In a somewhat interesting turn of events, the end of 2015 brought on a new love for me that I never allowed myself the pleasure of experiencing before: Panic! at the Disco – or, more specifically, the poetic master of the English language, Brendon Urie.

                  A few years ago around a time many would consider Panic!'s peak, another band was living their hay day. That band would be My Chemical Romance, and if you remember anything from that point in time, it was that liking both MCR and P!ATD at the same time was simply unacceptable. You had to choose. And because I found My Chemical Romance first, I didn't even give Panic! a second thought. Sure, "I Write Sins Not Tragedies" was a fantastic song, but that was the only song I was allowed to like by them.

                  Like, I thought being a fan of One Direction was tough, but then I remember that dark time in my past when I wasn't allowed to enjoy any other band of a similar genre to MCR or I was betraying them in the deepest, most intimate way possible, and then I'm pretty grateful for the lesser of the two evils.

                  It wasn't just My Chem's fandom, of course. Panic!'s was the same way. They were allowed to like maybe two MCR songs, though, while we only were allowed the one Panic! song (if you're wondering which two MCR songs Panic! fans could enjoy, they were "Teenagers" and "Welcome to the Black Parade"...obviously). Life was really hard back then, guys. Be grateful you didn't live that.

                  So anyway, now that the love of my life has broken up and stopped making new music and most of the fandom has grown up and only has time to be bitter about scams on the internet falsely claiming MCR is getting back together, I've had the freedom to finally play catch up with Panic! at the Disco just in time for them to release their new album, Death of a Bachelor. When "Hallelujah," the album's first single, was released, I loved it right away. Keep in mind that this was only, like, the third or fourth Panic! song I'd ever heard, so I didn't really know where to go from there. Fast forward a few months and I happened to come across a few more songs thanks to advice from a friend (these songs included "Miss Jackson," which I discovered I'd heard before on the radio, "Ballad of Mona Lisa," and "Nine in the Afternoon"). A monster was born.

                  What really solidified it was the day that I saw something on Tumblr about Brendon releasing another song from the new album (at this time, we didn't know the album was called Death of a Bachelor, I just knew that that was what the song was called). Except that he didn't really release it, it was just featured on a TV show or something and he was telling anyone who wanted to download it to rip it off of YouTube. Which is exactly what I did. And when I finally found it, I honestly thought I wasn't hearing the right song. It sounded nothing like the other Panic! stuff I'd heard up until that point, but I literally fell in love.

                  The rest is history, and here I am with a review of Brendon's most recent work of art. It's been nearly a month since the album's release, but I had to have the full of experience (by that I mean play it and only it for the last month, with the exception of a few songs from Too Weird to Live, Too Rare to Die). So here we go!

01: VICTORIOUS – 10/10

Ah, track one. What an opener. I've heard a lot of people call this song "overly ambitious" as a starting track, but I don't think I've ever disagreed with anything more. This is farther from overly ambitious than Brendon's forehead (look at me, pretending I've known about these memes and inside jokes for ages har har). It's hype, it's amped up, it makes you want to pretend you're Rocky Balboa and put together a montage of yourself jogging through the city. But does it set the bar too high for the rest of the album? Definitely not. For me, this track was more of a statement. It's pretty widely known that Panic! changes their sound often – usually from album to album – and this one is no different. I would consider "Victorious" a demonstration of Brendon making a scene and shouting in your face, "I did it again bitches! Say goodbye to TWTLTRTD, say hello to the new era!" Also there'd be fireworks and champagne probably everywhere. You're going to love it. Favorite lyrics (quick side note: choosing favorite lyrics for every single song on this album is going to be next to impossible – have you read this guy's lyrics?): Fifty words for murder / and I'm every one of them.

02: HALLELUJAH – 9.5/10

As you read above, this was the first track I heard from the album as it was the first single. I've had a lot of time to become well-acquainted with it, and I'm honestly honored (which is how you'll find yourself feeling after becoming familiar and friendly with all of these songs). It was made for the radio, if you ask me. That's meant in the best way possible, like, it's the kind of the thing we should be broadcasting to the world instead of a lot of what's currently dominating Top 40 radio. But whatever. We've got fantastic brass accompaniment, a super fun percussion build-up, and then a chorus that is impossible to not dance to. Your foot will tap or you'll bob your head or you'll sway back and forth, but you will not be able to fight it. And Brendon hits some notes that'll send you either straight to Heaven or straight into the sun, but the best part is that they're nothing compared to the notes he'll hit later on in some of the other tracks. Favorite lyrics: If you can't stop shaking lean back let it move right through ya.

03: DON'T THREATEN ME WITH A GOOD TIME – 10/10

The first time I heard this song was – much like my first experience with "Drag Me Down" – in the middle of the night while I was working third shift at the hotel. And again, I was not prepared. Apparently this one leaked a few hours before it was released, so I'm not sure if that's what prompted the early release, but I'm not going to complain. "Don't Threaten Me With A Good Time" sounds very different from the first two tracks in my opinion, but you'll find that, with a few exceptions, a majority of the album probably sounds like a combination of this and "Victorious." You'll find yourself singing "Alright, alright" to yourself for days on end, and when you don't follow that bit with any other lyrics, your friends or family will probably start questioning you, but just let it be. You don't need to respond. You don't need to tell them anything. Speaking of that, the song itself is sort of about getting into ridiculous and awful and slightly dangerous situations due to partying and the effects of drugs and alcohol, so I don't know that I'd recommend listening to this in front of your parents or any other adults that expect more of you or who have the ability to take away your Panic! privileges. It's fantastic, though. The album cover is essentially a scene that this track describes. Favorite lyrics: I lost a bet to a guy in a chiffon skirt / but I make these high heels work / I told you time and time again / I'm not as think as you drunk I am.

04: EMPEROR'S NEW CLOTHES – 10/10

Guys, this is straight up one of the most lit songs I've ever heard. It's insane. It's wild. It is hands down the best song to jam to in a car when you're alone (or with someone who loves it as much as you do). I mean, truly, it's a little terrifying, especially once you watch the music video. Oh, by the way, that's an absolute must. I want you to stop reading this review immediately and get onto YouTube and watch this music video (or I'll just post it below...). I'm not joking. I would say that I still watch it once a week just to relive it, so if you haven't seen it yet, you're failing at life. But please, when you listen to the song, just pay attention to the lyrics. They give it life in a way I've never seen or heard before. To be totally honest, this song (as well as "Save the Queen" by Garek) has inspired a future story that I'll eventually get to work on, and it could very possibly be one of the most interesting things I've ever written, and if you want to get a feel for what it could be about, just listen to this song. And remember when I said Brendon would be hitting some crazy notes? Yeah. Listen and find out what I mean by that. Favorite lyrics: Heroes always get remembered / but you know legends never die.

https://youtu.be/7qFF2v8VsaA

05: DEATH OF A BACHELOR – 10/10

You have no clue how relieving and incredible it was to finally get to hear the official, HQ studio version of this song. I mean, I made do with my ripped version from YouTube, but it was trash compared to this. Like I said earlier though, back when I was searching for this song and I found a video that looked like it would finally have a decent audio, I was so upset the first time I heard the opening chords. I genuinely thought I had a bad audio again, and then I was even more disappointed when I heard the first lyrics. To me, someone just played me with a different song that definitely wasn't "Death of a Bachelor" and I was about two seconds away from clicking out of the video when I finally heard something in the vocals that made me freeze, and I was like...wait. This actually does sound like Brendon. And then it was, you guys. I was blown away. It sounded absolutely nothing like anything else I'd heard from Panic!, and to this day I'm still a little blown away every time I hear it. Without a doubt, it's still one of my favorite tracks on the whole album, and I'm positive you'll all love its jazzy, savvy beauty as much as I do. You'll find yourself wishing Brendon would put out more songs that sound like this one. Favorite lyrics: The lace in your dress / tangles my neck / how do I live?

06: CRAZY=GENIUS – 10/10

I remember first hearing this song and literally being like what on God's green earth did I just listen to? So if you hear it and are kind of like WTF then don't worry, we're all there at some point. But it becomes enjoyable eventually. Like, I don't know what made me start to love it, but I just know that a time came when this was the only song on the album I wanted to listen to, and I just replayed it over and over again until I reminded myself that ten other tracks needed my attention and love as well. Right before this album came out, I finally got to see The Princess and the Frog (I know, as an honorary Disney freak, it took me ages) and there was always something about "Crazy=Genius" that drove me insane, and you know what it was? The fact that it sounds like it should be on the soundtrack for that movie if you ignore the lyrics. Like, okay, I know that that's a genre and era of music, but I don't listen to that stuff regularly so I have no idea what the genre even is. If you know what that genre is, feel free to let me know and be warned that this song fits with that type of music. And it's fantastic. It's so fun. Favorite lyrics: Other boys you may have dated serrated your heart with a slice / but the cut of your love never hurts / baby, it's a sweet butter knife.

07: LA DEVOTEE – 10/10

This song is mine and my roommate's jam. It's so wonderfully pop and the lyrics are a poem and I will never stop loving it. I think this might have been the third song I heard from this album after "Hallelujah" and "Death of a Bachelor." It was released early at the same time as "Emperor's New Clothes" I think, but for some reason I put off listening to that one because I didn't like the title (lol). Most definitely the standout quality oft his track are the lyrics; they're intricate and full of imagery and so, so LA. I think Brendon said that this album was inspired a lot by LA, probably the same way that Too Weird to Live, Too Rare to Die was inspired by Las Vegas, and obviously this song showcases that the most. It's super fun. Favorite lyrics: Drinking white wine in the blushing light / just another LA devotee.

08: GOLDEN DAYS – 9.5/10

Phew, and we're finally through all of the pre-released tracks (apart from "Crazy=Genius"). Although, to be fair, this one was also apparently played during a playback reel for college football on TV, so I guess Brendon couldn't wait for it to be released either. I'm pretty sure if he could have, he would have leaked the entire album. What I love most about this song is how powerful, like, every single vocal is? There is no build up. When the first verse starts, Brendon is practically blurting the words at you, which somehow just makes you want to pay attention. When it seems like things calm down during the bridges, you're mistaken, because in seconds he's shouting again and then the chorus comes and it's just like "golden dAAAAYYs!" over and over again. But I think that this is the perfect kind of song for that. It makes you nostalgic for something you can't even recall, but it doesn't matter, because you just...get it. I don't know that "Golden Days" belonged in a playback reel for college football; to me, it belongs in the background of a montage put together for a graduation party or something. Maybe even for a class reunion. Something more meaningful than college football. Favorite lyrics: And I swear that I'll always paint you / golden days.

09: THE GOOD, THE BAD AND THE DIRTY – 10/10

First of all, I just want to point out that I'm endlessly bothered by their lack of the Oxford Comma in the track title. How dare they. But secondly, you know how I said that this entire album was a combination of the sounds from "Don't Threaten Me With A Good Time" and "Victorious"? Yeah, well, this song is literally those songs' offspring. It was my first favorite out of all of the tracks that I hadn't heard before the album release, and it's still nearly impossible to not break out dancing whenever it comes on. I think I might also even go so far to say that this one could be considered really radio-friendly. Somehow it's just got that formula going on that I feel like everyone loves: super, ridiculously catchy chorus, easy-to-learn verses with interesting lyrics, music that builds and a beat that drops at the start of every refrain. I just feel like even if you don't want to like this song, you will. Favorite lyrics: I know what it's like to have to trade / the ones you love for the ones you hate / Don't think I've ever used a day of my education.

10: HOUSE OF MEMORIES – 9.5/10

Alright, so if you approach this song with the intentions of paying super close attention to the lyrics, then you'll probably like it a lot sooner than I did. At first, I think this was probably my least favorite song on the album (or at least tied with "Crazy=Genius"), but that couldn't be further from the truth now as I don't think I have a least favorite. In the beginning, the tune just didn't appeal to me, I think. After several listens, though, I looked up the lyrics and really paid attention, and that's kind of when I figured out that this song is literally the soundtrack of my life. It's a more serious song the same way that "Golden Days" is, but at the same time, it can fool you because you want to have fun listening to it. It doesn't necessarily sound like a serious song. And I suppose, if you don't relate then you don't have to consider it serious, but I do. Favorite lyrics: If you're a lover you should know / the lonely moments just get lonelier / the longer you're in love / than if you were alone.

11: IMPOSSIBLE YEAR – 10/10

Hi, yes, if you were looking for the anthem of One Direction fans in 2015, then you've come to the right place. Honestly though, I cannot fathom why on earth Brendon chose to end the album on such a depressing note, but God. What a song. It's as close to "Death of a Bachelor" as any other song on the album gets, but really, they don't actually sound that similar. I'm just still trying to figure out why such a fun album ended like this. We get a lovely brass interlude accompanied by a piano, which is featured throughout the track's entirety, and by the end you kind of just feel hopeless, but it's somehow a good feeling. Like, you're glad you listened to it even though it just made you sob about how sad your life is. Lovely vocals, upsetting lyrics, completely accurate for 1D fans. Favorite lyrics: There's never air to breathe / There's never in-betweens / These nightmares always hang on past the dream.

                  Alright, friends, so there you have it. My review of Death of a Bachelor is finally complete, and I can't wait to hear about how much you guys enjoy the album the same way that I have. Like, I enjoyed it so much that I bought tickets to see them this summer. It's going to be an exciting time.

                  What was your favorite song? What's your favorite Panic! song of all time ever? I still haven't completely caught up with all of their music, so if you've got any recommendations outside of the most recent two albums, I'd love to hear them!

                  An Elf Bites update is on the way tonight still, so hang tight. Thanks for reading! Take care. x