The Spill Magazine The Spill Magazine
The Spill Magazine The Spill Magazine
The Spill Magazine The Spill Magazine
  • Reviews
    • Album Reviews
    • Features
    • Live Reviews
    • Festivals
  • Portraits
  • Headlines
    • News
    • Contests
    • Events
    • Entertainment Headlines
    • Concert Listings
    • Toronto Concert Venues
  • New Music
    • Premieres
    • TOTD
  • Books + Movies
  • Scene Unseen
  • About
16
new
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: SLOPING – COMPLETED SONGS
SPILL MUSIC PREMIERE: PAPER ANTHEM – “SUNDAY”
SPILL NEW MUSIC: BRAND NEW SINGLE FROM THE OFFSPRING IN ALMOST A DECADE “LET THE BAD TIMES ROLL” OUT VIA CONCORD RECORDS/UNIVERSAL MUSIC CANADA
SPILL NEW MUSIC: SLOTHRUST SHARES NEW SINGLE + VIDEO FOR “CRANIUM” VIA DANGERBIRD RECORDS
SPILL NEW MUSIC: LUDOVICO TECHNIQUE “EMBRACE” YOU TILL THE END IN THEIR NEW MUSIC VIDEO
SPILL VIDEO PREMIERE: BILL JR. JR. – “BLUE”
SPILL NEW MUSIC: SENSES – “DROP YOUR ARMS”
SPILL NEW MUSIC: PERMAFROST – “FEMME FATALE”
SPILL NEW MUSIC: BUTCHER BABIES – “YORKTOWN”
SPILL VIDEO PREMIERE: BEE APPLESEED – “ALL IS FORGIVEN”
SPILL NEWS: ALEX LITTLE & THE SUSPICIOUS MINDS ANNOUNCE ALBUM ‘WAITING TO GET PAID’ AND SHARE NEW SINGLE “BIG LIES”
SPILL NEW MUSIC: BELL ORCHESTRE – “IV: WHAT YOU’RE THINKING”
SPILL NEW MUSIC: ACTORS RELEASES SECOND SINGLE AND VIDEO FOR “STRANGERS” FROM UPCOMING ALBUM ‘ACTS OF WORSHIP’
SPILL NEW MUSIC: ANDREW W.K. – “BABALON”
SPILL FEATURE: HIS STORY RIGHT NOW – A CONVERSATION WITH cEvin Key
SPILL MUSIC PREMIERE: THE SAVANTS OF SOUL – “HONEY CHILD”
  • MORE
  • Reviews
    • Album Reviews
    • Features
    • Live Reviews
    • Festivals
  • Portraits
  • Headlines
    • News
    • Contests
    • Events
    • Entertainment Headlines
    • Concert Listings
    • Toronto Concert Venues
  • New Music
    • Premieres
    • TOTD
  • Books + Movies
  • Scene Unseen
  • About
  • Spill Menu
    • Reviews
      • Album Reviews
      • Features
      • Live Reviews
      • Festivals
    • Portraits
    • Headlines
      • News
      • Contests
      • Events
      • Entertainment Headlines
      • Concert Listings
      • Toronto Concert Venues
    • New Music
      • Premieres
      • TOTD
    • Books + Movies
    • Scene Unseen
    • About
Album Reviews
659
previous article
SPILL NEW MUSIC: GOLDEN DAZE SHARES NEW SINGLE "LOW"
next article
SPILL NEWS: CAPACITOR RECORDS' "YOU CAN'T KILL ROCK 'N ROLL": A FUND-RAISING COMPILATION FOR SUPERSUCKERS' FRONTMAN EDDIE SPAGHETTI'S FIGHT AGAINST CANCER

SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: PANIC! AT THE DISCO – DEATH OF A BACHELOR

Panic! At the Disco

Panic! At The Disco
Death Of A Bachelor
Warner Music Canada
RATING

In all of their weirdness, Panic! At the Disco have hit their stride multiple times. Since “I Write Sins Not Tragedies” had its time in the sun, the band has fluctuated throughout a multitude of sounds. Most notably was the clearly-inspired-by-The-Beatles record Pretty.Odd. The sophomore record still stands as the band’s greatest feat, not relying on their preset niche of catchy, quirky pop. A fine balance was achieved on the previous effort Too Weird to Live, Too Rare to Die!, which was mainstream enough to make waves yet creative enough to have lasting quality.

Death Of A Bachelor somewhat manages to continue on in this vein. Lead singer Brendon Urie is headed toward the altar, and this record acts as his final sendoff to single life. The theme, admittedly, seems like something Panic! At the Disco would have no issues working with. But from the chanting lead single and opener “Victorious,” it’s clear the band is still attempting to appeal to a younger audience. That irritating, childish chanting can’t save the track from sounding like a half-winded “Backstreet’s Back” revival. Other tracks that miss the mark entirely include “Don’t Threaten Me with a Good Time” which preaches ingesting “champagne, cocaine, gasoline and most things in between; and “Emperor’s New Clothes,” having virtually no redeeming qualities. Strangely enough, strikingly mature songs on the same record irrefutably contrast these childish tracks. The standout “Crazy=Genius” definitely shouldn’t find itself tucked next to the aforementioned misfires. Wonderfully exemplifying why the band’s uniqueness is so appealing, the song plays out like an ode to 1920’s swing and jazz. The title track follows suit, proclaiming a Sinatra-like inspiration, veiled in Urie’s wacky pop signature, the likes of which are also present on the closer “The Impossible Year” and the album’s centerpiece “L.A. Devotee.” Not only do horns and strings helpfully uplift many songs on the record, but they somehow fit well with all the old school Panic! At the Disco representations. Additionally, the lyrics on the record are fairly poignant when they need to be. If you roll over the ignorantly childish dribble in some of the early stages, wonderfully coy jabs show themselves throughout.

Somehow, Panic! At the Disco is still making impressive music. This should be marveled at, since bands of their caliber tend to fade quickly. However, it’s their affinity to creating preteen angst-pop that continues to weigh them down. Even if, on their records, they’re producing memorable material, it’s the marketed illusion of their craft that hinders their full maturity. And while they’re seemingly content with their stunted growth, a full foray into entirely new territory, such as that of Pretty.Odd., is really the only chance they will have to make real waves again. For now, though, Death Of A Bachelor is satisfactory.

Band Links:

band websitefbTwitter-iconinstagram-iconsoundcloud iconyoutube

Item Reviewed

SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: PANIC! AT THE DISCO – DEATH OF A BACHELOR

Author

Robert Defina

Here's what we think...
Spill Rating
Fan Rating
Rate Here
New Criteria
10
22.3
6.0
Total Spill Rating
22.3
Total Fan Rating
6 ratings
You have rated this
Album Reviews
album reviewscrazy=geniusdeath of a bachelorfueled by ramenl.a. devoteepanic! at the discovictoriouswarner music canadawarner music group
album reviews, crazy=genius, death of a bachelor, fueled by ramen, l.a. devotee, panic! at the disco, victorious, warner music canada, warner music group
About the Author
Robert Defina
Avatar
Robert Defina is an avid critic both on paper and in person. He spends more time writing album reviews than he does worrying about his future. He hopes that this sort of procrastination never grows old.
RELATED ARTICLES
album reviewsfueled by ramenpanic! at the disco
 
8.0
Sloping

SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: SLOPING – COMPLETED SONGS

by Dan Kennard on February 26, 2021
Sloping Completed Songs sound as language Lead songwriter of the band Scooterbabe, JJ Posway, has released a debut solo album under the name Sloping. It is called Completed Songs, and it is [...]
 
10
cEvin Key
10

SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: cEvin Key AND THE SUBCONSCIOUS ELECTRONIC ORCHESTRA – RESONANCE

by Kathy Nichols on February 19, 2021
cEvin Key And The Subconscious Electronic Orchestra Resonance Artoffact cEvin Key’s fifth solo album, Resonance (formerly [...]
 
8.0
Creedence Clearwater Revival

SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: CREEDENCE CLEARWATER REVIVAL – PENDULUM/MARDI GRAS (50TH ANNIVERSARY HALF-SPEED MASTERS)

by Ljubinko Zivkovic on February 12, 2021
Creedence Clearwater Revival Pendulum/Mardi Gras (50th Anniversary Half-Speed Masters) Craft Recordings Creedence Clearwater [...]
 
10
The Band

SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: THE BAND – STAGE FRIGHT (50th ANNIVERSARY EDITION)

by Ljubinko Zivkovic on February 12, 2021
The Band Stage Fright (50th Anniversary Edition) Capitol Records The latest reissue from The Band Stage Fright, is a prime example of many things. Firstly, it is [...]
 
7.0
The Holdouts
8.2

SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: THE HOLDOUTS – FOR REASONS UNKNOWN

by Gerrod Harris on February 8, 2021
The Holdouts For Reasons Unknown Tarantula Tapes The latest offering from Tarantula Tapes’ roster is St. Catharine, Ont.-based The Holdout’s sophomore EP, For Reasons Unknown. It [...]
Latest Album Reviews
View All
 
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: SLOPING – COMPLETED SONGS
8.0
 
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: cEvin Key AND THE SUBCONSCIOUS ELECTRONIC ORCHE...
10
10
 
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: CREEDENCE CLEARWATER REVIVAL – PENDULUM/M...
8.0
 
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: THE BAND – STAGE FRIGHT (50th ANNIVERSARY...
10
 
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: THE HOLDOUTS – FOR REASONS UNKNOWN
7.0
8.2
Latest Live Reviews
View All
 
Lord Huron

SPILL LIVE REVIEW: LORD HURON ALIVE FROM WHISPERING PINES: EPISODE 2 OF 4 (VIRTUAL EVENT)

by Robert Defina on February 18, 2021
67
 
Small Town Titans

SPILL LIVE REVIEW: SMALL TOWN TITANS @ SMT HQ, YORK (PA)

by Gerrod Harris on February 6, 2021
31
 
Lord Huron

SPILL LIVE REVIEW: LORD HURON ALIVE FROM WHISPERING PINES: EPISODE 1 OF 4 (VIRTUAL EVENT)

by Robert Defina on January 7, 2021
374
 
Wardruna

SPILL LIVE REVIEW: WARDRUNA – ‘KVITRAVN’ PRESENTATION (ONLINE PERFORMANCE)

by Samantha Wu on December 10, 2020
194
 
Evanescence

SPILL LIVE REVIEW: EVANESCENCE @ ROCK FALCON STUDIO, NASHVILLE (TN)

by Melinda Welsh on December 5, 2020
60
Tweets by @spillmagazine

SPILL MAGAZINE MENU
  • Home | The Spill Magazine
  • Premieres
  • Album Reviews
  • Books + Movies
  • Features
  • Live Reviews
  • Festivals
  • Portraits
  • News
  • Events
  • Entertainment Headlines
  • Concert Listings
  • Toronto Concert Venues
  • About Us
  • Contests
  • New Music
  • Spill Magazine Contributors
  • TOTD
  • Privacy Policy
  • The Scene Unseen
  • Newsletter

Copyright © 2020 | The Spill Magazine
All Rights Reserved.

TRENDING RIGHT NOW
   
 
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: FRONT LINE ASSEMBLY – MECHANICAL SOUL
670
 
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: PAUL McCARTNEY – McCARTNEY III
576
 
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: GUIDED BY VOICES – STYLES WE PAID FOR
554
 
SPILL MUSIC PREMIERE: CHURCH OF TREES FEAT. CAROLE POPE – “WORLD’S A BITCH”
460
 
SPILL LIVE REVIEW: LORD HURON ALIVE FROM WHISPERING PINES: EPISODE 1 OF 4 (VIRTUAL EVENT)
374
 
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: BLACK PISTOL FIRE – LOOK ALIVE
361
 
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: GEORGE THOROGOOD AND THE DESTROYERS – LIVE IN BOSTON, 1982: THE COMPLETE CONCERT
347
 
SPILL NEW MUSIC: “SHAMELESS” STAR WILLIAM H. MACY RELEASES DEBUT SINGLE “WHISKEY DELL” UNDER “WILLIE CREEKS” MONIKER
325
 
SPILL LIVE REVIEW: LOWEST OF THE LOW @ LEE’S PALACE, TORONTO
309
 
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: THE DIRTY NIL – FUCK ART
280
 
SPILL FEATURE: TRULY ORCHESTRATING HIS OWN LIFE – A CONVERSATION WITH RICK SPRINGFIELD
274
 
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: CHRIS CORNELL – NO ONE SINGS LIKE YOU ANYMORE
273
 
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: GRIEVOUS ANGELS – SUMMER BEFORE THE STORM
266
ENTERTAINMENT HEADLINES