Panic! at the Disco: Urie is the last man standing, but it's business as usual [Review]

Published: 
By Melanie Leung
Listen to this article
By Melanie Leung |
Published: 
Comment

Latest Articles

‘Oppenheimer’ finally opens in Japan

DSE 2024: To do well on English Paper 2, ensure your style is consistent

Hong Kong schools to hold National Security Education Day next month

Panic! at the Disco may only have one original member left, but Brendon Urie has always been its soul. The frontman proves with the band's fifth album, Death of a Bachelor, that he can be just as rambunctious on his own.

The record is full of radio-friendly tunes with rapid-fire lyrics delivered with panache to rival a Broadway musical.

Behind the embrace-your-past theme of power pop Hallelujah and lyrics like "Oh we gotta turn up the crazy" in opener Victorious, it's possible to glimpse darker motifs of loneliness and insecurity in songs such as the stomping Emperor's New Clothes and the theatrical Crazy=Genius.

Urie pays tribute to 60s band The Beach Boys in the latter track, when he sings, "She said you're just like Mike Love/But you wanna be Brian Wilson, Brian Wilson". He pays further homage in the harmonies of LA Devotee, where he is repelled yet mesmerised by Los Angelean excess.

Golden Days and the Frank Sinatra-inspired title track are full of nostalgic swagger, but the album is let down by lacklustre lyrics of Don't Threaten Me With a Good Time, and ballad Impossible Year's failure to pull heartstrings.

Sign up for the YP Teachers Newsletter
Get updates for teachers sent directly to your inbox
By registering, you agree to our T&C and Privacy Policy
Comment