This is it. Panic’s new album…and I’m not going to beat around the bush…it’s dismal and disappointing. And…I wasn’t expecting very much at all. I had heard that they were changing directions with their music, which would be a good thing, considering their first album was basically a copy of Fall Out Boy, but with even stupider lyrics and even worse vocals.

You see, on the face of it, Pretty. Odd. is an exciting new album for them to really show what type of band they are and the direction they are going in. In fact, I have no doubt that some people will like it. There are girls out there that will draw immense pleasure from this. But if you actually listen to it, you don’t hear originality at all. What you hear, is just stolen melodies from old films and stage plays. I just learned today from Wikipedia that the band began by covering Blink-182 songs. This was no surprise, since they are still copying others. You might argue that it’s just “influence” but one go-through of this album and you’d be convinced. Actually, to be honest, they haven’t changed AT ALL. They have the same style, same tempo, and same tacky song titles. Perhaps they say it best themselves in “We’re So Starving”. “You don’t have to worry ’cause we’re the same band.”

“Nine In The Afternoon” was their single released months ago to build hype for this album. Obviously they consider this their best song, and do you know what? Radio stations haven’t been playing it. Rightly so.

“She Has The World” and “Do You Know What I’m Seeing” both begin with extremely familiar melodies.

Nothing about this album is exciting. Their lyrics feel disgustingly elementary. How can they be a dance/pop band and have 10 seconds of silence in the beginning of every song and have so many boring filler songs? I hate to say this, but you really need to listen to this album to know what I’m on about…You are left with an empty, “what did I just listen to?” feeling.