You're A Regular Decorated Emergency

Panic! At The Disco are a band who come from Las Vegas. Like me you probably think Vegas does anyone actually live there? I thought they just went there, well they grew up there all members apart from one. The members are Ryan Ross (lyricist/guitarist), Brendon Urie (vocalist/guitarist), Spencer Smith (drums), Brent Wilson (bass). They are aged 18-19 but don't let age fool as you as they are as talented as some of their peers, still with some things to learn but they can only get better.

Being one of my favourite bands at the moment I will try to keep this as far from being biased as possible. The band formed from a young age as Ryan Ross always wanted a guitar and when he got it he and his friend Spencer started to play music, Brendon and Brent joined at a later date. They got serious when they IM'd (instant messaged), Pete Wentz of Fall Out Boy (see my earlier review on their album). He has his own record label Decaydance as well as being in a full time band but for some reason decided to take a listen to what these boys had to offer and was very impressed. He listened to them a few times and they were signed, he always praises the guys for their originality and says he wishes he wrote the stuff they do.

So far these guys are getting big in the States but not to the extent that everyone knows them. I like the fact that they are keen on keeping the fans to getting concert tickets first and don't want people liking them just because they heard one song on MTV, they want to be liked by people who listen to the words and actually know the music. Ryan Ross writes journals to the fans often with quite deep messages and Spencer updates the website, this constant fan communication makes them seem even more worthy of respect.

So the album came out here on the 13th of February but I had already imported mine a while ago. Set to tour the UK in April with an already sold out concert, they sold out in less than a week, me being one of the lucky people who got tickets. It's scary if you look on eBay the prices people are paying for tickets. They are also taking part in the Give It A Name Festival which I believe tickets are still available for.

Their sound is varied mixing Vaudeville piano, synthesisers. I get annoyed when people call them pop-punk because they are far from it with their own sound based on computerised beats and guitar, you have to listen to understand.

TRACKLISTING:
1. Introduction
2. The Only Difference Between Martyrdom And Suicide Is Press Coverage
3. London Beckoned Songs About Money Written By Machines
4. Nails For Breakfast, Tacks For Snacks
5. Camisado
6. Time To Dance
7. Lying Is The Most Fun A Girl Can Have Without Taking Her Clothes Off
8. Intermission
9. But It's Better If You Do
10. I Write Sins Not Tragedies
11. I Constantly Thank God For Esteban
12. There's A Good Reason These Tables Are Numbered Honey, You Just Haven't Thought Of It Yet
13. Build God, Then We'll Talk

1. THE ONLY DIFFERENCE BETWEEN MARTYRDOM AND SUICIDE IS PRESS COVERAGE: This song is great after the intro which is nothing exciting just a very theatrical piece of music. We are instantly awakened by Brendon's sharp vocals singing 'sit tight, I'm gonna need you to keep time, come on just snap snap snap your fingers for me'. He almost sings it in an instructive type way. The whole song is very cleverly written it is almost like the band are introducing themselves to the listener and telling us what they aim to be and what they have to offer. 'Aplause, Aplause, no wait wait dear studio audience I have an announcement to make'. I love the way it is written but also delivered as if we are also sitting in a theatre while they are on stage and as we are about to clap they sing that line to us as if to hold on because they are not yet finished. The music to the song has a great rhythm you will definitely nod your head to it as you hear it, it goes along definitely as a song you can't resist. The album is addictive. The great thing on this song also is that in the middle they definitely pick up on the disco in their name with a piece of retro dance music with the odd word throughout then they end the dance music and return back to the actual song. A great introductory song giving high expectations.

2.LONDON BECKONED SONGS ABOUT MONEY WRITTEN BY MACHINES:
As you have probably noticed they are definitely a band who love a memorable title which no one else will have and I like that fact. This song is a complete 180 from song one and we are again blown away. The song abruptly begins but in a good way with the music which is unusual but as always amazing. 'Stop stalling make a name for yourself boy you better put that pen to paper charm your way out'. It's like the song is some sort of lyrical battle in a sense and with the line 'we're more than good hooks while you're all under the gun'. It seems they are explaining that they feel like they are on trial or something of the sort and they are trying to prove themselves that they are not just what the critics see them as but well as the lyrics says more than good hooks. I also love the line 'Panic! Meet the press, it's time for us to take a chance' it's like them all waiting for the reviewers to start writing, the big break and they have to be successful. 'Make us it, make us hip, make us scene or shrug us off your shoulders don't approve a single word that we wrote'. The way the words are delivered are very punchy, quick but clear, showing that Brendon is vocally talented and can deliver in all ways so that the words stick in a rhythmic pattern. I like how mid song it again takes a whole new turn and the music changes completely then returns. This is one of my favourite songs, I love it instantly and still do.

5.CAMISADO:
This song is probably a calm song for the band as it's not as upbeat but that doesn't make it in anyway boring. The reason being this is about Ryan Ross's father and him being in and out of hospital during his battle with alcoholism and the whole song is very well written, it tells a story and you can tell it is very meaningful to him. 'The IV and your hospital bed, this was no accident, this was a therapeutic chain of events' the words here tell you right away that this is something to do with a patient and how it got his dad through a time in life to recovery. The first lines talk about the hospital smells being unpleasant and all too familiar but not something I'm guessing the whole family wanted to go through or a place they wanted to put up with but as the lyric plays on 'we deal, we deal'. I love the line 'you're a regular decorated emergency' which Brendon sings very well reaching the high note. To me I would interpret that line as meaning he is a regular recoveree in the sense that at the time he was going through so much trouble, many problems but yet it was all covered up to the outside world and no one knew about it as the line says he was in a way decorated to everyone apart from the family. I don't know if this is a potential single as it probably means too much to Ryan but the single is definitely a strong one lyrically and I really like this song.

7.LYING IS THE MOST FUN A GIRL CAN HAVE WITHOUT TAKING HER CLOTHES OFF: As the title would hint this is probably the sex song from the album. It is in no way perverted but an upbeat portrayal on the subject. I love how because this song has a more sexy title that Brendon's vocals become husky, deep and slow, he is almost trying to turn the listener on as he speaks. 'Is it still me that makes you sweat, am I who you think about in bed' to me he is like talking to a past lover asking her if he is still on her mind. 'I've got more wit, a better kiss a hotter touch a better f***, than any boy you'll ever meet sweetie you had me', he sings it so confidently it would almost seem he is a bit cocky but in a way amusing. The chorus then changes from the slow voice to a higher pitched' Let's get these teen hearts beating faster faster' it's a racy song and not one that can really be explained further than I have. It's likeable and maybe not instantly but the chorus will stick in no time and you can't choose to ignore it.

8.INTERMISSION:
This song is good for a musical break, normally I skip these but this one is really dancy and upbeat. It has a bouncy rhythm and again retro type dance feel to it but then this changes and it moves to an ancient piano sound which I like, it's in a way eery but very dramatic then this raises higher and higher to a finish. A great intro to the next song.

9.BUT IT'S BETTER IF YOU DO:
I love this song, I didn't like it at first but then I played it more and it is now my favourite and their second single to be released from the album. Being Vegas natives there had to be a song about a strip club and this is it. I love the lyrics to this song and they are delivered in a fast pace that it's hard to keep up but yet still understandable. 'As she sheds her skin on stage' makes the theme of the song obvious but yet it's written in a way to make it less crude. 'The strip joint veteran sits two away smirking between dignified sips of his dignified peach and lime daiquiri'. I love the lyrics in this song because they create a theme you could just see the seedy strip joint owner sitting while his employees perform and this is probably an experience they went through as most teenage boys do. 'Praying for love in a lap dance and paying in naivety' again this explains their youthfulness and how at the time they go here looking for something serious and they pay hoping this will help them. The song is not one full of many words but the music is good and even though some of lyrics are repeated again it is in no way tedious and I have listened to it too many times but yet I can't help it.

10.I WRITE SINS NOT TRAGEDIES:
This is the fist single that was released from the album. I liked this song instantly. The video was very Tim Burton in the sense Brendon was dressed up as a ringmaster in the red coat and black top hat and his acting is funny. He is wandering about a wedding full of circus performers which isn't something you see every day and if you haven't seen it you should go to a website and watch it. This is yet another song which creates a background and a scene which you can picture. 'Oh well imagine as I'm pacing the pews in a church corridor and I can't help but to hear' You get the idea of the church and the gossiping in this wedding scene about some kind of scandal. The chorus is repetitive but very catchy as Brendon sings 'Id chime in with a haven't you people ever heard of, closing a G-od damn door, no it's much better to face these kinds of things with a sense of poise and rationality'. To me this song is about closing the door on a relationship in stead of living with a lie and that the people should think more about what they agree to instead of going through with things.


I will not go too much into depth on every track. That is a variety of the songs from the album. All of the songs are original in their own way and there is not a song I hate at all. Ryan Ross is a very talented lyricist for is age and some people mistake that Brendon writes the lyrics sometimes. Ryan says that he prefers Brendon singing them because his vocal range is better and that his voice is great. I agree and feel Brendon has a way of delivery with words which is unusual but makes the band what they are. It is a very likeable and easy listening album.

For all those who love rock and alternative music go pick up a copy of this album as it is different and you might be surprised. The album is in stores now.