Death of a Bachelor
Death of a Bachelor | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Studio album by | ||||
Released | January 15, 2016 | |||
Recorded | April 2015 | |||
Studio | Urielectric Studios | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 36:06 | |||
Label | ||||
Producer | ||||
Panic! at the Disco chronology | ||||
| ||||
Singles from Death of a Bachelor | ||||
|
Death of a Bachelor is the fifth studio album by Panic! at the Disco, and their first as a solo project, released on January 15, 2016 by Fueled by Ramen and DCD2. It is the follow-up to the band's fourth studio album, Too Weird to Live, Too Rare to Die! (2013), with the entire album written and recorded by vocalist/multi-instrumentalist Brendon Urie, who collaborated with other writers including Jake Sinclair, Morgan Kibby, Lolo, and Sam Hollander. It is the band's first album to not feature drummer Spencer Smith and also follows bassist Dallon Weekes' departure from the official line-up, subsequently becoming a touring member once again.[12][13]
Death of a Bachelor debuted at number one on the US Billboard 200, with 190,000 album units, earning Panic! its best sales week and first number one album.[14] The album has been certified double platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for sales of at least 2,000,000 copies. It was nominated for the Grammy Award for Best Rock Album at the 59th Annual Grammy Awards.[15]
Writing and composition
[edit]In an interview with Entertainment Tonight, Urie stated that Death of a Bachelor was lyrically inspired by his wife Sarah Urie and his lifestyle, stating: "This whole album was written at my house where she and I live and it reflects very much the lifestyle I was living [while writing it], which is so different from who I used to be."[16] In an interview with Alt 98.7 mid-2015, he had to say about the album: "It's going to be a little bit different, it's this mix between Sinatra and Queen, if that makes any sense...Every time we do a new album, for me, it's always evolving and changing—in the best way. There's going to be a new energy live."[17]
In April 2015, Urie began recording Death of a Bachelor.[18] A small studio had been built and a piano was bought specifically for the album's production.[18] Production was handled by Jake Sinclair[19] and Urie.[20] Sinclair, who is a friend of Urie's, helped him view the music in "different ways".[18] Urie said he "loved" working in the studio, often running between that and the piano.[18] He played every instrument minus the horns, which he also "love[d]".[18] His views had "all changed from [Too Weird to Live, Too Rare to Die!]", having "different things" he wanted to discuss.[18]
On October 22, 2015, Brendon Urie released a statement through the band's Facebook page on the background of the album:
When I was a little kid and I heard a song I liked on TV, I would jump up and run to the piano to try and figure it out by ear. When I was 10 or 11, I built myself a drum kit in the garage made out of empty laundry detergent buckets, old lawn chairs, paint cans, and old trash cans. Around that time, my parents got me my first guitar. A baby acoustic. I jumped between all of these instruments constantly to satisfy the ideas I heard in my head. At this young age, I realized that music would play a huge part in my life. I had no idea.
'Death of a Bachelor' is in honor of those times I spent alone as a kid. Allowing music to consume me. Playing everything myself just to get the idea right and out of my head. It's a beginning to a new era. And an homage to how it all began.
This album is me. Running to the piano. Building a drum kit. Strumming a guitar.
Some things never change.[21]
On January 6, 2016, in an interview with Mixdown magazine, Urie commented on bassist Dallon Weekes' move from the official lineup.
Dallon has been playing with us for a long time, and I'm so grateful for that. Sometimes, you try working creatively with people, and it doesn't always work out the way you think it will. In this case, it ended up just being better to have someone to tour with. It's an oversight sometimes, but you have to have people that you connect with and get along with. Touring can be long and it can be intense – you need people that will see you through that. Dallon has been that for me.[22]
On the day of the titular track's premiere Brendon Urie said on social media:
Frank Sinatra turns 100 this year. I attach his music to so many memories: Opening presents on Christmas day, my grandparents teaching the rest of the family to swing dance, watching Who Framed Roger Rabbit with my siblings (Sinatra makes a cameo in the form of a cartoon sword singing "Witchcraft"). His music has been a major player in the soundtrack of my life. So it's only right that I return the favor and/or pay it forward. I wrote a new album this year and even in the few songs that don't sound remotely similar to any of his music I still felt his influence in the writing and the need to relate so personally to each song. "Death Of A Bachelor" is very important to me. It expresses the bittersweet (but mostly sweet) end of an era. A look back at a part of my life now deceased. An "It's A Wonderful Life"-esque look into a possibly different future. But mostly an appreciation for the present.[23]
Urie also stated in an interview with Upset magazine that he feels that the song is "very jazzy, very Sinatra esque.. but then put it with this beat that sounds like Beyoncé's Drunk in Love".[24] The song is also where Urie got the album title from.[18]
Only one song was cut from the album, "Night Birds" described as a "...Driving arena-rocker with a flashy guitar solo". Urie described the song as "A little too early Butch Walker, but definitely not as good" in an interview with Alternative Press.
Release
[edit]"Hallelujah" was released as the lead single on April 20, 2015, and serviced to alternative radio. A lyric video was uploaded on the same day and the official music video premiered on July 7, 2015.[25] "Death of a Bachelor" was premiered on Beats 1 on Apple Music by Pete Wentz on September 1, 2015.[26] "Victorious", co-written and produced by CJ Baran, was released for digital download on September 29, 2015, as the second single from the album[27] "Emperor's New Clothes" and its music video was released for digital download on October 21, 2015, as the third official single to coincide with the album's announcement.[28]
The official music video for "Death of a Bachelor" was released on YouTube on December 24, 2015.[29] On December 31, 2015, the band made "Don't Threaten Me with a Good Time" available for streaming.[30] On January 15, 2016, the band premiered the rest of its tracks on its YouTube channel at the same time the album was released. The band went on the Weezer & Panic! at the Disco Summer Tour 2016 with Weezer to promote both of their new albums. On September 22, 2016, the official music video for LA Devotee was released on the band's YouTube channel to coincide with the announcement of the Death of a Bachelor Tour.
Critical reception
[edit]Aggregate scores | |
---|---|
Source | Rating |
AnyDecentMusic? | 5.9/10[31] |
Metacritic | 69/100[32] |
Review scores | |
Source | Rating |
AllMusic | [3] |
Alternative Press | [33] |
The A.V. Club | B[5] |
DIY | [2] |
Entertainment Weekly | B−[34] |
The Guardian | [35] |
PopMatters | 7/10[36] |
Q | [37] |
Rolling Stone | [38] |
USA Today | [39] |
Death of a Bachelor received generally positive reviews from music critics. It holds an average score of 69/100 on Metacritic, indicating "generally favorable reviews".[32] In a positive review, The New York Times commented on the album's second single, "Victorious", writing that "[Urie] evokes both the flamboyant swagger of Queen and the mechanized gleam of Daft Punk".[40] Evan Lucy in Alternative Press writing, "For all of its precocious, borderline bratty moments, Death of a Bachelor is a remarkably nuanced affair...it's hard not to break out in goosebumps and marvel at the moving songwriting."[33]
Conversely, The Guardian called the album "hollow and shapeless", also stating that "Urie affects a Vegas croon, indicating a desire to reinvent himself as an edgy Michael Bublé", and how "it's unlikely to pay off".[35] Q wrote, "It's a confusing affair, where [Urie] foolishly tries to croon like Frank Sinatra on the title track and never quite nails down whatever the big idea was supposed to be. Still, there are moments to cherish."[37] AbsolutePunk writer Aaron Mook scored the album a 6/10, noting, "It's been a while since I've heard an album that's so divisive in its quality, so manic on one end and so lazy on the other."[41] Consequence of Sound panned the songs "Don't Threaten Me With a Good Time" and "Crazy=Genius", stating that "['Don't Threaten Me With a Good Time'] lazily squashes together a sample of the B-52s' "Rock Lobster" with lackluster lyrics ("Who are these people/ I just woke up in my underwear") out of tune with their surroundings" and that "'Crazy=Genius'...only serves to remind of how many days have gone by and stand in the way of any musical progress".[42]
Awards and nominations
[edit]Year | Organization | Award | Result | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|
2017 | Grammy Awards | Best Rock Album | Nominated | [43] |
2018 | Billboard Music Awards | Top Rock Album | Nominated | [44] |
Commercial performance
[edit]The album debuted at number one on the Billboard 200, with 190,000 album-equivalent units. It also earned Panic! at the Disco its best sales week yet for an album, as it sold 169,000 in pure album sales.[45] In its second week, the album fell to number 5 on the Billboard 200 while selling 39,000 equivalent album units (down 79 percent).[46] It was the twelfth best-selling album of 2016 with 506,000 copies sold,[47] which also made it the second best selling rock album of 2016. Including streams and tracks sales, the album has totaled 845,000 units in the United States in 2016.[48] The album was also certified 2× platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for combined sales and album-equivalent units of over two million units in the United States.
Track listing
[edit]Songwriting credits per booklet.[49]
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|---|
1. | "Victorious" |
|
| 2:58 |
2. | "Don't Threaten Me with a Good Time" |
|
| 3:33 |
3. | "Hallelujah" |
|
| 3:00 |
4. | "Emperor's New Clothes" |
| Sinclair | 2:38 |
5. | "Death of a Bachelor" |
|
| 3:23 |
6. | "Crazy=Genius" |
|
| 3:18 |
7. | "LA Devotee" |
| 3:16 | |
8. | "Golden Days" |
|
| 4:14 |
9. | "The Good, the Bad and the Dirty" |
|
| 2:50 |
10. | "House of Memories" |
|
| 3:28 |
11. | "Impossible Year" |
| Sinclair | 3:22 |
Total length: | 36:06 |
Notes
- ^[a] signifies an additional producer.
Personnel
[edit]Adapted from the album booklet.[49]
Panic! at the Disco
- Brendon Urie – vocals, guitar, bass, keyboards, drums except for "Hallelujah", background vocals on "Hallelujah", creative and art direction
Additional musicians and production
- Rob Mathes – horn arrangement, conductor
- Andy Snitzer – tenor saxophone
- Dave Mann – tenor saxophone
- Aaron Heick – alto saxophone
- Dave Riekenberg – baritone saxophone
- Mike Davis – tenor trombone
- Randy Andos – bass trombone
- Jeff Kievit – trumpet
- Tony Kadleck – trumpet on "Death of a Bachelor", "Crazy=Genius", "LA Devotee", "Golden Days" and "Impossible Year"; flugelhorn
- Dylan Schwab – trumpet on "Victorious", "The Good, the Bad and the Dirty" and "House of Memories"
- White Sea – background vocals on "Victorious", "Hallelujah", additional production on "LA Devotee" and "House of Memories"
- Mark Stepro – drums on "Hallelujah"
- Nicole Guice – creative and art direction
- Zack Cloud Hall – cover photography
- Shervin Lainez – portrait photography
- The Visual Strategist – layout
- Jake Sinclair – producer on all tracks, background vocals on "Victorious", "Hallelujah"
- JR Rotem – producer on "Don't Threaten Me with a Good Time"
- Imad Royal – producer on "Hallelujah"
- Suzy Shinn – additional production on "Victorious", "Death of a Bachelor", "Crazy=Genius", "LA Devotee", "Golden Days" and "The Good, the Bad and the Dirty", engineer, background vocals on "Victorious", "Death of a Bachelor", "Crazy=Genius", "LA Devotee", "Golden Days" and "The Good, the Bad and the Dirty"
- Claudius Mittendorfer – mixing on all songs except "Hallelujah"
- Michael Brauer – mixing on "Hallelujah"
- Pete Lyman – mastering on all songs except "Hallelujah"
- Joe LaPorta – mastering on "Hallelujah"
Charts
[edit]
Weekly charts[edit]
|
Year-end charts[edit]
|
Certifications
[edit]Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
Canada (Music Canada)[81] | Platinum | 80,000‡ |
Denmark (IFPI Danmark)[82] | Platinum | 20,000‡ |
United Kingdom (BPI)[83] | Platinum | 300,000‡ |
United States (RIAA)[84] | 2× Platinum | 2,000,000‡ |
‡ Sales streaming figures based on certification alone. |
See also
[edit]- List of Billboard 200 number-one albums of 2016
- Weezer & Panic! at the Disco Summer Tour 2016
- Death of a Bachelor Tour
References
[edit]- ^ "Album Review – Panic! at the Disco's "Death of a Bachelor"".
- ^ a b c Jamieson, Sarah (January 15, 2016). "Panic! At The Disco – Death of a Bachelor". DIY. Retrieved January 15, 2016.
- ^ a b Collar, Matt. "Death of a Bachelor – Panic! At the Disco". AllMusic. Retrieved June 25, 2018.
- ^ Gamboa, Glenn (January 14, 2016). "'Death of a Bachelor' review: Panic! at the Disco's marriage of styles". Newsday. Retrieved January 16, 2016.
- ^ a b Moayeri, Lily (January 15, 2016). "Panic! At The Disco's Brendon Urie lets his inner Frank Sinatra loose". The A.V. Club. Archived from the original on January 20, 2016. Retrieved January 15, 2016.
- ^ "Panic! At the Disco Releases New Record". independent. Archived from the original on 2017-08-24. Retrieved 2017-05-25.
- ^ Smith, Troy L. (January 14, 2016). "Panic! at the Disco feels more alive than ever on 'Death of a Bachelor'". cleveland.com. Retrieved January 16, 2016.
- ^ "Panic! At The Disco: 'Death of a Bachelor' Album Review". 17 January 2016. Archived from the original on 15 June 2018. Retrieved March 15, 2018.
- ^ "Panic! at the Disco Releases New Record". independent. Archived from the original on August 24, 2017. Retrieved May 25, 2017.
- ^ Collar, Matt. "Pray for the Wicked – Panic! At the Disco". AllMusic. Retrieved June 23, 2018.
- ^ "Daily Play MPE: Panic At The Disco - Death Of A Bachelor". Play MPE. 9 December 2016. Retrieved October 5, 2017.
- ^ "Panic! At The Disco announce new album, share first single". AXS. Archived from the original on December 8, 2015. Retrieved October 24, 2015.
- ^ "Panic! At The Disco Have Finally Announced A New Album | Blunt Mag". Blunt Mag – Alternative Music News, Reviews, and Interviews. Archived from the original on October 26, 2015. Retrieved October 24, 2015.
- ^ "Panic! at the Disco Earns First No. 1 Album on Billboard 200 Chart". Billboard. January 24, 2016. Retrieved January 24, 2016.
- ^ "Grammys 2017: Complete list of winners and nominees". 12 February 2017. Retrieved 29 December 2017 – via LA Times.
- ^ "EXCLUSIVE: Brendon Urie on How His Wife Inspired Panic! At The Disco's New Album Title, 'Death of a Bachelor'". 9News. October 22, 2015. Archived from the original on October 23, 2015. Retrieved October 23, 2015.
- ^ "Brendon Urie: New Panic! at the Disco Record is On Its Way". Fuse. Retrieved October 23, 2015.
- ^ a b c d e f g Tom (January 15, 2016). ""This album is me coming to terms with the new man I've become" - hmv.com talks to Panic! At The Disco". hmv.com.
- ^ "Brendon Urie on Weenie Roast, New Panic! At The Disco, and Meeting President Obama". cbslocal.com. Archived from the original on March 30, 2016. Retrieved October 23, 2015.
- ^ 89x Detroit Interview with Brendon Urie. YouTube. September 19, 2015. Retrieved October 23, 2015.
- ^ "Panic! At The Disco announce new album, release video for "Emperor's New Clothes"". Alternative Press. Retrieved October 23, 2015.
- ^ Young, David (January 6, 2016). "PANIC! AT THE DISCO: Death of a Bachelor". Retrieved January 21, 2016.
- ^ Urie, Brendon (August 31, 2015). "Panic! at the Disco on Instagram - "Frank Sinatra turns 100 this year..."". Instagram.com. Panic! at the Disco. Archived from the original on 2021-12-24. Retrieved September 2, 2015.
- ^ Shutler, Ali (September 1, 2015). "Brendon Urie: The Death of a Bachelor". UpsetMagazine.com. Upset Magazine. Archived from the original on September 3, 2015. Retrieved 3 September 2015.
very jazzy, very Sinatra esque.. but then put it with this beat that sounds like Beyoncé's Drunk in Love
- ^ Panic! At The Disco: Hallelujah [OFFICIAL VIDEO]. YouTube. July 7, 2015. Retrieved October 23, 2015.
- ^ PETE WENTZ SHARES NEW PANIC! AT THE DISCO SONG, "DEATH OF A BACHELOR". Fuse. Retrieved October 22, 2015.
- ^ Victorious - Single iTunes. Retrieved October 22, 2015.
- ^ Panic! At The Disco announce new album, release video for "Emperor's New Clothes". Alternative Press. Retrieved October 22, 2015.
- ^ "Panic! At The Disco channel Vegas cabaret in new music video for "Death of a Bachelor" - News - Alternative Press". Alternative Press. Retrieved December 25, 2015.
- ^ Sharp, Tyler (December 31, 2015). "Panic! At The Disco Drop New Single, "Don't Threaten Me with a Good Time". AltPress.com. Alternative Press. Archived from the original on January 4, 2016. Retrieved January 1, 2016.
- ^ "Death of a Bachelor by Panic! At The Disco reviews". AnyDecentMusic?. Retrieved November 1, 2016.
- ^ a b "Reviews for Death of a Bachelor by Panic! at the Disco". Metacritic. Retrieved January 20, 2016.
- ^ a b Lucy, Evan (February 2016). "Panic! At The Disco: Death Of A Bachelor". Alternative Press (331): 95. Archived from the original on January 23, 2017. Retrieved January 14, 2016.
- ^ Goodman, Jessica (January 15, 2016). "Panic! At The Disco's Death of a Bachelor: EW review". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved January 15, 2016.
- ^ a b Mokoena, Tshepo (January 14, 2016). "Panic! at the Disco: Death of a Bachelor review – wide-eyed, slickly produced gusto". The Guardian. Retrieved January 20, 2016.
- ^ Ezell, Brice (January 27, 2016). "Panic! At the Disco: Death of a Bachelor". PopMatters. Retrieved January 27, 2016.
- ^ a b "Panic! at the Disco: Death of a Bachelor". Q (355): 115. February 2016.
- ^ Dolan, Jon (January 14, 2016). "Death of a Bachelor". Rolling Stone. Retrieved January 14, 2016.
- ^ Gardner, Elysa (January 15, 2016). "Panic! At The Disco!'s Urie does it his way on 'Death Of A Bachelor'". USA Today. Retrieved January 20, 2016.
- ^ Chinenjan, Nate (January 13, 2016). "Review: 'Death of a Bachelor,' From Panic! at the Disco". The New York Times. Retrieved January 14, 2016.
- ^ "chorus.fm". chorus.fm. Retrieved 29 December 2017.
- ^ Buchanan, David (January 14, 2016). "Panic! At the Disco – Death of a Bachelor | Album Reviews". Consequence of Sound. Retrieved January 14, 2016.
- ^ "59th Annual GRAMMY Awards Winners & Nominees". GRAMMY.com. January 24, 2017. Retrieved January 24, 2018.
- ^ "Here Are All the Winners From the 2018 Billboard Music Awards". Billboard. September 5, 2018. Retrieved February 4, 2019.
- ^ Caulfield, Keith (January 24, 2016). "Panic! at the Disco Earns First No. 1 Album on Billboard 200 Chart". Billboard. Retrieved January 24, 2016.
- ^ Caulfield, Keith (January 31, 2016). "Adele's '25' Album Back to No. 1 on Billboard 200 Chart for Eighth Week". Billboard. Retrieved January 31, 2016.
- ^ Grein, Paul (December 20, 2016). "The Top-Selling Albums of 2016". Yahoo Music!. Archived from the original on December 31, 2016. Retrieved February 28, 2017.
- ^ "Buzz Angle Music 2016" (PDF). BuzzAngle. Border City Media. January 7, 2017. Archived from the original (PDF) on January 13, 2017. Retrieved January 10, 2017.
- ^ a b Death of a Bachelor (Booklet). Panic! at the Disco. Fueled by Ramen/DCD2. 2016. 7567-86667-3.
{{cite AV media notes}}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ "Australiancharts.com – Panic! at the Disco – Death of a Bachelor". Hung Medien. Retrieved January 23, 2016.
- ^ "Austriancharts.at – Panic! at the Disco – Death of a Bachelor" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved January 28, 2016.
- ^ "Ultratop.be – Panic! at the Disco – Death of a Bachelor" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved January 23, 2016.
- ^ "Ultratop.be – Panic! at the Disco – Death of a Bachelor" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved January 23, 2016.
- ^ "Panic at the Disco Chart History (Canadian Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved January 26, 2016.
- ^ "Dutchcharts.nl – Panic! at the Disco – Death of a Bachelor" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved January 23, 2016.
- ^ "Panic! at the Disco: Death of a Bachelor" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland. Retrieved January 24, 2016.
- ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Panic! at the Disco – Death of a Bachelor" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved August 12, 2024.
- ^ "Album Top 40 slágerlista – 2021. 14. hét" (in Hungarian). MAHASZ. Retrieved April 16, 2021.
- ^ "GFK Chart-Track Albums: Week 3, 2016". Chart-Track. IRMA. Retrieved January 23, 2016.
- ^ "Italiancharts.com – Panic! at the Disco – Death of a Bachelor". Hung Medien. Retrieved January 23, 2016.
- ^ "Charts.nz – Panic! at the Disco – Death of a Bachelor". Hung Medien. Retrieved January 22, 2016.
- ^ "VG-lista - Panic! At The Disco / Death of a Bachelor". Archived from the original on 7 February 2016. Retrieved 29 December 2017.
- ^ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved November 22, 2021.
- ^ "Spanishcharts.com – Panic! at the Disco – Death of a Bachelor". Hung Medien. Retrieved January 23, 2016.
- ^ "Swedishcharts.com – Panic! at the Disco – Death of a Bachelor". Hung Medien. Retrieved January 23, 2016.
- ^ "Swisscharts.com – Panic! at the Disco – Death of a Bachelor". Hung Medien. Retrieved January 27, 2016.
- ^ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved November 22, 2021.
- ^ "Panic at the Disco Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved January 27, 2016.
- ^ "Panic at the Disco Chart History (Top Rock Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved January 27, 2016.
- ^ "Panic at the Disco Chart History (Top Alternative Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved January 27, 2016.
- ^ "Vinyl Albums : Ari 23, 2016". billboard.com. Retrieved May 5, 2016.
- ^ "ARIA Top 100 Albums 2016". Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved January 6, 2017.
- ^ "End of Year Album Chart Top 100 – 2016". Official Charts Company. Retrieved December 31, 2016.
- ^ "Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 2016". Billboard. Retrieved December 9, 2016.
- ^ "Top Rock Albums – Year-End 2016". Billboard. Retrieved December 9, 2018.
- ^ "Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 2017". Billboard. Retrieved December 12, 2017.
- ^ "Top Rock Albums – Year-End 2017". Billboard. Retrieved December 9, 2018.
- ^ "Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 2018". Billboard. Retrieved December 4, 2018.
- ^ "Top Rock Albums – Year-End 2018". Billboard. Retrieved December 9, 2018.
- ^ "Top Rock Albums – Year-End 2019". Billboard. Retrieved May 23, 2021.
- ^ "Canadian album certifications – Panic at the Disco – Death of a Bachelor". Music Canada. Retrieved November 10, 2022.
- ^ "Danish album certifications – Panic! At The Disco – Death of a Bachelor". IFPI Danmark. Retrieved May 29, 2024.
- ^ "British album certifications – Panic at the Disco – Death of a Bachelor". British Phonographic Industry.
- ^ "American album certifications – Panic at the Disco – Death of a Bachelor". Recording Industry Association of America.