Panic! At The Disco (p!atd)’s fourth album takes the band back to their Las Vegas roots. The album’s lead single, “Miss Jackson,” takes on a murder narrative, acting as a metaphor for singer Brendon Urie’s youthful promiscuity as he sings: “Where will you be waking up tomorrow morning?” Another song, the club-inspired “Vegas Lights,” celebrates the carefree energy of a night out.
The dominant theme is love. “Girls/Girls/Boys” explores sexual identity whereas “Girl That You Love,” blurs the line between love and loathing. “Casual Affair” deals with the pressures of secrecy, while “Collar Full” and “Nicotine” capture the vitality, the feeling of addiction, and the impatience that complicates love.
Fans who were hoping for a return to the flamboyant theatricality of p!atd’s debut album A Fever You Can’t Sweat Out may be disappointed, but Too Weird to Live, Too Rare to Die! has a lot to offer. The exciting blend of hip-hop and electronica tells a coming-of-age story set against a Las Vegas backdrop It is a record that will resonate with many, yet is also an ode to the freedom that comes with maturity.
