Death of a Bachelor

This article is about the album. For the song with the same name, see Death of a Bachelor (song).
Death of a Bachelor
Studio album by Panic! at the Disco
Released January 15, 2016 (2016-01-15)
Recorded April 2015
Genre Hip hop,[1][2] pop,[2][3] rock[1][2][4]
Length 36:06
Label
Producer
Panic! at the Disco chronology
Too Weird to Live, Too Rare to Die!
(2013)		 Death of a Bachelor
(2016)
Singles from Death of a Bachelor
  1. "Hallelujah"
    Released: April 20, 2015
  2. "Victorious"
    Released: September 29, 2015
  3. "Emperor's New Clothes"
    Released: October 21, 2015

Death of a Bachelor is the fifth studio album by American rock band Panic! at the Disco, released January 15, 2016 on 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 lead vocalist/multi-instrumentalist Brendon Urie, among external writers. 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.[6][7]

Death of a Bachelor debuted at number one on the US Billboard 200, with 190,000 album units, earning the band its best sales week and first number one album.[8]

Writing and composition

In an interview with Entertainment Tonight, musician Brendon 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."[9] 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."[10]

In April 2015, Urie began working on Death of Bachelor.[11] A small studio had been built and a piano was bought specifically for the album's production.[11] Production was handled by Jake Sinclair[12] and Urie.[13] Sinclair, who is a friend of Urie's, helped him view the music in "different ways".[11] Urie said he "loved" working in the studio, often running between that and the piano.[11] He played every instrument minus the horns, which he also "love[d]".[11] His views had "all changed from [Too Weird to Live]", having "different things" he wanted to discuss.[11]

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.[14]

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."[15]

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."[16]

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".[17] The song is also where Urie got the album title from.[11]

Promotion

"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.[18]

"Death of a Bachelor" was premiered on Beats 1 on Apple Music by Pete Wentz on September 1, 2015.[19]

"Victorious", co-written and produced by CJ Baran, was released for digital download on September 29, 2015 as the second single from the album[20]

"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.[21]

"LA Devotee" was released as the first promotional single on November 26, 2015 worldwide.[22]

The official music video for "Death of a Bachelor" was released on YouTube on December 24, 2015.[23]

On December 31, 2015, the band premiered its second promotional single "Don't Threaten Me with a Good Time".[24]

On January 15, 2016, the band premiered the rest of its tracks on its YouTube channel at the same time the album was released.

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic69/100[25]
Review scores
SourceRating
Alternative Press[26]
The Boston GlobeFavorable[27]
Clash7/10[28]
Consequence of SoundC[29]
The Guardian[30]
The New York TimesFavorable[31]
Now3/5[32]
Q[33]
Rock Sound8/10[34]
Rolling Stone[35]

Death of a Bachelor has received generally mixed to positive reviews from music critics. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, the album has received an average score of 69 out of 100, which indicates "generally favourable reviews" based on 19 reviews. 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".[31] 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."[26]

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".[30] Q Magazine 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."[33] 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."[36] 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".[29]

Track listing

Song writing credits per booklet.[37]

No. TitleWriter(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"  
 2:38
5. "Death of a Bachelor"  
  • Urie
  • Pritchard
  • Sinclair
 3:23
6. "Crazy=Genius"  
  • Urie
  • Hollander
  • Sinclair
 3:18
7. "LA Devotee"  
  • Urie
  • White Sea
  • Sinclair
 3:16
8. "Golden Days"  
  • Urie
  • Hollander
  • Sinclair
 4:14
9. "The Good, the Bad and the Dirty"  
  • Urie
  • Pritchard
  • Sinclair
 2:51
10. "House of Memories"  
  • Urie
  • White Sea
  • Sinclair
 3:28
11. "Impossible Year"  
  • Urie
  • Hollander
  • Sinclair
 3:22
Total length:
 36:06

Personnel

Personnel per booklet.[37]

Panic! at the Disco
  • Brendon Urie – vocals,[4] guitar, bass, drums except for "Hallelujah"; background vocals on "Hallelujah"
Additional musicians
  • Rob Mathes – horn arrangement, conductor
  • Andy Snitzer – tenor sax
  • Dave Mann – tenor sax
  • Aaron Heick – alto sax
  • Dave Riekenberg – baritone sax
  • 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"
  • Suzy Shinn – background vocals on "Victorious", "Death of a Bachelor", "Crazy=Genius", "LA Devotee", "Golden Days" and "The Good, the Bad and the Dirty"
  • Jake Sinclair – background vocals on "Victorious", "Hallelujah"
  • White Sea – background vocals on "Victorious", "Hallelujah"
  • Mark Stepro – drums on "Hallelujah"
Production
  • Nicole Guice – creative and art direction
  • Brendon Urie – creative and art direction
  • Zack Cloud Hall – cover photography
  • Shervin Lainez – portrait photography
  • The Visual Strategist – layout
  • Jake Sinclair - producer on all tracks except "Don't Threaten Me with a Good Time" and "Hallelujah"; co-producer on "Don't Threaten Me with a Good Time" and "Hallelujah"
  • JR Rotem - co-producer on "Don't Threaten Me with a Good Time"
  • Royal - co-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
  • White Sea – additional production on "LA Devotee" and "House of Memories"
  • 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

Chart (2016) Peak
position
Australian Albums (ARIA)[38] 3
Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria)[39] 15
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)[40] 14
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia)[41] 88
Canadian Albums (Billboard)[42] 3
Dutch Albums (MegaCharts)[43] 14
Finnish Albums (Suomen virallinen lista)[44] 22
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[45] 23
Irish Albums (IRMA)[46] 4
Italian Albums (FIMI)[47] 66
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)[48] 4
Norwegian Albums (VG-lista)[49] 20
Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan)[50] 27
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[51] 41
UK Albums (OCC)[52] 4
US Billboard 200[53] 1
US Top Rock Albums (Billboard)[54] 1
US Top Alternative Albums (Billboard)[55] 1
US Vinyl Albums (Billboard)[56] 3

Certifications

Region Certification Sales/shipments
United Kingdom (BPI)[57] Silver 60,000

*sales figures based on certification alone
^shipments figures based on certification alone

References

  1. 1 2 Gamboa, Glenn (January 14, 2016). "'Death of a Bachelor' review: Panic! at the Disco’s marriage of styles". Newsday. Retrieved January 16, 2016.
  2. 1 2 3 Jamieson, Sarah. "Album review: Panic! At The Disco - Death of a Bachelor". DIY. Retrieved January 16, 2016.
  3. ↑ Collar, Matt. "Death of a Bachelor - Panic! At the Disco | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved January 15, 2016.
  4. 1 2 Moayeri, Lily (January 15, 2016). "Panic! At The Disco's Brendon Urie lets his inner Frank Sinatra loose". AVClub.com. A.V. Club. Archived from the original on January 20, 2016. Retrieved January 15, 2016.
  5. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=whMBXE1ZOwo
  6. ↑ "Panic! At The Disco announce new album, share first single". AXS. Retrieved October 24, 2015.
  7. ↑ "Panic! At The Disco Have Finally Announced A New Album | Blunt Mag". Blunt Mag – Alternative Music News, Reviews, and Interviews. Retrieved October 24, 2015.
  8. ↑ "Panic! at the Disco Earns First No. 1 Album on Billboard 200 Chart". Billboard. January 24, 2016. Retrieved January 24, 2016.
  9. ↑ "EXCLUSIVE: Brendon Urie on How His Wife Inspired Panic! At The Disco's New Album Title, 'Death of a Bachelor'". 9News. October 22, 2015. Retrieved October 23, 2015.
  10. ↑ "Brendon Urie: New Panic! at the Disco Record is On Its Way". Fuse. Retrieved October 23, 2015.
  11. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 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.
  12. ↑ "Brendon Urie on Weenie Roast, New Panic! At The Disco, and Meeting President Obama". cbslocal.com. Retrieved October 23, 2015.
  13. ↑ 89x Detroit Interview with Brendon Urie. YouTube. September 19, 2015. Retrieved October 23, 2015.
  14. ↑ "Panic! At The Disco announce new album, release video for "Emperor's New Clothes"". Alternative Press. Retrieved October 23, 2015.
  15. ↑ Young, David (January 6, 2016). "PANIC! AT THE DISCO: Death of a Bachelor". Retrieved January 21, 2016.
  16. ↑ Urie, Brendon (August 31, 2015). "Panic! at the Disco on Instagram - "Frank Sinatra turns 100 this year..."". Instagram.com. Panic! at the Disco. Retrieved September 2, 2015.
  17. ↑ Shutler, Ali (September 1, 2015). "Brendon Urie: The Death of a Bachelor". UpsetMagazine.com. Upset Magazine. Archived from the original on September 2, 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
  18. ↑ Panic! At The Disco: Hallelujah [OFFICIAL VIDEO]. YouTube. July 7, 2015. Retrieved October 23, 2015.
  19. ↑ PETE WENTZ SHARES NEW PANIC! AT THE DISCO SONG, "DEATH OF A BACHELOR". Fuse. Retrieved October 22, 2015.
  20. ↑ Victorious - Single iTunes. Retrieved October 22, 2015.
  21. ↑ Panic! At The Disco announce new album, release video for "Emperor’s New Clothes". Alternative Press. Retrieved October 22, 2015.
  22. ↑ . "Facebook/atrl forum". Retrieved November 26, 2015.
  23. ↑ "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.
  24. ↑ Sharp, Tyler (December 31, 2015). "Panic! At The Disco Drop New Single, "Don't Threaten Me with a Good Time". AltPress.com. Alternative Press. Retrieved January 1, 2016.
  25. ↑ Metacritic. "Reviews for Death of a Bachelor by Panic! at the Disco". CBS Interactive. Retrieved January 20, 2016.
  26. 1 2 Lucy, Evan. "Ty Segall: Emotional Mugger". Alternative Press. February 2016 (331): 95. Retrieved January 14, 2016.
  27. ↑ Johnston, Maura (January 14, 2016). "Album review: Panic! at the Disco, ‘Death of a Bachelor’". The Boston Globe. Retrieved January 14, 2016.
  28. ↑ Henderson, Lisa (January 7, 2016). "Panic! At The Disco - Death of a Bachelor | Reviews". Clash Magazine. Retrieved January 9, 2016.
  29. 1 2 Buchanan, David (January 14, 2016). "Panic! At the Disco – Death of a Bachelor | Album Reviews". Consequence of Sound. Retrieved January 14, 2016.
  30. 1 2 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.
  31. 1 2 Chinenjan, Nate (January 13, 2016). "Review: ‘Death of a Bachelor,’ From Panic! at the Disco". The New York Times. Retrieved January 14, 2016.
  32. ↑ Boles, Benjamin (January 13, 2016). "Panic! At The Disco". NOW Toronto Magazine. Retrieved January 16, 2016.
  33. 1 2 Staff. "Panic! at the Disco: Death of a Bachelor". Q. February 2016 (355): 115. Retrieved January 14, 2016.
  34. ↑ McLaughlin, David (January 9, 2016). "Panic! At The Disco - 'Death of a Bachelor' - Reviews". Rock Sound. Retrieved January 9, 2016.
  35. ↑ Dolan, Jon (January 14, 2016). "PanicPanic! At the Disco's New Album: Death of a Bachelor". Rolling Stone. Retrieved January 14, 2016.
  36. ↑ http://www.absolutepunk.net/showthread.php?t=3788097
  37. 1 2 Death of a Bachelor (Booklet). Panic! at the Disco. Fueled by Ramen/DCD2. 2016. 7567-86667-3.
  38. ↑ "Australiancharts.com – Panic! at the Disco – Death of a Bachelor". Hung Medien. Retrieved January 23, 2016.
  39. ↑ "Austriancharts.at – Panic! at the Disco – Death of a Bachelor" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved January 28, 2016.
  40. ↑ "Ultratop.be – Panic! at the Disco – Death of a Bachelor" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved January 23, 2016.
  41. ↑ "Ultratop.be – Panic! at the Disco – Death of a Bachelor" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved January 23, 2016.
  42. ↑ "Panic at the Disco – Chart history" Billboard Canadian Albums Chart for Panic at the Disco. Retrieved January 26, 2016.
  43. ↑ "Dutchcharts.nl – Panic! at the Disco – Death of a Bachelor" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved January 23, 2016.
  44. ↑ "Panic! at the Disco: Death of a Bachelor" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland. Retrieved January 24, 2016.
  45. ↑ "Longplay-Chartverfolgung at Musicline" (in German). Musicline.de. Phononet GmbH. Retrieved January 22, 2016.
  46. ↑ "GFK Chart-Track Albums: Week 3, 2016". Chart-Track. IRMA. Retrieved January 23, 2016.
  47. ↑ "Italiancharts.com – Panic! at the Disco – Death of a Bachelor". Hung Medien. Retrieved January 23, 2016.
  48. ↑ "Charts.org.nz – Panic! at the Disco – Death of a Bachelor". Hung Medien. Retrieved January 22, 2016.
  49. ↑ http://lista.vg.no/artist/panic-at-the-disco/album/death-of-a-bachelor/13715
  50. ↑ "Swedishcharts.com – Panic! at the Disco – Death of a Bachelor". Hung Medien. Retrieved January 23, 2016.
  51. ↑ "Swisscharts.com – Panic! at the Disco – Death of a Bachelor". Hung Medien. Retrieved January 27, 2016.
  52. ↑ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 23 January 2016.
  53. ↑ "Panic at the Disco – Chart history" Billboard 200 for Panic at the Disco. Retrieved January 27, 2016.
  54. ↑ "Panic at the Disco – Chart history" Billboard Top Rock Albums for Panic at the Disco. Retrieved January 27, 2016.
  55. ↑ "Panic at the Disco – Chart history" Billboard Top Alternative Albums for Panic at the Disco. Retrieved January 27, 2016.
  56. ↑ "Vinyl Albums : Ari 23, 2016". billboard.com. Retrieved May 5, 2016.
  57. ↑ "British album certifications – Panic at the Disco – Death of a Bachelor". British Phonographic Industry. Enter Death of a Bachelor in the field Keywords. Select Title in the field Search by. Select album in the field By Format. Select Silver in the field By Award. Click Search
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