Daveportivo's Cultural Evaluation Facility

So you start out your career as one of the hottest pop rock outfits on the market, you wear eyeliner and have really long track titles like the Smiths so you get labelled emo and you promptly conquer the world. Of course after all the fun, record sales and festival bottlings the salacious camp pop feels ever so immature, so naturally you dig into your record collection and "evolve" into a 60s psyche pop outfit. Your music is still as dreamy and catchy as ever but your fan base is fickle, you're not cool anymore, you don't bomb but you don't blow up either, you're stuck in limbo. Limbo as many of you will know is the worst place to be, it's better to be a glorious trainwreck than apathetically competant. So Panic have seen members come and go, and those who are still interested are wondering what is to come next? The answer; New Perspective.

The title itself is a little misleading, as there is absolutely nothing new on display here. Panic have instead gone back to basics. A return to the formula that brought them success in the first place. Big catchy hooks, soft sweet sweeping harmonies and those "saucy" lyrics "Can we fast forward till you go down on me", oh Brendon your such a bad boy. Musically it's tightly played, but it's very safe, it never thrills, it never takes you by surprise, it does exactly what you'd expect of it. There's no danger to this record, New Perspectives is not a track that will get everyone talking but it's so mild and palatable it can't fail either. It really lacks the kick, punch and creavity of their first album. When Brendon weaves his lyrics he's trying hard to be edgy and cool, but it's doesn't click, compared to the sweat, sticky, sexy and most of all theatrical lyrics of Lying Is The Most Fun A Girl Can Have Without Taking Her Clothes Off; New Perspectives sounds abou as ground breaks as *shudder* McFly. So another comeback, another act who settles for playing it safe, Panic have taken a step back, but one which may win back those fans who have been sliding away. Some will herald New Perspective as a return to form, the rest of us will greet it with a long drawn out yawn.