there'd be no distance that could hold us back

( New Panic song, Mad as Rabbits )

( That Green Gentleman )


Newsflash: apparently Ryro can sing now? yes, he did do backing vocals, but he never did lead singing and this new development pleases me in ways that give the music nerd in me great joy, it must be said. Shared singing duties! HARMONY!!!

I can has new found love for Ryan Ross? Yes. Yes I can.

Which gives me a few thoughts.

Thought the first: as of this very moment, I am completely enamored of Panique a la Discotheque. I havent heard We're So Starving yet, and rewind to last summer and I said

Another note, and I feel I MUST say this. While I'm overjoyed that they did a cover of "The Weight" in concert...*listens to new Panic! songs* *is not impressed*

At that point Panic was playing festivals with "Back to the Streets" (lol) and the beginning of the gay hippie cowboys look and Ryan was the Mother Teresa of emo with his soup kitchen activities. I have since repented, as I hope my love for Nine in the Afternoon is quite obvious now. Panic's love letter to the Beatles is endlessly endearing, Penny Lane-esque horn overlaying and all *draws hearts* I'm not that crazy about Mad as Rabbits (see above), but The Green Gentleman is all kinds of brilliant and makes my heart happy. And is that a bass I see in Brendon's hands (MaR)? I believe so. On top of that, JWalk is singing in MaR too? ASDFJKL; YES. FULL OF YES AND WIN.

(sidenote: what is it about Jon Walker that immediately draws people to him? I'll be the first to admit I don't know a ton about him, nor have I watched a lot of Panic interviews and such because Ryro's monotone gets to me, but you just look at him and think HOW SO AWESOME? I don't get it, but I don't mind either.)

Still waiting on the new age makeup Wentz kept talking about in relation to Panic; I expect to see it when HCT starts, though. Also, Panic is swinging their sound with wild, unbridled success in my eyes. They still sound pop, and I'll miss the techno-ish stuff from AFYCSO, but the new direction their heading in seems natural in some weird, twisted way I can't really get a grasp on at the moment. Hell, they sound vaguely country at times. A thought which terrifies me a bit because I despise country, but they--I don't know--make it tolerable? Not in the same way that, say, The Decemberists do, but I'm really digging their sound right now. Really.

Thought the second: harmony.

Why is it in FBR there is a distinct lack of it? Or, lack of notice-ableness? I'm fairly certain that Panic is the only FBR band that has two at least semi-capable singers to bring it to the table live. For example, while I love Patrick's voice and he writes lovely melodies which he sets against another track of him singing the harmony, there's a certain homogeneousness to it, and live you don't get the studio experience because A) Pete's a screamer, not fit to carry a tune that Patrick writes, and B) as far as I know, Joe can't either, and C) Andy just going to stay over here drumming kthxbye. Studio stuff w/Panic has Brendon doubling up for the vocals, sure, but he's got Ryan to cover the harmonies/miscellaneous vocals in concert, so not a lot is lost in translation.

For all the slick production both bands have, musically Panic is kicking FOB's ass.

Given, I've never thought Patrick was the musical genius people tend to exaggerate him as, in relation to FOB's music; it's very straightforward, well-produced, quite simple, usually, very listenable. Where the genius comes in is producing and knowing how to use himself and others in the music; that's the key. It worked wonders with Cobra Starship, Gym Class Heroes, and The Hush Sound. Now, I'm not saying Ryan (or whoever is in charge of Panic's music in general) writes better music than FOB; that's a matter of opinion. The music is written to suit the style and musical ability of the band.

And it makes me a bit sad (but not much, because I love both of them) that Panic's potential is overshadowing FOB's musicianship. Prove me wrong, someone?

On a slightly different note, Pretty. Odd. needs to leak now.

EDIT I'm making this edit now only because it was only after I left for work that I thought of it (and I haven't read any comments yet), but I'm not trying to start any wank or start a Who's Better argument (FOB is my favorite FBR band by far, it's just my opinion that Panic are a better bunch of musicians); I mwant it as it applies to all of FBR, FOB just got singled out because they're an umbrella for the label. Okay, off to read comments!/EDIT