Panic At The Disco — Live In Chicago

... Live In Chicago

Fueled By Ramen/Warner

Jen White (CHARTattack)

01/07/2009 1:52pm

What a difference an exclamation point can make! Panic! At The Disco released their teen angst-driven A Fever You Can't Sweat Out debut in 2005, while its punctuated follow-up, Pretty.Odd., was released under their unpunctuated name last year with a completely different sound. While the move quells a grammar rebellion, the growing pains between the two albums are excruciatingly obvious on …Live In Chicago, as the Las Vegas quartet attempt to amalgamate their latest old-timey circus/freak show schtick with their angsty teenage past. The band divvies up the set list pretty evenly between both albums, but the screaming girls and audience singalongs show a preference for the P!ATD of yesteryear. Sadly, even the Fever tracks have been swallowed up by their new happy-go-lucky attitude. "I Write Sins Not Tragedies" has morphed into a wussy, softer version, which is entirely missing its edge that won over their legions of fans in the first place. And gosh darn it, they even end the show by saying they want to see "peace and love" in the crowd. Guys, I'm glad you're happy, but it's all just a little too touchy-feely.