A Fever You Can't Sweat Out
by Panic! At The Disco

From sageamagoo TOP 100 COMMENTER 10/30/2012 11:47 | #53700 | TOP COMMENT Vote up your preferred comments and the comments with the most votes will be flagged.

Ok, so... This album is a bit of a strange one. Not that the music is strange- It's alternative, but it's not as alternative as alot of other albums. The reason it's strange is because everything that makes me think I wouldn't like this record is dead wrong. It seems so poppy on the outside, and I have an aversion to anything pop, but upon further searching you'll find that it contains excellent and memorable vocal melodies that honestly are too high and complex to be poppy at all. Also, the band's lyrics are amazing and the "alternative instrumentation" in the second half makes it an instant favourite. Oh yeah, I didn't mention it's split into two parts.

The electric half of the album (the first half) actually contains some excellent beats and is surprisingly listenable. If you don't like it, though, that's okay. You will once you see how well-written the second half is.

The superb acoustic half (the second half) more than makes up for any shortcomings, however minor, are present in the first half. You get to hear how creative these high-schoolers are (Oh yeah, they were in high school when this came out) when it comes to writing good songs that are really varied and interesting. Each song features a different instrument: But It's better If You Do features piano, I Write Sins Not Tragedies features cellos and other string instruments, I Constantly Thank God For Esteban features one of my favourite fast acoustic guitar lines, and TAGRTTANHYJHTOIY (damn, the acronym is longer than most titles...) features horns, something that you don't see often and wish there was more of.

And then, you come to Build God Then We'll Talk, one of the greatest songs I've ever heard. It's an eclectic epic that, although only spanning 3.5 minutes, manages to pull the listener on a journey that seems as awe-inspiring and progressive as Porcupine Tree's Anaesthetize. Part hard rock, part anthem, part glockenspiel and accordian solo, and part Sound Of Music parody; together it's much more than the sum of its parts. You must listen to it yourself. By far the best song on the album, and makes the band one of my all-time favourites. Bravo, panic. You surprised me in a way I never thought possible.

Thank you for your time.

From HoldenM TOP 100 COMMENTER 03/02/2013 08:07 | #66674 | TOP COMMENT Vote up your preferred comments and the comments with the most votes will be flagged.

This is a sentimental favorite for sure, but there are a ton of great ideas here. It's a thought-out, well made pop album. There are the theatrics for which Panic! have become so famous. The songwriting isn't groundbreaking, but they shake it up (and we listen.) I have to love this album, and I do. So there.

Loved some of the songs on here. Came to like the whole thing. I like Panic still, even though my tastes have kind of gravitated.

A nice listen, if you like pop.

From ShaneSpear TOP 100 COMMENTER 11/04/2011 13:04 | #29714 | TOP COMMENT Vote up your preferred comments and the comments with the most votes will be flagged.

Ok, so this album obviously wasn't written by Bob Dylan or anything, but I think it still has its redeeming qualities. The wordplay is up and down, and they do intentionally use words bigger and more complex than they have to for their fanbase. However, I feel there's a certain level of playfulness there that was missing from bands like My Chemical Romance and Fall Out Boy. I actually think the music itself is pretty entertaining. Stand out songs here include But It's Better If You Do and Camisado.

I have to admit that I avoided this album for years after many friends insisting that I listen to it. I'm very glad that I did but I feel you have to like alternative rock before you can truly enjoy it. It takes a couple of listens to warm up to as well. But it's truly great.