This is a weird review for me to be writing because, well I hated this band's first album. I know "hated" is a strong word, but I still choose to use it. For some reason A Fever You Can't Sweat Out just rubbed me the wrong way. It came out at the hight of my music snob phase as well as my "anti-anything remotely sounding similar to another band" phase. I guess I grew up in a scene where the bands that got big were the ones that toured most often. They hit the right shows at the right times and through hard work and a insane touring schedule, they eventually would grow and develop a fan base.

Panic at the Disco played, like, a show or two before they were signed to a major record label. They hit at the right time at the right place, with the explosion of bands being discovered via myspace. They had catchy songs with a sound (vocal wise, at least in my opinion) that reminded me of Patrick Stump from Fall Out Boy. Even the song titles were long and clever, just like Fall Out Boy, and on top of all of that as a band, they weren't very good. Even Panic's lead singer, Brendon Urie, said they had strides to go when it came to musical talent.

By constantly touring, a band gains something else besides a fan-base; they gain talent. They practice with the same people daily, they tour in a small van with the same guys from state to state to state, creating a bond between members, gaining stage presence, and above all, they learn to be better musicians.

So having said all of that, being a guy who won't ever discredit a band undeservingly, and who will give multiple chances and continue to buy new releases of bands that have disappointed me in the past, I went half way with a friend and purchased Pretty.Odd. by Panic at the Disco.

Totally floored and taken back by, not only the fact that I liked this album, but how much I liked it, my like eventually turned into love. Yes, I eventually ended up loving this album.

This is the Panic at the Disco that should have made their debut. They had their own sound, their own vibe, and above all else, they ended up being really good musicians. With a few member changes, the vast improvements are obvious and have me very very excited for where they take themselves as artists.

With the super catchy "Nine In The Afternoon," this song sets a tempo for the rest of the album. They let you know there is a new band here--one that you're not used to. Gone are the overtly synthetic sounds of their first album, this is a band. This isn't some group of kids with a keyboard and a Mac; they know what they're playing and how to play them. There are trumpets sounding off in the background, pronounced guitar's and Brendon Urie's voice takes up a lot more space this time around.

That song kicks us off on a very mature (even though most of the members were still under 21) and an even classic rock or folky sounding record.

The song's are upbeat and happy as hell, and while having many a summer party last year, this was the album I often listened to.

"That Green Gentlemen (Thing's Have Changed)" is the song that tipped me off to buy this album. Seeing this video, hearing this song just for some reason made me want to hear more. So congrats to a great song/music video I guess, because the combo of the two was what baited me to actually give this record a listen.

Their third single " Northern Downpour," slows down the record and is a real great example of how they work now with subtle sounds, simple chords and courses' and harmonies as well as adding in wonderful back up vocals. It's a wonderful song to listen to on a rainy day and I highly recommend giving it a try the next time you're stuck indoors.

One of the last songs on the album is my personal favorite and this is usually the song I play for friends who have yet to hear the album. It's called "Folkin' Around," and, as from the title, you can see it's not going to sound like anything you'd expect to hear from Panic at the Disco. It's folkish while really flirting the line of being country. I'd love to play this and "I Write Sins Not Tragedies" back to back to show just how far this band has come. I figure I'll end this with a quote from that song.

"If I've forgotten how to sing
Before I sung this song
I'll write it all across this wall
 Before my job is done
 And I'll even have the courtesy
 Of admitting I was wrong"

I can proudly say I no longer hate Panic at the Disco.