It is particularly easy to dismiss Panic at the Disco's Pretty. Odd. , like an easy target drawn onto a fish-barrel. First, they seem to try really hard yet still remain so darn whimsical, so for a world full of cynics they are like four lavishly dressed anti-christs. Second, they went out on a limb on this album and have yet to match the commercial success of their first record. The result, it is understandable to write off PATD as trying to adapt itself to remain relevant and sell more records. However, if approached without bias or preconceptions Pretty. Odd. is a surprisingly enjoyable listen.
First, let me say that I used hate Panic! At the Disco. I went around proselytizing about how they were quite possibly the worst band this emo movement had created. I called them talentless and the epitome of style over substance. Moreover, before this album came out I was sure it was going to be a giant critical and commercial flop. Then I saw the video for "Nine in the Afternoon" and I was caught off guard. I proceeded to youtube the crap out of the video because I couldn't get that melody out of my head. This lead to a serious existential crisis, not only did I like a PATD song I kind of loved it.
Though there was some difficulty, I decided to approach the entire album trying to ignore my deeply ingrained prejudices. With the first listen I realized both that there were a lot of really solid songs on the record and that these guys are really silly, with every song performed with a definitive wink and a nod. This is overly apparent from the first track "We're So Starving," which is performed with their collective tongue so firmly in cheek that it's amazing it's audible. This is undeniably their play on "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" setting an album of beautifully borderline Beatles rip-offs.
