You've all heard the story. Fall Out Boy's Pete Wentz signed the Las Vegas outfit (started as a Blink-182 cover band) off the strength of some demos (without seeing the band live!), and Ryan Ross, Spencer Smith, Brent Wilson, and Brendon Urie hopped on a van to drive across the country to College Park, Maryland. Upon arrival, Panic! At The Disco started a marathon recording session and emerged with A Fever You Can't Sweat Out 5 weeks later. The first half of the album consists of upbeat dance-punk numbers, a mashing of traditional "rock band" instruments w/ electronic sounds (drum machines and keyboards!). Chamber pop influenced the the latter half, with strings, accordions, and piano providing backdrops. This contrast in style, while completely intentional, might have the listeners questioning what Panic! is all about, and perhaps even raise the question of how "authentic" the group's debut effort is. But it also shows how confident and uncompromising the young band was at the time, really gunning for whatever it is they wanted to do sonically. Ultimately, the songs on A Fever… are super catchy, and the emo-pop-punk (peep the long titles!) aesthetic they present is still plenty satisfying to listen to. Check out: "Lying Is The Most Fun A Girl Can Have without Taking Her Clothes Off," "I Write Sins Not Tragedies," "The Only Difference Between Martyrdom and Suicide is Press Coverage," and "Build God, Then We'll Talk."

• black vinyl pressing
• housed in gatefold sleeve
• includes foldout poster
• original release year: 2005
• music label: Fueled by Ramen 2017

reviewed by bar adal 05/2017