Is it OK to Like Panic at the Disco?

By: Charbarred | in: Music |

Panic at the Disco

When you think about it, emo is essentially the only new genre this decade has to offer. The 90’s gave us grunge, brit-pop, new metal, fake R&B, trance, trip-hop, drum & bass and two million other electronic sub genres. Apart for reviving the 80’s, this decade’s main claim to fame is essentially emo.

Of course you may argue that emo is justa label conveniently placed on all modern rock bands. If you take out the metal bands and 80’s cover bands, that’s basically true. Can you find any similarities between Bright Eyes and My Chemical Romance? Sure, they’re both a bit whiny, but that’s pretty much where it ends. How much alike were Nirvana and Pearl Jam, you may ask…not so much, but you have to label your popular rock bands so your dad understands it, right?

So after Jimmy Eat World sold their forefathers down the river, we were left with a bunch of dressed up kids bitching about their cruel suburban existence…not much different to any other decade I guess.

On the other hand, this decade has seen an influx of awe inspiring bands that defy genres. The ability to record your own album without the pressure of fitting in to a certain niche has produced some great music. Music snobs, and bloggers alike are more likely to report on these great bands in hopes that true talent wins in the end and not just marketing to Goths (sorry, emos, erm… sorry, “the teenage demographic”).

Panic at the Disco

Which brings me to Panic at the Disco. They’re certainly not an emo band but they do enjoy the same demographic. They’re a big band backed by a major label, with huge over produced Randy Newman meets Marilyn Manson sound. Nothing a true blogger would taint his pages with…but they’re good!

I was surprisingly pleased with their latest offering. Yes, it’s completely over top. The production pretty much rips off anything that’s been done in the past 40 years. Listening to it you’d think the violin was only recently invented. It’s a massive game-show of an album with one huge redeeming quality: The songs.

It’s the astonishing compositions that separate Panic at the Disco from their contemporaries. This is not some guys whining over a bunch of riffs. Nor is it about a simple 4 chord progression and a catchy melody. Yeah, it’s catchy as hell, but in a very special way.

So yeah, pop can be good. This decade with all its serious rock and faux-serious rock (sorry, emo) is really missing out on some pop masterpieces. Pretty Odd provides very impressive tunes, a great rock circus of a production and most of all…fun. Fun that even the rock snob blogger can endure…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yCto3PCn8wo

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Posted on April 15, 2008

Comments

4 Responses to “Is it OK to Like Panic at the Disco?”

mozzer on April 15th, 2008 6:19 pm

It’s totally unhip, but I actually enjoyed Panic’s first album; I’m sure their latest is just as good. The guys are on top of the angst-ridden emo-bopper heap.

btw, I like your phrase “the rock snob blogger”… almost sounds dirty, lol.

Mike Borgia on April 15th, 2008 6:58 pm

There is no denying good songs and Panic has done just that. They have written mature well structured compositions that anyone with taste would at least acknowledge as true talent. I dislike this band not because of their music but how sissy they look and over the top cheeseball ambiguity in their videos, but experiencing this band live truly changed my mind. They project raw talent not typically expected with High production corporate rock bands.

DThompson on April 15th, 2008 8:16 pm

I dunno. This song sounds crafted for maximum likeability to me. Why not like it? Better yet, why waste time feeling worrying about whether it’s OK to like one disposable pop band or another?
Let’s take a big band, no, a HUGE band. Let’s take The Rolling Stones and look at them through the lens of music that has lasted. Let’s put them to the “longevity of classical music” test. In a hundred years (or two or three hundred) exactly how many songs will the average person remember the MIGHTY ROLLING STONES for?
My guess: one. “Satisfaction” will be all that your average joe or jane will know of decades of work.
Don’t believe me? How many song instantly spring to mind when I say CHUCK BERRY? No, don’t rack your brain to think of a bunch. You thought “Rock And Roll Music”, and its been barely over fifty years with Chuck, a legitimate rock and roll god.
As for Panic At The Disco? Please. Enjoy it while it’s still warm.