“Pray for the Wicked” is Panic at the Disco’s new album. Overall it is a great album following their fantastic "Death of a Bachelor. " The album incorporates the jazz and brass band influences that "Death of a Bachelor" had and, somehow, does it better.
The whole album seems to tell a story of luxurious life in LA and making the big times. It is loaded with almost nothing but upbeat, energetic songs like “(F**k a) Silver Lining”, “Say Amen (Saturday Night)”, “High Hopes”, and “King of the Clouds”. None of P!ATD’s albums have ever been the like the other and this one is definitely different than the rest. Brendon Urie has recently finished his run in the musical Kinky Boots and it’s obvious that the experience has influenced some of the songs by giving them a very eccentric tone; especially in “Roaring 20s” which Urie himself has said was based on his Broadway experience. Every song feels almost theatrical because it’s obvious that he holds nothing back. Every song tells a story of their own that rolls into an overall vibe of living life to the fullest and making it in the world.
The first song on the album “(F**k a) Silver Lining” starts off with a voice saying “out with the old, in with the new” symbolizing a new phase for the band and, obviously, a new album. The song itself talks about never settling, even for the finer things, no matter what always go for better. “High Hopes” is about dreaming big, always have your chin up and accomplishing your goals.
“Hey Look Ma, I Made It” is about hitting it big and everything going your way even if it might just be a good dream. “The Overpass” is another great song that almost feels like it should belong in a Bond movie. “One of the Drunks” talks about the lifestyle of always partying and always drinking like the title hints at. One of the most popular songs on the album is “Say Amen (Saturday Night)” is about one wild weekend and is bound to put anyone in a good mood.
While every song is solid, one of the best on the album is “Dying in LA”. It wraps up the album with a little bit of a slower tone. While every song before this one is pretty much living life and enjoying it, this one is about the end. l In the end, hopefully, you can look back at your life knowing you went all out and that’s what this song represents.It’s also great because it plays as a great contrast to all of the high energy, eccentric and go getting songs to having a slower and more reflective kind of song to wrap it all up.
The last three songs of the album “King of the Clouds”, “Old Fashioned”, and “Dancing’s Not a Crime” are all amazing songs that are bound to put anyone in a good mood. “King of the Clouds” in particular is an interesting song because Urie has stated that most of that song was him rambling on one night and then turning everything he said into a song. Overall this is a feel good album that can also inspire you to keep chasing your dreams and aspire to be at the top along with possibly being an advertisement for living in LA.
P!ATD have managed to consistently change their unique sound and do it successfully. The album is incredible because it is not only just good music, but it is also inspirational because it sends out an amazing message of living life to the fullest, never settling, and aspiring to chase your dreams. I challenge anyone to listen to a song and be in a bad mood and if you are it’s because you’re trying.
8.5/10
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