Panic At The Disco – Nine In The Afternoon

• 4th Apr 2008

New ‘Panic at the Disco’ album, ‘Pretty.Odd’ has been produced at Abbey Road studios, and by all accounts something ‘pretty odd’ may have happened to the band whilst they were there. Either that or they have been lured into the strange powers of the famous studio because they’ve ditched their ‘woe-is-me’ emo nonsense and invested in a lush upbeat sound more akin to 60’s British pop; a bizarre turn around if ever there was one.

It’s all dreamy summer pop ballads and harmonies that instantly draw comparisons to ‘Sgt Peppers’. Credit where it’s due, it’s a fantastic pop song. They could have sat back and rested on their laurels and regurgitated the sound of ‘A Fever You Can’t Sweat Out’. Instead they’ve pushed the boundaries and taken a very bold step. It’s the sound of a more matured and accomplished band. Their fan base (average age of about 12) will no doubt still love this. But more importantly don’t bet against them reaching out to a broader spectrum and taking a few critics by surprise.