A Fever You Can't Sweat Out

 Review

Common Sense Media says

Wacky but weak debut from alt-emo-rock's darlings.
greenON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age.
yellowPAUSE: Know your child; some content
may not be right for some kids.
redOFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age.
not for kidsNOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age.

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Quality
 
Sometimes media can be age appropriate but a real waste of time. Our star rating assesses the media's overall quality.

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Parents say

Kids say

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that this indie rock band laces their creative lyrics with some disturbing images ("Well, she's not bleeding on the ballroom floor/Just for the attention") and sexual innuendo ("Is it still me that makes you sweat?/Am I who you think about in bed?/When the lights are dim and your hands are/shaking as you're sliding off your dress?"). Other than the one mention of "f--k," the intense band is able to keep their songs profantity-free.

  • Occasionally sexist and egotistical ("I've never looked better, and you can't stand it").
  • Some disturbing images: "This is the scent of dead skin on a linoleum floor/This is the scent of quarantine wings in a hospital" and "Well, she's not bleeding on the ballroom floor/Just for the attention."
  • "Lying Is The Most Fun A Girl Can Have Without Taking Her Clothes Off" talks about sex with "Is it still me that makes you sweat?/Am I who you think about in bed?/When the lights are dim and your hands are/shaking as you're sliding off your dress?"
  • "I've got more wit, a better kiss, a hotter touch, a better f--k." and "And yes, but what a shame, what a shame, the/poor groom's bride is a whore."
  • Not applicable.
  • "Prescribed pills/To offset the shakes" and "Oh and the smokes in that cigarette box on the table/they just so happen to be laced with nitroglycerin."

What's the story?

Whiny and self-conscious, the songs on A FEVER YOU CAN'T SWEAT OUT are filled with repetition and awkward phrasing -- to the point that many are actually unpleasant to listen to. The Las Vegas-based group, Panic! At the Disco, has been heralded by critics as delivering a unique blend of melody-driven rock and dance music, and there is a bit of talent here mixed up with some quirky originality. But the band seems to think so highly of themselves that preciousness trumps artistic originality on almost every track. A theatrical circus-y ambiance provides whatever excitement there is here, but it's not enough to keep things interesting.


Is it any good?

 

Over-processed and monotonous vocals, tedious special effects, songs that don't really work thematically or musically -- with one or two perky exceptions -- add up to a project that probably makes way more sense to the band members than anyone else. You'll find a sprinkling of four-letter words, but mostly the lyrics are obtuse enough to not mean very much to anyone except, one gets the feeling, band members and other insiders. It's that quality of self-centered navel-gazing that is the worst part.


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What families can talk about

Families can talk about weirdness just for the sake of being weird, and if that is really the best way to make a point as an artist. Why is this band being critically celebrated?


This review was written by Kathi Kamen Goldmark
Teen, 17 years old
February 5, 2010
 
I think it good for tweens and teens no 1 younger
i love panic at the disco i always have they express them selves simaler to the way i do and they arnt afrid of it either i just love them. they have been my role modles for a very long time.

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Kid, 13 years old
August 21, 2011
 
Really good album!
I love this album. I've been listening to it on repeat a lot lately. It's INSANELY catchy, and the lyrics are creative, but it does get inappropriate at times. "Lying is The Most Fun" is the most explicit song. "But It's Better If You Do" and "Build God, Then We'll Talk" aren't exactly the best for kids either...

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Teen, 16 years old
July 1, 2009
 
The Best Album You Will Ever Listen to. For ANY AGE.
Wow, this is the best album ever! It is AMAZING! It doesn't deserve 2 stars it deserves 100,000,000,000,000,000,000 out of 5! Seriously... This is the best album ever and I think that any kid should be able to listen to it. CAUSE IT'S AWESOME! I just wouldn't go younger than 8 because there are big words and mature themes that they wouldn't understand otherwise. But don't listen to whoever reviewd this. It is AMAZING. Go buy A Fever You Can't Sweat Out because it is awesome. YAY PANIC AT THE DISCO! They're my favorite band because of this album.

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Teen, 15 years old
April 29, 2010
 
Perfect for teens with a taste for emo.
No offense, but I think that whoever wrote the main review has no taste in music. The music is incredible, the lyrics unique, and the singer amazing. Worthwhile to listen to.

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Parent of 19 year old
January 30, 2010
 
MUSIC over LYRICS
it is only right to express their feelings through music, because that is what they are, and whatever they are, it is not our thing to discriminate(the band), because so many reviews here are just only take from the LYRICAL CONTENT of the album, even though there are so many topics on it that are malicious(for heaven's sake), are just natural for the people to see and hear, because these things are really happening in almost every community, let the kids get the picture and just advice them this: "whatever things you have been hearing through that album, let yourself not be like that" perhaps all things in this world can be a good example or bad, it's up to us on how we take the responsibility upon ourselves and to our kids... I named it MUSIC over LYRICS because, in MUSIC the music comes first before it's meaning, just because of a simple answer "think how is music if it only have lyrics on it? can it be called music after all? music is the melody, event though modern music is full of songs that are with vocal and lyrics, the music comes first, try doing music with so much lyrical content and you and your kids mostly will not understand for the reason it will be so deep, and if you want it lyrics over music, just don't do music, just write an essay, don't sing, even the greatest musician of all time could not do that I religiously BET. so let free of your kids if they want to have a try on listening this album, the style is unique, in every ways you would come to hear it, dissect it and it's very rare in terms of sound, arrangement, phrasing, beats, effects, backdrops, leftover-pick up, and most of all the songs are driving, the circus effect will keep you imbalanced on your ears, the strong and powerful vocalization will give you the stunning effect, the bass lines are drawing a good post, the drums are very in tacked into the groove and over all, their music is very INTERESTING.... :P

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Teen, 17 years old
July 12, 2011
 
One Has to Wonder if the Long, Odd Titles are Meant to Distract from a Lack of Musicianship or are Merely an Extention of Creativity that is Underutilized by Most Mainstream Artists
There aren't any real problems, other than language and sexual references in some songs. They're good dance beats, with interesting lyrics and song titles. Panic! has gained attention (like Fall Out Boy) for their creative song titles, and it's up to the listener to decide if this is a distraction or a way to get noticed by the mainstream. I think it's a little of that, and also just part of the carnival-like drama and flamboyance that is present in the music and lyrics.

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Parent of 2, 13, and 15 year old
May 31, 2010
 
Wondrous, appealing music...for those who can appreciate the fact that it's Pretty Odd :)
I am a colossal Fall Out Boy fan, so it was only a matter of time before I discovered the genius that is Panic! At the Disco. I listened to Pretty. Odd. before A Fever You Can't Sweat Out (big mistake; Fever is so much better.) I'm not sure what was being reviewed, 'cuz it sure wasn't this. "Over-processed and monotonous vocals, tedious special effects, songs that don't really work thematically or musically"? I think not! Yeah, they touched it up. No, it's not over-bearing or unpleasant! Brendon Urie's vocals are astounding and alluring. Most (not all) of the songs are strangely appealing. Here's a song by song breakdown: Introduction- 1/5: Useless. The Only Difference- 4/5 Pretty good. Had to grow on me, but good. London Beckoned Songs- 3/5 The s-bomb gets dropped twice; weird lyrics, even for Panic!, but not bad. Nails for Breakfast- 3/5 It has an infectious beat, but I often skip this one... Camisado- 2/5 Eh. -shrugs- Time to Dance- 5/5 AWESOME song, one of my favorites. -Shotgun: wedding! Shotgun: wedding!!- Lying is the Most Fun- 2/5 The f-bomb gets dropped, definitely the most, erm, sexually inappropriate song on the album. I don't care for it. Intermission- 1/5 Again: useless. But It's Better If You Do- 2/5 Eh. -shrugs- I Write Sins Not Tragedies- 4/5 Yes! If you don't mind the swearing. I Constantly Thank God- 2/5 Eh. -shrugs- There's a Good Reason- 5/5 One of my favorites, it has irresistible flair and drama. The chorus is odd (Haven't you heard that I'm the new cancer, I've never looked better and you can't stand it) but the rest of it is EPIC! Build God, Then We'll Talk- 4/5 No, I don't like the sexual part of it either, but it could be worse. I'd recommend this album to anyone who has a good enough head on their shoulders not to take the lyrics seriously. Enjoy!

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Kid, 11 years old
November 8, 2011
 
Great Album
I first discovered Panic! at age 9. I could recognize this music from when my big sister listened to it. Now I'm 10. I have memorized all their songs by heart. On June 7th, 2011 I went to their concert. I have their poster hanging above my bed. I'm a little kid and I love this band. I have all their albums and at least one song is stuck in my head everyday. It may not me appropriate for children, but if their mature and they know about that language, sure they can listen to it. In my house, we do not swear. We worship God and are an innocent family. So, you don't have to be n innapropriate teenager to listen to this album. :P

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Teen, 15 years old
November 8, 2010
 
My Favorite Band, Hands Down
I love Panic! and all of the current and former band members. I find the songs catchy and just... epic? I guess that works. There are some suggestive lyrics, but it's nothing compared to some of the anime and manga I've seen. (Or my friends *evil grin*)

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Teen, 14 years old
May 15, 2009
 
If you can't handle this- go get your bottle and tuck in for a nap.
Honestly! I got this shortly after I turned eleven (I actually got Pretty. Odd. three months before) and I fell in love with this. Sure it drops the f-word one or twice, and that some songs hold traces of unsavory things- but if you ask anyone who's been in fifth grade, they hear worse than this. And for those of you who think this is WHINY- go... just go. You aren't worth the skin and bones you are made of. If you want whiny, go listen to that Hannah idiot or some other current Disney singer.

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This review was written by Kathi Kamen Goldmark
Artist:Panic at the Disco
Release date:September 27, 2005
Label:Decaydance
Genre:Indie Rock
Parental advisory:No

This review was written by Kathi Kamen Goldmark
 

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ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age.
PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids.
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