panic! at the disco-vices & virtues-- first listen

i did not get around to listening to an album for the 365 project today, but i did spend some time listening to the new panic! at the disco album.

i first heard the single, as most of us did, a few weeks ago. i was actually really against listening to it, because i know the situation with the band and was pretty sure i wasn't going to like it at all. i like Brendon Urie enough, but i really thought that Ryan Ross was taking what i loved most about the band away with him when he walked out that door. i have always favored pretty.odd over a fever you cant sweat out, so this wasn't an unfounded worry.

i didn't really have an opinion on the single one way or the other after the first few listens. i was driving back to school one day after break and it came on the radio, and i found myself sitting in the parking lot listening to the rest of the song, and at that point i realized that i really liked the ballad of Mona Lisa and that there was a chance that i wouldn't hate this album.

Today (i believe), panic! started streaming their new album on their facebook, so i figured id give it a listen and see how it turned out. i was pleasantly surprised with the album. that doesn't say much since i went into this with fairly low expectations, but there were songs that i heard that i actually liked so much i took the time to comment to others about them. memories is my current favorite, but as i get to know the album better i can see that changing.

i think that timing is everything with the release of this album, at least for me. if we were heading into the colder part of the year i know i wouldn't give this album much thought, because winter is made for depressing music, not dancy stuff. however, since we are just starting to warm up and spring is right around the corner, i can see myself getting my hands on this album and driving around with the windows down and dancing at every stoplight.

if you are like me and scared to see what became of the band after half of them took off, please take my advice and check this album out. i think you will find that you are as into it as i am.

tracks to pay attention to:
the ballad of Mona Lisa
memories
ready to go(get me out of my mind)
Sarah smiles

tracks to avoid:
i honestly didn't find any that i disliked. this may change as time goes on, but i was really vibing on the whole album.