Panic! At The Disco - O2 ABC Glasgow, 2/5/11

Well, having only just recovered (only exaggerating a little bit) from Monday night, it's now review time. Last time I saw Panic was 2008, and it was a very different band on stage that night - and not just physically with two new members. It was amazing to see a band come in to their own and give a fantastic show.

Opening with new single Ready To Go, the crowd immediately entered into the spirit of things, singing along and jumping around like mad. Thinking that this was already great, the atmosphere kicked up a whole new level with But It's Better If You Do. Even a technical glitch in the middle of the gig (which the band handled fantastically - something a lot of others would have found awkward) couldn't dampen the atmosphere, and led to a vocal rendition of the guitar to George Michael's Careless Whisper from the unbelievably talented Brendon Urie.

Personal highlights included Lying Is The Most Fun and Hurricane, but it was a strangely (or not so strangely) emotional Camisado that stole the show for me. With Careless Whisper, Fat Bottomed Girls and How Soon Is Now? as fabulous cover versions, this was a show to remember - and it really will be remembered as the coming of age of an incredible band.

-faithfulradiowhore

Panic! At The Disco - Vices and Virtues

Oh, my boys are back. Having waited a long time for 'Vices and Virtues', Panic fans have been well rewarded with the release of the album today - and with the stream from the facebook page for UK readers, where the album hasn't been released yet...

Stylistically, it's almost as if A Fever You Can't Sweat Out and Pretty. Odd. had a wilful child together - there are such strong elements of both in the melodies, and the mixture in tone of the album. The duality goes perfectly with the title, bringing to mind long summer days and sleek darkened ninghtclubs alternately. With the delicious vocals that fans have come to expect, the songs are given an added polish and element of vice. The sheer range of instruments which are brought into play in the album should definitely be noted too, impressive and beautifully used as they are.

Lyrically, much as I would like to argue otherwise, there's something missing - but there was always going to be realistically. However, there are some properly brilliant lines which should not be overlooked. Even taking single The Ballad of Mona Lisa, you have the element of storytelling which is a hallmark of P!ATD.

Put simply, Vices and Virtues is a triumph. Now comes the impatient wait for the tour... more to come in that case.

Personal highlights are Hurricane, Let's Kill Tonight, The Ballad of Mona Lisa, and of course the long awaited Nearly Witches full track.

-faithfulradiowhore

Vices and Virtues by Panic! At The Disco, released today (22/3/11) in the USA, 28/3/11 elsewhere.