Panic! at the Disco – A Fever You Can’t Sweat Out

An Album You Can’t Get Out of Your Head

The name Panic! at the Disco evokes the image of MySpace-obsessed teens in unstoppable dance frenzy. When listening to their debut album, A Fever You Can’t Sweat Out, one would never suspect that the band members themselves are 18 and 19 year-old scenesters like their audience. Just a few years ago, members Ryan Ross (guitars), Spencer Smith (drums), Brendon Urie (vocals), and ex-bassist Brent Wilson were vying for attention from Fall Out Boy’s Pete Wentz, who signed them onto his then fledgling record label, Decaydance. Much unlike the typical disc setup, Fever starts off with eight addictive techno-infused emo raves, then cleverly transitions into the best cabaret-style orchestrations outside of the Moulin Rouge. Their smart lyrics are chock full of references ranging from “Sound of Music” to author Chuck Palahnuik. Panic! is best known for their single “I Write Sins, Not Tragedies”, an ironically upbeat tune about infidelity, much in the vein of “Mr. Brightside” by fellow Las Vegas rockers The Killers. Other notable numbers include “The Only Difference Between Martyrdom and Suicide is Press Coverage,” worth listening to for at least the thundering drum and guitar parts, “There’s A Good Reason These Tables are Numbered Honey…,” a vaudeville style ditty of exacting revenge on snooty ex-girlfriends, and tongue in cheek religious criticism, “I Constantly Thank God For Esteban.”

Clocking in at just below forty minutes, the album is shorter than their song titles, but is made up for by being nearly impossible to part from a CD player. Expect more from P!atD, with such talent and versatility at their age, they need not fear the dreaded sophomore slump.