A Fever You Can't Sweat Out

Meet emo's new wave. Panic! at the Disco, the Vegas quartet signed by Fall Out Boy's Pete Wentz to his new Decaydance label, follow FOB's songwriting formula: scathing lyrics about slutty ex-girlfriends and the lameness of the music industry, sung by frontman Brendan Urie, who's got the sensitive-boy vocal quiver down pat. What makes Panic different (and excellent) is their use of dance-floor synths and roboto drums, which redeems the album's whininess. Sometimes the grooves sneak into traditional rockers, like the wry "London Beckoned Songs About Money Written by Machines," where Urie sings, "We're just a wet dream for the Webzines." Other times they take center stage, as on the electronic rave-up "Camisado." On all fronts, Panic pillage two pop-friendly musical trends — Eighties keyboard nostalgia and angry-boy pop punk — and create something new.