at the Disco returns this week with its fifth full-length album.
But its not the Panic!
fans first met back in 2004.
Credit: Shervin Lainez
As the collections accompanying booklet reads: Panic!
at the Disco Is: Brendon Urie.
After a long series of lineup changes, the former quartet of childhood friends is now a one-person act.
This shows on the new album, its meditations mainly about love and loneliness feel more personal to Urie.
That its sonics so often reference Frank Sinatra and Queen, two heroes of Uries, is also pronounced.
ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY:Death of a Bacheloris Panic!s fifth LP, but its actually a solo album.
Did you consider putting it out under your own name?
Brendon Urie:It was never a sudden decision that I would be solo it really happened over time.
I always had the same passion, I always wanted to continue.
symbolizes everything that Ive worked for.
Its given me fans and the chance to travel worldwide and care about something that I created.
What was it like writing and recording alone for the first time in 10 years?
Writing with four people as opposed to just me alone I like it better now.
It feels like theres less pressure, its more organic.
You collaborated with Rivers Cuomo on Victorious.
How did that team-up come about?
and then gave me some suggestions or thoughts.
Can you tell me a little about the title of the album?
When I was a kid I spent a lot of time alone.
I wasnt allowed to go out on Monday nights and Sunday nights for religious purposes.
[Urie was raised Mormon.]
So this album was a touch back to the past.
I was writing everything and recording everything, and thats what I did this time around.
I love how a song can change.
But that one for me, I just love the lyrics so much.
The idea behind, Who do you see yourself as?
and how that can be so different from who you actually are if youre closed off.
Its such a fine line between crazy and genius, I think.
I mean look at fking Kanye West.
He calls himself a genius but everybody else is insane.
Its all in the eye of the beholder.
I think its so important to keep that glued to the back of your mind.
What are you most excited for people to hear off the album?
Theres weird moments that happen in every song and Im excited to have those and be available.
Obviously he has since left the group, but youre keeping it in.
I was like, Im fking keeping it!
Ive always loved it.
I feel like Im a cousin of the exclamation point.
Its just as crazy as me Im an excitable person.
So, Im keeping that st. Thats mine.
Death of a Bachelor is out Friday, Jan. 15.
