Panic! At The Disco have released a celebratory edition of their debut album, chock-full of wonderful goodies that show how the album began to take shape.
One such goody is a demo version of ‘I Write Sins Not Tragedies’. As we all know so well, that is a song full of theatrics and fancy, a storytelling masterclass of deception and despair. Every intricacy is burned into the brain, the result of 20 years of listening to it again and again.
This demo, though, showcases much more of actual instrumentals at the root of the song. And how, it felt much heavier in its original form than it did in the finished product. From an extended introduction, thanks to the clear lack of the iconic build, to the thrashing chorus, there is a jauntiness and jagged edge that doesn’t come through in the final song.
The moment that Brendon comes in singing on that chorus also makes it feel like that was the only piece of the lyrics they had figured out at the time of piecing together this demo. So from the very beginning, “Haven’t you people ever heard of closing the goddamn door” was a central piece of the puzzle.
It’s raw, it’s rallying, and it’s the bare bones of a song that went on to become a mega hit. Wonder if the band knew what they were about to unleash.
Have a listen for yourself, and feel the history.
If you fancy a little bit more, here is ‘But It’s Better If You Do’, featuring a pulsating electronic drum and plenty of chaotic piano parts. You can also hear the chug of the accordion so much more clearly.
The 20th-anniversary edition of ‘A Fever You Can’t Sweat Out’ features a fully remastered version of the album, a total of 11 of these unreleased demos, and 2006’s ‘Live In Denver’, on vinyl and available digitally for the very first time.
Speaking of ‘Live In Denver’, here it is in full for you to indulge in.
