Following the departure of two founding band members in 2009 and a lukewarm commercial response to their 2008 sophomore album, Panic! at the Disco has returned as a dynamic duo for their third studio album, “Vices & Virtues”, released on March 22nd. With the release of the album’s lead single, “The Ballad of Mona Lisa”, fans of the band’s beginning days will be excited to hear their signature sound present on the new project. This effort shows the band reinventing their music once again in order to maintain the audience they have had and gain some new admirers down the road. A project combining many genres, this album deserves a listen.
The short, ten track, album begins with “The Ballad of Mona Lisa”, which contains the same upbeat, pop vibe that was found in their successful debut. The song, written about personal struggles within lead singer Brendon Urie, was a smart choice for a first single since it grabs the attention of the fans to take them back to the sound that made them famous in the first place. The track is catchy, dark, and contains amazing instrumentals that make it anything but boring. The sound of the album changes slightly when the loud, guitar-driven, “Let’s Kill Tonight” begins blasting through the speakers. Though the lyrics and vocals sound great here, the track is really a song that relies on the amazing beat that accompanies it. The song will have anyone banging their head which is a sign of the hard rock, hand-clapping, production that makes the song a success. The track may be very short, not enough actual lyrics, but it is good nonetheless. "Hurricane" carries somewhat of a sexual undertone as an upbeat chorus with chanting and powerful vocals brings the entire track together. The song continues the theme and sound of the album, but I would criticize the writing only because I felt the song jumped around too much, lost its true meaning at some points. The tracks comes off like material that the band has performed before, but a new energy is provided to create a new piece of work. A depressing story unfolds as "Memories" plays from beginning to end. The band sings about a love that is slowly fading away once the money and smiles start to disappear. The song does carry a sad and heartbreaking meaning, but the pop-like tempo keeps the track from being just an ordinary, soppy ballad. The vocals present on the song are strong and really capture the emotions that can be felt once the lyrics play out; beautiful change of the pace for the band. Soft violins and guitar solos are heard throughout "Trade Mistakes", which create a song that is something never really heard from the band. The track is nice and flows very well which shows the professionalism and talent that the band has, but I did not understand what exactly the song was about. The finished product carries a care-free, dreamy vibe, however; it will not be considered one of my favorites from the group and unfortunately gets forgotten. The album continues with the upcoming second single, "Ready To Go (Get Me Out of My Mind)". The song shows a strong difference in sound and composition compared to the lead single. The vocals and lyrics do not carry as dark of a meaning, but it does stay true to the material that the band usually puts out. The track is good, but I do not fully support the decision to release it as a single. It is just not as strong as others on the album. Fans are quickly taken back to the band's second album with the inclusion of "Always", a light-hearted, slow song that shows another side of the pop/punk rock group. The track is extremely cute and beautifully written; I just wish that it was not only two and a half minutes long. The song may attract a new kind of audience, but I do not think it was tackled with one hundred percent of possible effort. "The Calendar" is a mash-up of the artistic directions that the band took with the release of their last two albums. The material would let the song fit in perfectly with the mellower, artsier second album, but Urie gives a performance that could have been added to the band's debut. No matter what sound you try comparing it to, point is the song is another well done track by a band that has shown their range over the years. The band explores a unique musical style with "Sarah Smiles". The lyrics describe a breakup while a Spanish influenced beat gives the song some support. I do commend the artistic experimenting, and I find the track successful, but I am afraid that this song will only strike the chords of hardcore fans. The song may be a little too chaotic for many and will ultimately be a song that you will love or hate with one listen. The standard edition of the album closes with "Nearly Witches (Ever Since We Met...)". The song ends the project on an interesting note with the incorporation of a kids' chorus line and an Egyptian influenced beat and vibe. Even though there is a lot going on in the background, everything is able to work together to create an unusual, but pleasant experience that deals with nothing but regret. The band took some risks with the track and, in my opinion, they paid off.
"Vices & Virtues" shows the reinvention of a band's sound that has faced some critical acclaim and negativity. The album does a great job combining the elements that made both of their previous efforts a success with fans and critics alike. While the lyrics did not contain strong meaning or much talent on some tracks, the production and vocals create an experience that will please anyone who decide to pick up the album to take a listen. The band may have lost half of their founding members, but they are back with an album stronger than its predecessor. For great tracks and vocals, the album receives a solid 85%.
Tracks to Hear: "The Ballad of Mona Lisa", "Let's Kill Tonight", and "Memories".
Panic! at the Disco - The Ballad of Mona Lisa by decaydancerecords
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