Panic! At The Disco – Too Weird To Live, Too Rare To Die! review

Too Weird To Live, Too Rare To Die! is a series of hits and misses, I assume a lot like a typical night out in Las Vegas, the lifestyle which frontman Brendon Urie kept in mind throughout the creation of the band’s fourth album. The hits are spectacular, whilst the misses leave me wondering what happened to this band that once soared upon the release of their debut album A Fever You Can’t Sweat Out way back in 2005. Panic! At The Disco are still magnificent, but they’re undoubtedly succumbing to the temptations of popular music – their uniqueness is waning, coming and going in an uncertain manner.

The opening track ‘This Is Gospel,’ however, is an absolute gem of a song. The album plunges straight into a song that is truly Panic! At The Disco; it’s powerful and certain, as strong as the sound of the heartbeat that the track opens with. ‘This Is Gospel’ is inspired with a passion that unmistakably comes directly from the heart, the lyrics ‘this is the beat of my heart’ suggesting that the track is what is keeping Urie going.

To go from such an empowering track to the album’s first single ‘Miss Jackson’ is an unexpected disappointment. Sure, it’s a great song, but it has a strong sense of déjà vu attached to it – I personally feel like Panic! lose themselves slightly here, almost as though they’re trapped under the influence of the returned Fall Out Boy; upon listening to ‘Miss Jackson,’ all I can think of is FOB’s brilliant comeback single ‘My Songs Know What You Did In The Dark.’ The song fails to satisfy lyrically too – the words run like a broken record, looping the same lines for 3 minutes and 12 seconds, and so I can’t help but think that since ex-guitarist Ryan Ross parted ways with the band after 2008’s Pretty. Odd, Panic! have gone downhill lyrically.

The third track ‘Vegas Lights’ has a closer sound to the band’s debut album than most songs on the fourth album, ringing almost reminiscent of ‘But It’s Better If You Do,’ yet crossing over somewhat with the overall sound of their third album, Vices & Virtues. It returns to the spectacle image that Panic! At The Disco often employ and it’s a good song, but still, it’s nothing special and I find myself yearning for more. This feeling carries on into the next song on the album, ‘Girl That You Love,’ a song so insignificant compared to the splendour of the band’s back catalogue that I feel no need to comment on any part of it.

Halfway through the album, we are met with ‘Nicotine,’ an infectious and catchy track which has an entirely suitable title. If Panic! were to record another album in the style of ‘A Fever You Can’t Sweat Out,’ this song would be perfect for it. It’s almost as though the band have regressed back to 2005, but not quite as their sound has certainly developed in the eight years that have passed since the release of their debut. I’m impressed with ‘Girls / Girls/ Boys’ too, which carries on the ultimate sound of Too Weird To Live, Too Rare To Die! and is undoubtedly one of the album’s highs, though not one of the strongest, especially not in the lyrical sense. ‘Casual Affair’ is another of the album’s highest points, a slightly toned down song that somehow still manages to capture the record’s overall sound. It’s not a significant song on Too Weird To Live, Too Rare To Die! but it makes just the right amount of impact to ensure that it’s not overlooked either.

The album’s eighth track, ‘Far Too Young To Die,’ is one of two truly incredible songs on the album. From my first listen to the record, this song has always stood out to me and for no obvious reason either. It sounds highly similar to plenty of the remainder of Too Weird To Live, Too Rare To Die!, but there’s something noticeably different about the energy of the track and the general feeling of it that’s impactful and somewhat electrifying. The penultimate track, ‘Collar Full’ is bright and happy and should really make as much impact as the previous song, yet actually comes up short. It sounds similar to the bonus tracks of Vices & Virtues and for me, that is exactly where this song belongs. It’s lost on this current album, out of place, a notion which echoes my current feelings on Panic! At The Disco as a band.

The final track of Too Weird To Live, Too Rare To Die! is another of the album’s two truly incredible songs. ‘The End Of All Things ‘ is an orchestration of stunning simplicity, completely unlike any other track done by Panic! At The Disco, and completely unlike anything else on the album itself. I’m in awe of this track, its impact and its inspiration. It’s saddening to think of the extent to which such a pure, beautiful, romantic and honest song is undermined by the album’s previous songs.

And that captures the overall feeling of Too Weird To Live, Too Rare To Die! It’s truly saddening that such obvious talents seem to be worsening with each release because although their fourth release is still quite brilliant, there are just as many hits on the album as there are misses. And in comparison to the amazing albums that are A Fever You Can’t Sweat Out and Pretty. Odd, it’s clear to see that Panic! At The Disco are losing both their direction and their authenticity.

Kids In Glass Houses: Fibbers gig review

I first saw Kids In Glass Houses on 6/02/10, a couple of days after 'Matters At All,' the second single to come from their second album 'Dirt,' was released. They were supporting Lostprophets at Hull City Hall and I distinctly remember how good they were live; after a truly terrible opening from first support band Hexes it's perhaps no wonder that I remember it so well, but to engage and capture the less-than-impressed audience the way that KIGH did is no easy feat, yet they managed it effortlessly. I've been a firm fan ever since and so you can imagine that I jumped at the chance to see them again, over 3 years later, this time headlining a show in York.

Much like the first time I saw them, the supporting bands were polar opposites. First up were Summer City, who at first seemed pretty good, though I had to question my initial judgement when they engaged with the crowd gathered before them. Their on-stage personalities are similar to that of a certain YouTube "vlogger" worshipped by millions of fangirls worldwide, and not in a good sense - I was regrettably left trying to control my laughter rather than being able to listen to their music, which really wasn't too bad. It's just a shame that their songs are undermined and let-down by their cringey on-stage mannerisms. On a high note however, Summer City do have guts; they made an extremely brave choice to cover Carly Rae Jepsen's 'Call Me Maybe,' which they pulled off as well as any band covering one of the most annoying songs in the world could do.

 

Following Summer City were Verses, a rock band hailing from Brighton. I can't even begin to describe how glad I am that Verses were chosen to support KIGH because they are truly an amazing band! And after buying their CD 'Come To Life' at the show, I can confirm that they're one of the few bands that sound just as good live as they do on their CDs. Even if I really like a support band at a gig, it's not very often that I'll go and check them out after the show, but Verses are quickly becoming one of my favourite bands to listen to at the moment. I genuinely can't recommend them enough, and I really hope that they grow even bigger.

 

Though Verses did have some fans in the crowd, the majority were obviously waiting on Kids In Glass Houses making an appearance. After the show was rescheduled from May 30th to July 29th, the excitement was even more so, so when KIGH first came on, opening with 'Artbreaker I' and rocketing straight into 'Youngblood (Let It Out),' the atmosphere was incredible. The setlist spanned songs from 'Smart Casual,' 'Dirt' and the upcoming album (due to be released September 30th and can be pre-ordered here) 'Peace,' although there was a notable lack of songs from third album 'In Gold Blood.' I feel as though the setlist could have been a little stronger, and admittedly I was a bit disappointed at the lack of songs such as 'Hunt The Haunted' and 'Black Crush,' but this was made up for by a performance of 'Drive;' the first single to come from the new album, I've been hooked on it ever since its release. 'Drive' is undoubtedly one of the best songs I've heard live by any band, and I think it's going to become a firm fixture in the setlist of future KIGH shows. It unites the crowd; not one body in that room wasn't dancing and singing along at the top of their lungs. Kids In Glass Houses seem to be fluent in writing songs that unite their fans, a talent shown by 'Saturday' and the song they closed with, 'Matters At All.' Their set, albeit less than an hour long, just confirmed my beliefs that Kids In Glass Houses are one of the strongest best live bands I've ever seen and I really hope I get to see them several more times throughout my life.

Fall Out Boy - The Phoenix

It occurred to me today that I haven't yet shared the second single to come from the upcoming Fall Out Boy album on my blog yet, which I'm a little shocked at. To put it simply, The Phoenix is a masterpiece. Released last week, it's already my second most played track of the year (the first being FOB's comeback single, My Songs Know What You Did In The Dark) - as it stands, the play count is currently at 420. It's inconceivably good. I frequently listen to songs that I love and can't even begin to comprehend how someone can be genius enough to think each component up. The Phoenix is definitely one of those songs.

 

Judging from the current songs released from 'Save Rock and Roll' (which can be pre-ordered here), the album is going to be amazing, and I have extremely high expectations for it. The artists FOB are collaborating with are completely brilliant, featuring none other than Elton John and Courtney Love. I particularly can't wait to hear the song with Courtney Love. Though both songs that have been released so far are considerably different from previous Fall Out Boy songs, I'm a huge fan of what they're creating from the ashes of their hiatus. It's like a whole new band, yet somehow it's still the same FOB I know and love.

Over a week on from its release, I'm still playing The Phoenix on repeat. As with pretty much every other Fall Out Boy song, the lyrics are wonderful, the guitars and the drums are crazy. I love the bridge of the song, I love the chorus and I love the verses - this is a song that soars, so it's title is definitely appropriate. The Phoenix is one of the closest things to perfect I've ever heard, providing further evidence that Fall Out Boy are unarguably and undeniably one of the most talented bands of their time. With a comeback like this, Fall Out Boy have the potential to blow every other band out of the water.

 

My Chemical Romance Break-up

It absolutely kills me that I'm having to write something like this. I first discovered My Chemical Romance just after my 11th birthday. They're the first band I truly loved, and naively, it never really occurred to me that one day they might cease to exist as a band. When I heard the news that they had disbanded yesterday, it came as a massive and unwanted shock. I never thought I'd be so saddened at a band breaking up. I wasn't this sad when Fall Out Boy, the second band I really dedicated myself to, went on hiatus, simply because it was only a hiatus and even it was a decade or two away, there was a glimmer of hope that one day they would be coming back. A break-up seems so final. I know their music will live on and it's always going to mean so much to me, but the thought of them not making music together anymore and the fact that I'll never get the chance to see them live is something that I won't be able to comprehend for a little while yet.

This break-up was definitely unexpected. In the past, each member of the band has said that MCR is forever, for life. They've always been lightyears ahead of every other band during their 12 year reign of rock music. Listening to their music now doesn't feel right somehow now. The day I heard about the break-up, I mourned them. Wore the t-shirt, listened to all their albums in order of release, watched the DVDs. My heart wasn't in it, and 3 days on from that, it still feels surreal that I have to refer to them in the past tense now. Maybe it's because of the message that broke the news - an eight-five word paragraph that seems so cold and impersonal, coming from a band - and one of the few bands - that are all about the fans, readily acknowledging that it's because of the fans that they got to make such a brilliant mark in history.

Since then, both Mikey and Gerard have tweeted about it. Two brief and sincere tweets from Mikey just thanking everyone for the 'unforgettable journey' while Gerard writes a lengthy and touching, though slightly vague, letter to the fans offering an explanation for the progress that kick-started My Chemical Romance's diminishing. After 12 incredible years, their hearts just weren't in it anymore. And for that reason, I have to accept their decision. If they were to continue as a band, unhappy and strained, the amazing efforts of the band so far wouldn't be succeeded. And both the band and the fans deserve for something amazing to be delivered. So despite all the rumours that MCR are breaking up just to reform under a new name, fuelled by tweets and messages from loved ones and close friends, the only thing I can do now is wait for whatever Frank, Ray, Mikey and Gerard do next. And I really do look forward to it, because, for me, they're some of the most inspiring and talented guys that I'll ever get to know of; I have no doubt that whatever they each do next is going to be equally as inspiring and incredible as the amazing journey they shared together as a band, as My Chemical Romance.

So while I'm truly devastated that My Chemical Romance have split up, I'm ultimately just really thankful that they existed in the first place, that they made it this long, and that they created some of the most meaningful and amazing songs that this world will ever be blessed with. The legacy that they've left behind is brilliant and it's one that I can't see any other band ever coming close to, a notion which I'm sure thousands of other fans will echo. Because it's true, My Chemical Romance are a band that have truly touched and united millions of fans across the planet. They're a band that has saved lives and they're a band that will continue to save lives. Even after their untimely demise, the music and message of My Chemical Romance will live on in the hearts and the souls of devoted fans. Though they no longer exist as a band, they will never truly die. They'll never be gone and forgotten. And that's just one part of their legend.

My Chemical Romance: 2001 - 2013.

LostAlone Album #3

One of my absolute favourite bands on this planet just announced details for their third album, that is 100% being released later on this year. I was super excited for it anyway, especially after hearing them play a new song from the album called ‘Hostages’ (which was absolutely brilliant) last month, and this news has only increased that. To further add to my excitement, LostAlone have teamed up with PledgeMusic in order to offer the fans a truly unique experience in the run-up to the album. By pledging, fans can gain inside coverage of the album, both the making of it and the run-up to it’s release, and also plenty of exclusive merch designed specially for pledgers, amongst other things including gigs and signed items – my personal favourite is the ‘Acoustic Show Anywhere on Earth,’ but unfortunately, I don’t have £1000 to spare.

 

Each and every pledge will go a long way in supporting LostAlone which is worthwhile in itself, but the rewards definitely make it that little bit more special. I have yet to make a pledge as I’m finding it really difficult to make a choice on which one to go for, I just want it all… Obviously some of the fans have made up their minds though, as the project was only launched 2 days ago and already, 25% of the band’s goal has been met, which is absolutely great. Hopefully, I'll be able make a decision  and add to that before the project closes in 177 days.

 

If you want to make a pledge and support LostAlone during the making of their third album, which I have extremely high hopes for, this is the link: http://www.pledgemusic.com/projects/lostalone. If you’ve never heard of LostAlone, definitely go and check them out at http://www.lostalone.com/. Once you’ve realised their complete and utter genius, please head over to PledgeMusic and make a pledge towards their goal – it’s definitely something that you won’t regret.

Song Of The Day: Fall Out Boy – Thnks Fr Th Mmrs

 

Thnks Fr Th Mmrs is, in my opinion, one of the best songs in existence. Fall Out Boy have been one of my favourite bands for about eight years now, but this is the song that awarded them the unchanging status of my all-time favourite band. One of a few all-time favourite bands anyway, but it’s rare I find a band that I’m truly dedicated to. Bar the questionable Kim Kardashian cameo in the song’s official video (which is really kind of wonderful), Thnks Fr Th Mmrs is pure perfection and complete and utter brilliance; it affirmed my belief that Fall Out Boy are masters of their art – both musical geniuses and lyrical masterminds. The song holds a lot of meaning for me personally too - the amount of times I listened to this song when Fall Out Boy first went on hiatus is crazy. And now that they're back, I love it even more.

Song Of The Day: No Doubt - Just A Girl

‘Just A Girl’ captures female strength perfectly. It flaunts a total disregard of the stereotypical expectations of women and I think that’s why I love it so much. Gwen Stefani, both in No Doubt and as a solo artist, is one of my biggest inspirations because she stands out as a strong force in a male-dominated industry and I love everything she stands for. She paved the way for a more liberated music industry, in which females in bands are taken seriously and don’t have to demand the respect they deserve – it’s automatic. She truly is a massively influential icon. This aside, this song is pretty much one of the best songs in existence anyway. It's an anthem for all strong females who truly believe in themselves, as despite a huge social movement and adjustment of expected views and stereotypes, it is still (arguably) a man's world. And though it’s not the song that made me fall in love with No Doubt (a feat evoked by both ‘Hey Baby’ and ‘It’s My Life’), it’s one that I’ll never tire of. Or one that I hope I never tire of. This goes for pretty much all of No Doubt’s other songs too, but I’m probably biased, as they are undoubtedly one of my favourite bands ever.

LostAlone: The Cockpit gig review

LostAlone have been one of my favourite bands for a while now and, for me, they’re one of those bands that can do no wrong. I find it’s usually the giants of the music scene that have a sound that’s completely their own, but LostAlone are one of those rare bands that, even on a small scale, have mastered an incredibly unique signature sound that’s fully theirs. I struggle to think of one song, demo, anything that I dislike even a little bit. After seeing them twice as an opening band, once supporting InMe and another supporting Tonight Alive, I finally got to go along to a headline show at The Cockpit in Leeds, on 20-02-13.

Fall Out Boy Are Back!

The hiatus is (finally) over! I can’t even find the words to announce it probably. When I first heard that Fall Out Boy had reunited, I spilt my coffee all over myself. That’s how excited I am. They’re one of my favourite bands ever (and also one of the greatest bands in the universe), so this is a dream come true for me. They’ve announced tour dates, they have a new album coming out May 7th and today they released an absolutely brilliant new song…