I DON'T KNOW HOW BUT THEY FOUND ME
Razzmatazz


3.5
great

Review

by Brad USER (11 Reviews)
November 18th, 2020 | 29 replies


Release Date: 2020 | Tracklist

Review Summary: Stepping out from behind the shadows of Brendan Urie and Ronnie Radke.

After Panic! At the Disco (P!ATD) fractured in two due to artistic differences, Brendan Urie and Spencer Smith needed some new members. They quickly recruited Dallon Weekes as a touring musician. Eventually, Weekes was upgraded to a full-time member and helped the band write their 4th album, Too Weird To Live, Too Rare To Die!. Unfortunately this upgrade would be short-lived and soon after Spencer Smith departed the band, Dallon would be demoted back down to touring member due to “creative differences” with Brendan Urie. This left Brendan as the sole remaining official member of P!ATD. Soon after, Dallon would officially leave the band and re-unite with his old friend Ryan Seaman (formerly of Falling in Reverse). The two would begin touring and working on a project Dallon had began writing back in 2009, I Don’t Know How But They Found Me (stylized iDKHOW).

No longer standing in the background (literally, go check out Dallon wearing a mask and standing behind Brendan and Spencer on P!ATD’s Vices & Virtues album cover), Dallon takes a commanding lead with iDKHOW’s first full length LP. Undeniably catchy, synth-pop is the name of the game and the album bursts open with lead single “Leave Me Alone”. From the onset is clear the influences that have been pulled from P!ATD, but it is also clear they will not be taking the same approach. The pop aspects are in your face, merging a refreshing take on 80's revival and shamelessly drawing influences from other notable contemporaries such as The 1975. The songs follow a straight-forward and un-apologetically standard, structure, but are filled to the brim with an excitement that is sure to maintain interest.

The album does not fall flat instrumentally, incorporating keys, horns, bass and impressive drumming throughout. The outro of “Razzmatazz” perfectly demonstrates the duos ability to create an absolute jam, while maintaining their accessible and dance-y sound. The band's main strengths are in their over-the-top pop tracks such as “Leave Me Alone”, “New Invention” and “Sugar Pills”. While not having particularly strong lyrics, the tracks are carried by a knack for catchy choruses, crisp production and refined singing. The band occasionally overdo their glossy, polished sound with some unnecessary additions (we could do without the robot voice in “From the Gallows” and the little kid talking in “Need You Here”), but for the most part the theatrical sound works. Throughout the bombastic pop-tracks, some moments of reserve are shown in the piano-led tracks such as the beautiful, but short “Door” and the less effective “Nobody Likes the Opening Band”.

The shining aspect of this album is the confidence exhibited by this new group. Despite neither having the opportunity to be front and center in the past, their years of experience touring has paid off to make them sound like dignified veterans. Dallon already matches the confidence of former bandmate Brendan Urie, but has far more left to say and do then just churn out radio-fodder. Both Dallon and Ryan’s voices sound phenomenal and the two must feel liberated to be leading the charge rather than just falling in line. Given the strength of this debut album and the high level of accessibility, I anticipate to continue seeing iDKHOW pick up steam.



Recent reviews by this author
The Smith Street Band Don't Waste Your AngerKevin Devine Matter Of Time
The Smith Street Band Throw Me in the RiverTotal Control Typical System
The Republic of Wolves No Matter How NarrowAFI All Hallow's E.P.
user ratings (43)
3.3
great

Comments:Add a Comment 
Feather
November 18th 2020


10559 Comments

Album Rating: 3.5

Sorry for the repost, but Jom explained me me that *something* happened in the sites backgrounded that ultimately resulted in this bands page having to be wiped and rebuilt.



So now you guys get the opportunity to re-rate the album AND to see the review on the front page again!

SteakByrnes
November 18th 2020


30408 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

Deja vu :3



Still gotta change the Brendan's to Brendon tho ;]

IsildursBane44
November 18th 2020


764 Comments

Album Rating: 4.5

Well that's annoying. At least it was fairly easy to fix.

Feather
November 18th 2020


10559 Comments

Album Rating: 3.5

@Steak ... I ctrl+F'd the review and changed all of them, but missed the summary. Sheesh. I can not be stopped!

Feather
November 18th 2020


10559 Comments

Album Rating: 3.5

Jom is the Lorax, but he speaks for the site.

Valzentia
November 19th 2020


1486 Comments

Album Rating: 2.5

album is meh

Conmaniac
November 19th 2020


27704 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

This slaps ngl

Conmaniac
November 19th 2020


27704 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

Let it b known this had a 3.8 avg b4

Kompys2000
November 19th 2020


9483 Comments


I've gotta check this out, I always dug Weekes' stuff back when he was doing the Brobecks

IsildursBane44
November 19th 2020


764 Comments

Album Rating: 4.5

We got it back to 3.8 Con. Let's see how long it lasts. haha

SteakByrnes
November 19th 2020


30408 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

I blame it on the redtakes guy. [2]

IsildursBane44
November 19th 2020


764 Comments

Album Rating: 4.5

lol 3.6 average. rip



It was fun while it lasted boys.

Deathconscious
November 19th 2020


27465 Comments


I just bought the Back to the Future trilogy, love those movies, its been a long time since ive seen them.

SteakByrnes
November 19th 2020


30408 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

This is cool stuff so far

Feather
November 19th 2020


10559 Comments

Album Rating: 3.5

Glad you are enjoying it Steak :-)

SteakByrnes
November 19th 2020


30408 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

Yea man it was solid fun :]

JesperL
Staff Reviewer
November 19th 2020


5674 Comments

Album Rating: 2.5

ok fine i'll give it a shot then, still fully expecting to hate it.. but hey i hope they prove me wrong!

Feather
November 19th 2020


10559 Comments

Album Rating: 3.5

@Jesper not gunna lie, I am expecting a 2.5 out of you, but maybe it'll surprise you.

JesperL
Staff Reviewer
November 19th 2020


5674 Comments

Album Rating: 2.5

yeah jesus this is like the most obnoxious moments from the killers' day and age stretched out over an entire album. undeniably catchy with some fun moments tho (new invention, lights go down), so yeah you're right feather this a 2.5 for me haha!

Feather
November 19th 2020


10559 Comments

Album Rating: 3.5

All I had to do was check out your Panic!, 1975 and Killers ratings to make an assessment



You have to be logged in to post a comment. Login | Create a Profile





STAFF & CONTRIBUTORS // CONTACT US

Bands: A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z


Site Copyright 2005-2023 Sputnikmusic.com
All Album Reviews Displayed With Permission of Authors | Terms of Use | Privacy Policy