Things Are Shaping Up To Be Pretty.Odd.

When Pete Wentz started his record label, Decaydance Records, I do not think that he knew just how big it would grow. Bands such as The Academy Is..., Four Years Strong, Gym Class Heroes and Hey Monday have entered and dominated the music scene. There is one in particular that caught many peoples attention. Panic! At The Disco has become a name that everyone knew when they released their debut album, A Fever You Can't Sweat Out, in 2005. Their fanbase grew, as did the outrageous things they did during their shows.

As their tour continued, issues in the band became evident. Their original drummer, Brent Wilson was either not trying on stage, or not even showing up. In time, he quit and a sound tech and good friend to The Academy Is... stepped up and took his place. It wasn't long for young girls and guys to fall head over heels for Ryan Ross, Brendon Urie, Spencer Smith, and their new bassist, Jon Walker.

After their tour, it seemed like a lifetime until they announced that they would have their second album be released on March 25, 2008. Talk of new riffs and synth sounds would be the topic of every fan. But it seemed that when MTV leaked the album only a week before its release, Panic!'s fanbase would be split in two. It seemed that the new, more neo-Beatle-esk, sound that the band took up caused an uproar. Half of the fans thought that it was a sell out for them to change their sound, yet the other half accepted the sound as Panic!'s experimental ways. Pretty.Odd. was soft and eclectic, unlike the synthetic beats of A Fever... and held more a meaningful and heartfelt message to each song.

Pretty.Odd. consisted of 15 tracks. Though not on the record, there is a sixteenth track that is associated with the album. The track titles are as followed:

1. We're So Starving
2. Nine In The Afternoon
3. She's A Handsome Woman
4. Do You See What I'm Seeing?
5. That Green Gentlemen (Things Have Changed For Me)
6. I Have Friends In Holy Spaces
7. Northern Downpour
8. When The Day Met The Night
9. Pas De Cheval
10. The Piano Knows Something I Don't Know
11. Behind The Sea
12. Folkin' Around
13. She Had The World
14. From A Mountain In The Middle Of Cabins
15. Mad As Rabbits
16. Slow Motion (Third Eye Blind cover)

Each song held part of each band member. Instead of just Ryan Ross as the writer/composer, all four members contributed fully to the album, something, as they all stated, they never had while Brent was still in the band.

Three of the most important songs on this album, according to me, at least, are “Northern Downpour”, “Behind The Sea” and “From A Mountain In The Middle of Cabins”. “Northern Downpour” goes through the idea that life is spent too much on material things and that we do not spend enough on our emotions and what is truly happening in the world.

“Behind The Sea” is a more fun loving song that brings about memories that we have never really experienced, but dreamed about. It brings the aspect of living life through our dreams and following them to get as close as we can to our ultimate happiness.

“From A Mountain In The Middle Of Cabins” is about life not always going the way one wants. It sends the message that me all move on with live, that we can either take what we want from it or leave all together. It also shows that things do not always turn out how we either hope or planned.

I believe that, though the sound is much different from their debut album, Panic! At The Disco did not have a sophomore slump attempt, but I believe that, due to their experimental ideals and diverse musical background that it was a great way to show their different tastes. Even with half of their fanbase thinking that Panic! At the Disco lost their touch, so many more give them respect for testing the fragile waters of the music scene. And with their new attempt, they were able to make their shows different from their last, and give their fans a new experience when they came to see them.

In late, the band has announced a break up. Ryan Ross and Jon Walker broke away and started a neo-Beatle-esk band named The Young Veins. They have one single out to the public, "Change", as well as a MySpace and a website. I believe that the members have agreed to separate for their own musical gains and so they can have their own edge with separate genres of music.

Currently, Panic! At the Disco consists of Brendon and Spencer, as well as a few friends to perform with them on stage. They have helped write "Open Happiness", the new slogan for Coca-Cola as well as one single for Jennifer's Body, "New Perspectives". They are currently touring with both old and new songs, and maybe one or two cover songs.

The new song pertains to the current break up. They want to both separate from the old and still be acknowledged for the old.

I believe that the future of both Panic! At the Disco and the Young Veins, who already have a large fanbase thanks to their past in Panic!, will be filled with much success and amazing lyrics and composition that rocked all fans as when they first came into the music scene.