With Viva Las Vengeance, Panic! at the Disco has exposed themselves as liars. At this point, you’re probably scratching your head, like, “huh?” How?” But it’s really simple. The band who once told us they “Write Sins Not Tragedies,” has delivered a new album that is most definitely both.
Honestly, I don’t even know where to start with this one. Just…As someone who once paid a disgusting amount of money to see them at an arena show — despite loathing shitty arena shows — listening late Thursday night/early Friday morning to that pre-saved new music I was so excited for was certainly an experience. And no, it was not a good experience. It was, in fact, a very, very bad experience.
And I listened to the whole album, all the way through. Even after I gave up on it redeeming itself, there was something very “can’t turn away from this trainwreck” about the whole experience. It was like, “sure, I want to turn this off. I want to forget I ever heard it. I physically can’t move to turn it off.”
Viva Las Vengeance‘s fifth track, “Star Spangled Banger” (???), actually has a lyric proclaiming “We are the new Dead Kennedys.” And, of course, it’s in the middle of a track, in the middle of an album, that I’m going to go out on a limb and say the Dead Kennedys wouldn’t be caught dead being associated with.
For another fun time, there’s also “Middle Of A Breakup” with…whatever the fuck this is for lyrics:
“Oh shit, you’re kissin’ my neck, kissin’ my chest
Now I remember why we fell in love”
Or. There’s the sixth track, “God Killed Rock And Roll,” which makes me wonder if Brendon Urie thinks he’s God and is therefore confessing. Because otherwise? Bestie, sweetheart. My love, who gave me so many fun tracks over the years…God has nothing to do with Viva Las Vengeance. That one’s all on you.
But! Don’t just take our word for it. Twitter is…not a fan of Viva Las Vengeance.
It’s absolutely a punishment.
And yes, we also feel sick.
Justice for the Dead Kennedys — and for all Kennedys, really.
One can only hope…
Yes, we’re also impressed. Definitely. To be fair, it takes a certain kind (the wrong kind) of talent to create something this awful.
Basically, this tweet sums it up. If you’re going to listen to Panic! at the Disco’s Viva Las Vengeance, here’s how to do it without harming yourself:
So. In conclusion. If we ever say we’ve changed our minds about this album, please be aware that it’s a cry for help. We’ve been kidnapped. Save us. All that good shit.
Got thoughts on Viva Las Vengeance? Mourning P!ATD? Got a defense for this shit? Leave us a comment!
The album is joyous and operatic. It is a show of Brendon’s love and passion for his artistry. As the saying goes, if you haven’t got anything nice to say don’t say anything at all…
I’ve loved everything I ever heard from ‘Panic!’ before this. I didn’t think Brendan could write a bad song. And somehow, every song on this new album is trash. What happened???
I truly wish I could answer that question.
oh my gosh this article was so hard to read. I love peoples opinions but music is music. If you don’t like how this album sounded because it’s not your vibe alright sure that’s you. But there is no need to make a dig on the whole band like that was unnecessary. As Natalia said if you don’t have anything nice to say. Don’t say anything at all.
I had the same problems you had and honestly I was also super kinda cringing in “Something about maggie” when he mentioned slitting his wrists..that’s kinda.. not good. And borderline pushing it after the whole Kennedy line. I asked my friend and even they were concerned.
The other huge issues for me was that he was :
Straining his voice too much
And
Singing high notes when he didn’t really need to.
And tbh this all sounded like a huge Queen cover band album.
God, yes, the straining and the high notes. I mean, it was pretty beautiful, imo, in “Say Amen (Saturday Night)” as a one-time thing. Just…way overkill here. And the wildest part about the Queen cover album vibe is it’s so BAD, yet (again imo) the “Bohemian Rhapsody” cover was so good??? Make it make sense.
I’m not sure how I feel about the slitting wrists lyric. On the one hand, I’ve got no room to talk as someone who was deep into emo when it was first big and am all about the MCR lyrics that mention the same thing. On the other, that was then…and this is 2022?
Ok, FIRST of all: Those reactions have me cracking TF up.
Second, I truly, sincerely hope your concert has more tracks from older stuff and not a lot of…this.
I’m glad i could make you laugh lol. I hope so too, i have never been a die hard panic fan, but i have usually enjoyed their songs. I wonder if the songs from this album will be better or worse live, i’ve heard that his live shows have gotten worse because he’s destroyed his voice
I went to a show six years ago that was definitely much, much better than the one in 2018. That might’ve been the difference between the show venues, though. Enjoy yourself however you can. Merch booth? Food? Something else? Go for it.