Out" is an impressive debut for 4 guys who don't look like they have completed puberty.
The electronic and acoustic flavored tracks are literally split in half on the album and are separated by an "intermission". A gimmick? Well maybe, but it works like a charm. The song craft remains basically the same throughout, but the background flavors give the two album halves a welcomed change in feel.
"A Fever You Can't Sweat Out" also has a sense of dynamics that you don't usually find in pop kiddie bands. Knowing when not to play and when to turn the energy up a notch helps keep it from running together. The lyrics are high school, but intelligent high school, these guys are smart and you might even let your daughter date them. Panic! also continues the soon-to-be overplayed, long song title trend. Tracks like "There's A Good Reason These Tables Are Numbered Honey, You Just Haven't Thought Of It Yet" and "Lying Is The Most Fun A Girl Can Have Without Taking Her Clothes Off" serve no purpose but to screw up the ability to easily view titles in a digital world.
I came into this record expecting to hate it, I came out of it smiling. And although it won't make my best of 2005 list it will take up a permanent place in my collection.
Article comments
— go to most recent comments1 - Rachel
I love you guys!
Your my favourite band i swear!
On myspace it says your coming to the UK
but where do i buy your tickets?
2 - Locke
When I first heard this, I fell backwards off my computer chair.. stood up then played Fall Out Boy's cd (Take this to your Grave) and I was simply amazing at how similair they where. I love how they intertwine there techno beats with there smooth and rhythmical style of playing. How I choose the bands I like is upon first impression usually... when I heard this guys (might sound like a petty cliche) but my breathe like stopped and I turned to my brothers stario and immediatly upon instinct turned it up. Thumbs up for Panic. Love you music keep it rocking. I will see them on Nov. 16th at the Eagles Ballroom.
"Swear to shake it up, and you swear to listen.
Oh, we're still so young, desperate for attention."
Yours,
Locke
3 - Tori
This band is amazing.To be totally honest I had never really heard anything about them until I went to the nintendo Fusion Tour this past thursay in Tampa,FL.They were amazing live and the Lead Singer Brendon took my breathe away..not only is he gorgeous his voice is awesome.He was such a sweetheart too after the show he cam eout and I noticed him standing there I was one of the first people to ask him to take a picture with me and he was the nicest person about it.The whole band is just well put together.Alot of critics are saying they sound to much like FOB well I don't think thats the case at all.I personally like them better than Fall Out Boy.I cannot wait to see them live again!
4 - Poser
You guys rock! you're my fav band! But I'll probably change my mind about that in a week! But ya you guys are the best and I heard of you guys WAY before anyone else has so that makes me feel good!! yay!
5 - Farhana
They're awesome.. i am listenin to 'em right now.. "Swear to shake it up, and u swear 2 listen, oh we're still so young, desperate for attention," Ahh, i fall in <3 with em!!!!!!
6 - Alison
COME TO CANADA..WE NEED YOU
7 - Katy
Oh yea! I'm rockin out to them rite now! When i came across them on myspace it was love at 1st listen! I'v made t-shirts and Slide show presentations and mix tapes with them on it <33 god im lovin them.
Can't wait to see em!!
<33 xoxo
much
8 - jenn
i love u guys to death im going to ur concert in soma on dec 9th and i seriously cant wait when i got the tickets i was so excited i love u guys
9 - EMO GIRL
all my friends love panic! at the disco! although, I did not see the concert (even though I REALY wanted to!!) because of personal family issues. all my friends went and said that they were awsome. Although thay had to stand with a bunch of 12-14 year old posers going there just to see FOB. i am sorry i missed it though!
10 - Becca
OMG I LOVE YOU GUYS. I WENT ALL THE WAY FROM NIAGARA TO MONTERAL TO SEE YOU AT THE FUSION TOUR (OVER 8 HOURS!). I WISH YOU PLAYED MORE SONGS, LIKE 25 MINUTES WASN'T LONG ENOUGH!! COME BACK TO CANADA!! PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE..
LOVE YA,
BECCA
11 - Lauren from phoenix
well,
the very first panic! show i went to was at a place called 'the clubhouse', my friend and i were the first ones there at this venue. so there we were sitting down and then all the sudden we heard a tapping on the glass that we were leaning up against, we could not really see through the glass so we just knocked back. the knocking game went on for a while ha then the ppl on the other side discovered that you could talk through the door ha so we started talking to them for a while and stuff and they asked me who i was there to see and i said, "panic! of course" and the other person said, "well this is Brendon the singer from panic! and Ryan the guitarist" then i got all happy ha wow
so we just talked to them a lot during that show before and after because well they weren't big then and they were the opening band.
the crowd that night was real small so it made it even better
but i felt bad because they wanted to hang out after but we had to meet up with our friends so that sucked a lot
but now ive been to 3 of their shows in AZ, and we always meet up and say our hello's again every show
it's always good to see them and see how the tour's going
i was trying to make it to a vegas show but both show's are all sold out
i was really bummed
but now i'm just really happy for them that they are getting real big after just a couple of shows
and i just wish them the best of luck
-Lauren
12 - Lauren - again
oh and my url is wrong, i thought it was just a simple link to our myspace not a blog thing
here's my myspace link,
www.myspace.com/vavavodka
13 - addie&&helen
okay. so you rock our world.
quite literally
day and night.
seeing as it is 1:10 in the morning.
and we are still listening to your cd.
so we believe that you should come to Canada soon.
specifically toronto area! plz. &&thank you
&&muchloveandkisses
helen&addie<3
14 - IWriteSinsNotTragedies
PANIC! AT THE DISCO. Wow. One amazing band and I bet even better to see live. I absolutely adore these guys because they have their own style of music with a rock/techno.. whatever you want to call it, but they have a great sound with sweet lyrics and catchy beats, that are funny enough, awesome to dance too. I know they would be rad to see live, which I hope they will come to CANADA <3 I must get the cd soon, I can't wait. Panic! At The Disco, we LOVE you.
15 - sarahh! at the disco ;)
so im completely in love with you guys. saw you in toronto on the nintendo fusion tour, absolutely amazing! <3 definitely best night of my life. i love love love you guysss!
sarah <3333
16 - Alex
my friend, Sam introduced me to you guys and i found that you guys are awsome!! i'm really into that thing where you add in classical instruments that is like the cherry on top of a great album. Keep writing and playing im looking forward to ur next cd
17 - Alice - London
i love this band!!!!!!! it was a seriously hard choice, but i had to choose between going to a FOB gig in London, or a the academy is... gig where Panic! are the warm up band also in london. i couldnt go to both - as tickets were by then about 30quid, and they were within 4 days of eachother at the same venue. but i eventually chose panic and am now seriously excited!!!!i love them! i first heard them through a friend, but have run with their name, and am now obsessed!
suckily, their album hasnt been released here yet, so i have to rely on a crap downloaded 1, but i look forwards to hearing the proper division. and boy - are they hot!!!! theyre gorgeous!!!!!!!!
I LOVE PANIC!!!!! and would challenge anyone with half dencent taste in music to listen to i write sins not tradgedies, and come out not loving them! looking forwards to the concert now! yay! btw -are the academy is.. any good? lol
18 - meghan
omg this band rox meghan's sox (yes i talk about myself in third and first person) The are playing at the opera house in toronto soon!!! AND I HAVE TICKETS!! WOOT
you guys are a great pick-up for anyone who is heart broken abou things going on in life or even because of Blink 182 BUT YOU GUYS ARE THA BOMB (haha yeah i know that phrase is corny)
i hope you guys have great sucess and keep making songs for me:) =...i mean your fans:)
My friend was listening to you guys over and over eah time i came to her house so i finally asked her who that was and she told me Panic! at the disco so i looked you guys up and turns out i;m a rabid fan now:)
i love your lyrics they're so... singable:) hehe
i go to school and me and my friend teresa (all we do is sing) exchange lyrics of a new song we found bout you guys ...so just to let you know you have many fans in Canada too:) which is always good! so be safe be happy don;t worry and have a good TIME!! HAHA THATS CORNY lol but you guys still ROCK..
well my friend is also a GRAMMER ADDICT! so she noticed you guys used "fuck " as a verb and she thought that was good..so she sends her condolenses:)
19 - meghan
hehe
20 - Georgia & Ema
We went to see Panic! in newcastle last night they were freaking awesome, I passed out twice and lost ema but WEY!!!!!
Ive been to a lot of live gigs but i can definatly say that Panic! was THE BEST! Oh ye and the lead singer, Brendan, is absolutly gorgeous!!!!!!!!!!!
PHWOOOOOAAAAAAAAAR!
21 - shannon
you guys are the best.<3
22 - Kath
GREEN DAY STILL ROCK
23 - Jamie
These guys kick my breasts; ahha.
The very first time I heard them, I was hooked.
'Lying is the Most Fun a Girl Can Have Without Taking Her Clothes off'
was the first song I ever listened to, and it made me swoon.
It was sexual, but still upbeat? You really can't get any better.
24 - razor
hay wats up yall i luv panic at the disco i heard it once and thought wow awsome these guys are awsome right after i heard them i went out and got there cd (the first cd i acualy paid for)i luv it its the best [Personal contact info deleted] well peace out
razor
25 - just a teenager
Great band guys..im from Kuwait and you guys seriously made life here so much better. Thanks and great music