Too Weird to Live, Too Rare to Die!

Too Weird to Live, Too Rare to Die!
Studio album by Panic! at the Disco
Released October 8, 2013
Recorded February 13, 2012 – March 14, 2013
Genre Synthpop
Length 32:32
Label Decaydance, Fueled by Ramen
Producer Butch Walker
Panic! at the Disco chronology

Vices & Virtues
(2011)		 Too Weird to Live, Too Rare to Die!
(2013)
Singles from Too Weird to Live, Too Rare to Die!
  1. "Miss Jackson"
    Released: July 15, 2013
  2. "This Is Gospel"
    Released: August 12, 2013
  3. "Girls/Girls/Boys"
    Released: October 8, 2013
  4. "Nicotine"
    Released: May 6, 2014

Too Weird to Live, Too Rare to Die! is the fourth studio album by American band Panic! at the Disco, released on October 8, 2013 on Decaydance and Fueled by Ramen. Recorded as a three-piece, the album was produced by Butch Walker, and is the first to feature bass guitarist Dallon Weekes, who initially joined the band in 2009 as its touring bassist. This album is also the first album not to feature any contributions by former lyricist and lead guitarist Ryan Ross, and also the last to feature drummer Spencer Smith.

Described as a "party record",[1] Too Weird to Live, Too Rare to Die! was preceded by the singles "Miss Jackson" and "This Is Gospel", with "Girls/Girls/Boys" and "Nicotine" following after its release. The album's overall aesthetic is influenced by dance music, electronica and hip-hop.

Too Weird to Live, Too Rare to Die! debuted at number two on the U.S. Billboard 200, earning the band their second career number two.

Writing and composition

Musically, Too Weird to Live, Too Rare to Die! is inspired by hip-hop in that "there are no rules".[2] In an extension of that mantra, the album is an eclectic affair that varies wildly from song to song. Other inspirations for the album were drawn from electronic composers such as Kraftwerk and Wendy Carlos (composer of the soundtrack of A Clockwork Orange).

Name origin

The name of the album is a quote from Hunter S. Thompson originally from an obituary titled "The Banshee Screams for Buffalo Meat" and later included in the 1998 film adaptation of his novel Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas. It is a reference to the central idea of the album, which was inspired by lead singer Brendon Urie's home city of Las Vegas.

Lyrics

Urie's lyrical contributions to Too Weird to Live, Too Rare to Die! were further inspired by the band's city. Prior to the album's release, he noted: "When we did our first record, we were really bitter toward the whole Vegas scene. We weren't old enough to experience all of what Vegas is really known for. Even the shows, most of them were twenty-one and over. There was a lot of hostility, but over the past couple years, I’ve started to get rid of that cynicism and see it in a new light [...] I wanted to celebrate it." He penned much of the album's lyrics in the city itself: "There's some glitz, some glamour, but there's also the dingy, old Vegas side to the music."

The record's lyrics are very personal in nature. The first track, "This Is Gospel", whose lyrics were written by Urie and bassist Dallon Weekes, was written about Spencer's drug addiction. The original demo sat on Uries laptop for months before he finally shared it with the rest of the band.[2] The album's lead single, "Miss Jackson", was written about Urie's first sexual experiences during his youth. "When I was younger, I would mess around; I'd sleep with one girl one night, sleep with her friend the next night, and not care about how they felt, or how I made them feel. And then it happened to me and I realized 'Wow, that's what that feels like? I feel really shitty.'"[3] A hidden preview of "Vegas Lights" was featured in the announcement video of Fall Out Boy's Save Rock and Roll fall arena tour.[4] "Vegas Lights" was intended as an anthem for carefree nights in Las Vegas, that most prominently reflected how Urie felt clubbing.[2] "I felt this weird energy where everybody was having a good time, and it didn't matter," he remarked. "Dancing like nobody's watching. It was kind of beautiful."[2] "Girl That You Love" was originally written in French following a five-day vacation in France. Bassist Dallon Weekes, who also performed lyrical duties for the album, later penned the English lyrics for the song based on Uries French demo.[5]

The album's third single "Girls/Girls/Boys" has been described by Dallon Weekes as being centered around a love triangle complicated by differing sexual orientations. When commented on about the video for "Girls/Girls/Boys", lead singer Brendon Urie said "It's inspired by D'angelo's 'Untitled (How Does It Feel)' video."

The YouTube release of "Casual Affair" samples the quote "Looks innocent enough, doesn't it? But sometimes there are dangers involved that never meet the eye. No matter where you meet a stranger, be careful if they are too friendly" taken from the 1961 public domain anti-gay film Boys Beware. This quote is not present in the official album release.[6][7]

"The End of All Things" was written about Urie's wife Sarah Urie. The song is written as Urie's vows in their wedding. The song was written two days before they got married.

Promotion

In August 2012, the band's last tour cycle, it was announced during a show that a new album was in the works. Soon, pictures of the band busy in the studio were posted on the band's Tumblr, Facebook, and Instagram. On July 15, 2013 the band announced Too Weird To Live, Too Rare to Die! for a release date of October 8 as an addition a new single "Miss Jackson" and music video. On July, 18. 2013 a small tour was announced to support the album with New Politics opening for them starting on August 1, 2013 and ending August 22, 2013. It was also announced that they would go on the Save Rock and Roll tour with Fall Out Boy. In support of the album release, On October 11, 2013 the band played a release show in Las Vegas @ Cosmo Pool. On October 14, 2013, 6 days after the album was released, The band announced a Too Weird to Live, Too Rare to Die! tour starting January 14, 2014 ending February 16, 2014. The band is continuing to tour until May 13, 2014 and just announced a new The Gospel Tour beginning July 18, 2014 and ending August 31, 2014.

Artwork

The album's cover art features a black and white photograph of vocalist and guitarist Brendon Urie smoking a cigarette emitting rainbow-colored fumes. Drummer Spencer Smith and Bassist Dallon Weekes appear in photographs within the albums supplemental artwork. Regarding the decision to feature a photograph of himself on the cover, Urie noted, "I love being the center of attention, I'm shameless about it. And being the lead singer, everyone thought it made sense, for me to be front and center. It felt right, since I was so close to these songs."[8] In another interview, Urie said "[the album] really was just about times I had growing up in Vegas. I wanted to create that character. The person I am on the cover is not who I am. Even the smoking cigarettes — I’ve quit since then. But when I was a kid, that was the guy who ran around Vegas and owned it. He had a Liberace jacket and he was smoking a cigarette. He was owning the desert, he didn’t give a fuck, and the smoke was colored — that to me was the quintessential Vegas guy."[9]

Reception

Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
Source Rating
Metacritic 72/100[10]
Review scores
Source Rating
AbsolutePunk 8/10[11]
AllMusic [12]
Alternative Press [1]
Rolling Stone [13]
Under the Gun Review 6/10[14]

The album has received positive reviews upon release. It currently holds a score of 72/100 on Metacritic, indicating "generally favorable reviews" based on 8 critic reviews.[10] At one point, the album came in second on the charts for iTunes purchases, only behind Miley Cyrus' Bangerz.

Commercial performance

Too Weird to Live, Too Rare to Die! is Panic! at the Disco's second No. 2 album on the US Billboard 200, selling 84,000 copies in its first week.[15]

Track listing

No. TitleWriter(s) Length
1. "This Is Gospel"  
 3:07
2. "Miss Jackson" (featuring Lolo)
  • Urie
  • Butch Walker
  • Jake Sinclair
  • Amir Salem
  • Lauren Pritchard
  • Alex Goose
 3:12
3. "Vegas Lights"  
  • Urie
  • Weekes
  • Walker
 3:10
4. "Girl That You Love"  
  • Urie
  • Weekes
 3:09
5. "Nicotine"  
  • Urie
  • Weekes
  • Salem
 3:06
6. "Girls/Girls/Boys"  
  • Urie
  • Weekes
 3:26
7. "Casual Affair"  
  • Urie
 3:17
8. "Far Too Young to Die"  
  • Urie
  • Weekes
 3:17
9. "Collar Full"  
  • Urie
  • Weekes
 3:18
10. "The End of All Things"  
  • Urie
 3:32
Total length:
 32:32

Personnel

Panic! at the Disco

Additional musicians

Recording personnel

Artwork

Chart performance

Weekly charts

Chart (2013) Peak
position
Australian Albums (ARIA)[16] 26
Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria)[17] 70
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)[18] 79
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia)[19] 175
Canadian Albums (Billboard)[20] 8
Finnish Albums (Suomen virallinen lista)[21] 46
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[22] 99
Dutch Albums (MegaCharts)[23] 77
New Zealand Albums (Recorded Music NZ)[24] 15
Scottish Albums (OCC)[25] 8
UK Albums (OCC)[26] 10
US Billboard 200[27] 2
US Top Alternative Albums (Billboard)[28] 1
US Top Rock Albums (Billboard)[29] 1
US Digital Albums (Billboard)[30] 2
US Top Tastemaker Albums (Billboard)[31] 11

Year-end charts

Chart (2013) Position
US Billboard Alternative Albums [32] 31
US Billboard Rock Albums[33] 51
Chart (2014) Position
US Billboard Alternative Albums [34] 37
US Billboard 200[35] 177
US Billboard Rock Albums[36] 40

Release history

Region Date Format
Australia October 4, 2013 Digital download[37]
October 11, 2013 CD[38]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Lucy, Evan. "What Happened In Vegas: Panic! At The Disco talk Fall Out Boy, past members and their "party" album". altpress.com. Retrieved 12 October 2013.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 James Montgomery (July 22, 2013). "Exclusive: Panic! At The Disco Say Too Rare Is Inspired By ... A$AP Rocky?". MTV News. Retrieved August 12, 2013.
  3. ↑ James Montgomery (July 16, 2013). "Exclusive: Panic! At The Disco Talk Dark, Decadent Too Rare To Die!". MTV News. Retrieved August 12, 2013.
  4. ↑ Fall Out Boy - Save Rock And Roll Fall Arena Tour - [Panic! At The Disco support Announcement]). YouTube. Retrieved April 19, 2013.
  5. ↑ http://www.jsonline.com/entertainment/musicandnightlife/panic-at-the-disco-to-bring-punch-sparkle-to-eagles-ballroom-b9996655z1-223554791.html
  6. ↑ Boys Beware. YouTube. Retrieved October 4, 2013.
  7. ↑ Panic! At The Disco: Casual Affair (Audio). YouTube. Retrieved October 14, 2013.
  8. ↑ http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1710610/panic-at-the-disco-too-weird-to-live-rare-to-die.jhtml
  9. ↑ [http://www.dallasvoice.com/brendon-urie-panic-disco-next-gay-interview-10177665.html Dallas Voice. Retrieved February 13, 2015.
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 "Too Weird to Live, Too Rare to Die! Reviews, Ratings, Credits, and More at Metacritic". Metacritic. Retrieved October 10, 2013.
  11. ↑ Ryan Gardner (October 10, 2013). "Panic! At The Disco - Too Weird To Live, Too Rare To...". AbsolutePunk. Retrieved October 10, 2013.
  12. ↑ Matt Collar. "Too Weird to Live, Too Rare to Die!". AllMusic. Retrieved October 10, 2013.
  13. ↑ Caryn Ganz (October 8, 2013). "Too Weird to Live, Too Rare to Die!: Review". Rolling Stone. Retrieved October 10, 2013.
  14. ↑ "REVIEW: Panic! at the Disco-'Too Weird To Live, Too Rare To Die! =Under the Gun Review". October 10, 2013.
  15. ↑ Caulfield, Keith (October 11, 2013). "Miley Cyrus Set for No. 1 on Billboard 200, Pusha T and Panic at the Disco Aiming for Top Five". Billboard. Retrieved October 27, 2013.
  16. ↑ "Panic! at the Disco – Too Weird To Live, Too Rare To Die!". Australiancharts.com. Hung Medien. Retrieved September 16, 2014.
  17. ↑ "Panic! at the Disco – Too Weird To Live, Too Rare To Die!" (in German). Austriancharts.at. Hung Medien. Retrieved September 16, 2014.
  18. ↑ "Panic! at the Disco – Too Weird To Live, Too Rare To Die!" (in Dutch). Ultratop.be. Hung Medien. Retrieved September 16, 2014.
  19. ↑ "Panic! at the Disco – Too Weird To Live, Too Rare To Die!" (in French). Ultratop.be. Hung Medien. Retrieved September 16, 2014.
  20. ↑ "Panic at the Disco Album & Song Chart History" Billboard Canadian Albums Chart for Panic at the Disco.
  21. ↑ "Panic! at the Disco: Too Weird To Live, Too Rare To Die!" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland. Retrieved September 16, 2014.
  22. ↑ "Longplay-Chartverfolgung at Musicline" (in German). Musicline.de. Phononet GmbH. Retrieved September 16, 2014.
  23. ↑ "Panic! at the Disco – Too Weird To Live, Too Rare To Die!" (in Dutch). Dutchcharts.nl. Hung Medien. Retrieved September 16, 2014.
  24. ↑ "Panic! at the Disco – Too Weird To Live, Too Rare To Die!". Charts.org.nz. Hung Medien. Retrieved September 16, 2014.
  25. ↑ "2013-10-19 Top 40 Scottish Albums Archive". Official Charts Company.
  26. ↑ "Panic At The Disco | Artist | Official Charts". UK Albums Chart
  27. ↑ "Panic at the Disco Album & Song Chart History" Billboard 200 for Panic at the Disco.
  28. ↑ "Panic at the Disco Album & Song Chart History" Billboard Top Alternative Albums for Panic at the Disco.
  29. ↑ "Panic at the Disco Album & Song Chart History" Billboard Top Rock Albums for Panic at the Disco.
  30. ↑ "Album & Song Chart History" Billboard Digital Albums for Panic at the Disco.
  31. ↑ "Panic at the Disco Album & Song Chart History" Billboard Top Tastemaker Albums for Panic at the Disco.
  32. ↑ "Alternative Albums: 2013 Year-End Charts". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved January 16, 2015.
  33. ↑ "2013 Year End Charts - Top Billboard Rock Albums". Billboard. Retrieved December 9, 2014.
  34. ↑ "Alternative Albums: 2014 Year-End Charts". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved January 16, 2015.
  35. ↑ "2014 Year End Charts - Top Billboard 200". Billboard. Retrieved December 9, 2014.
  36. ↑ "2014 Year End Charts - Top Billboard Rock Albums". Billboard. Retrieved December 9, 2014.
  37. ↑ https://itunes.apple.com/au/album/too-weird-to-live-too-rare/id684954402 iTunes AU - Music - Too Weird To Live, Too Rare To Die! by Panic! At The Disco. Retrieved 8 October 2013.
  38. ↑ http://www.jbhifionline.com.au/music/alternative/too-weird-to-live-too-rare-to-die/691536 Too Weird To Live, Too Rare To Die | CD & DVD Music, Music Genres, Alternative : JB HI-FI. Retrieved 8 October 2013.