Panic! At the Disco

A lot of love can be lost in the recording of a live CD but Panic at the Disco's Live in Chicago sounds pretty damn rockin'. It was recorded during the Honda Civic tour in a huge stadium packed with thousands of adoring fans and solid music. Panic are an extremely talented band whose skill level and stage presence surpass their often-outlandish costumes and playful antics. Pulling tracks from 2005's A Fever You Can't Sweat Out and 2008's Pretty. Odd, Live In Chicago sounds unified and energetic, like the kind of show that would put the exclamation mark back in their name. Their influences are exhibited more thoroughly live than through recordings and showcase everything from folk music to '60s Beatles pop with natural conviction and flair. Panic's glitzy, sensational style helps to make this show exciting but at the end of the night they're only theatrics and the calibre of the music is what matters. Live in Chicago the CD is great, the DVD is informative and a lot of fun, and both succeed in providing an excellent representation of the true talent within this band.