POP CULTURED

    Yet another new part of the website. Each week, I will be announcing something new in the world of pop culture that I believe everyone should check out. I hope to bring to light things in pop culture that have yet to hit the mainstream, but will soon one day.

Panic! At the Disco and the New Wave of Pop

    As contradictory as it is to refer to pop-music as being new wave, there is indeed a new sound coming up in pop music. Actually it's kind of an old sound, borrowing a lot of techniques used in 80s music, but no one remembers the 80s. Whether it be the return of the fashion and style, or the use of synthesizers in music, the 80s are coming back with a vengeance. And a band that I hope will soon become a big part of this wave is Panic! At the Disco.

    So a little background of Panic! at the Disco is necessary. And this will only be a little. Even though they are relatively new band, it's a bitch to find much background on the band. Basically, the band started as a result of Christmas gifts received by guitarist Ryan Ross and drummer Spencer Smith. The jam sessions between these two culminated in the creation of Panic!, with the addition of lead singer Brendon Urie and bassist Brent Wilson. The quartet quickly caught the eye of Pete Wentz, the bassist for the uber-successful band Fallout Boy. Wentz quickly signed Panic! to his label, Fueled by Ramen and Panic! produced their debut album, A Fever You Can't Sweat Out.

    Now why should listen to Panic!? Well, because unlike most bands these days, every song on their album is listenable. Unlike most bands which crank out three or four songs that are suitable singles and fill the rest of the album with stuff that should have been left on the studio floor, each song is as good as the one that preceded it on A Fever You Can't Sweat Out. The main reason for this the many different music styles present in the album. Several songs make use of "newer" musical instruments such as synthesizers and drum machines while the other songs are more traditional pop/rock music.

    The songs are also infectiously catchy. After listening to the first two tracks, The Only Difference Between Martyrdom and Suicide is Press Coverage and London Beckoned Songs About Money Written by Machines I have been butchering these songs in my car at all opportunities. The great use of synthesizers, catchy acoustic guitar riffs interspersed throughout the song and Urie's uniquely warbled voice make the songs irresistible. More well-used synthesizer work, in combination with clever lyrics make Time to Dance yet another great single possibility.

    The ninth song on the album, But It's Better If You Do represents the album's shift back to the more traditional pop music instrument usage, with a strong presence of a piano in the song. The second last song on the album represents another shift in musical style, showing off the range of singer Urie. In There's a Good Reason These Tables Are Numbered Honey, You Just Haven't Thought of It Yet, Urie doesn't ask much sing as speak very quickly in tune. The song sounds very much like it's from the days of Vaudeville way back when. I picture the video for this song being set in a theatre in the 1890s.

    When all is said and done, A Fever You Can't Sweat Out is probably new wave pop album since the The Killers released Hot Fuss. And Brendon Urie can't be nearly as big a dick as Brandon Flowers. Wow, they have the same first name; seriously, I just realized that.

If you want to preview some songs by Panic!, check out their website.