Track by Track (Song Meanings):
(from; Ashley Perry's point of view)

Too Careful

Frontwoman Ashley Perry discussed this song about carving out a life for yourself: "We're in a situation where we're still young and it's hard being the ones who are going out and doing something a little different to other people our age. Some friends are going to college and some are at home who are like, I don't know what I'm doing.' It's a case of where people expect things to fall into their lap. You have to take risks to find out what you want. We've taken those risks and we've lost a lot but we've also gained a great deal that we are extremely proud of."

Disloyal Order of the Ignorant

"In my eyes, this song is a huge turning point for the band. The truth of it is, growing up is not easy. We're six different people who have to work towards the same goal on a daily basis. There were a lot of times when I felt really alone or angry or insecure. I don't always feel good at confronting people, especially people that I love, like these guys. Sometimes it takes songs to get the point across. The song is from one person's perspective. It's unfair that I'm the one who gets to talk about it but it helped me a lot. I felt like I was losing people, and I think the band did too. But it's okay, we're growing up."

Who Framed God?

"About self-righteous people and me feeling the blow of that." She added: "The chorus is about people who place blame and how they should look at themselves first. It's something I've dealt with since I was young. Recently I had someone very close to me do that, and it was difficult because I love that person but I didn't want to point a finger at just that guy I wanted to do a general view of it."

A World of Magic Can't Fix Your Tragic Life

"This song is about people who cover up their reality with frills and make out like they're living a fantasy life." She added: "It's one thing to have goals and dreams but it's another thing when you never know where you're standing in the real world. People can be hurt by that."

Turn It Off (When Praying Doesn't Always Help)

"Everyone knows what we believe in and our personal choice to believe in Jesus. It's a struggle in the real world to do that. Sometimes you want to give up. Some of the things we've been through - things I've been through personally - in the last few years, I've felt it would be easier to not have faith in anything and see myself as alone and work at it that way. It sounds like a good idea and I don't think it's anything anyone gets over. I also think it's a hopeful lyric, too. If you find yourself at the bottom, the only way you have is to look up. It can't get any worse if you're at the bottom. Even as a band when we've been at the top, inside we've felt at the bottom."

There's Only One Exception When It Comes to Love

"The first time I've been able to write a song about that." She added: "Ryan (Hernandez - vocals/guitar) brought me the music and I thought it was so beautiful. I don't know where my head was at when I heard it, but it really hit me. Ryan and I wanted to write a two-minute interlude, just guitar and vocals. It's such a departure from our other songs. When I wrote the lyrics and sang them to the band, we decided to make it into a full song. I've never written lyrics like this before. The first verse is about where I think the fear to be open or vulnerable started. Ever since the first story in a magazine, everyone has known about my family issues and domestic whatever, it's something that's kinda stayed with me and I've learned from. I played this song to my mom and there were tears. It was kind of embarrassing."

Things Are Looking Up

"A number of songs on Broken Down were born out of internal strife during a period when PANIC! came close to breaking up. On this track we respond to the rumors that were circulating about the band's future. Its like even though we've done so much in our careers, we feel we can even do more. I mean I'm just turning 21 this December. We aren't going anywhere, anytime soon."

All I Wanted Was (Me & You)

"This stripped down closing track was written about my boyfriend Breaking Dawn at Sunset bassist Patrick Lewis. The first time, Lewis was leaving to tour for the first time since we had started our relationship and as a consequence all sorts of insecurities were bubbling to the surface. It was so difficult to show this song to Ryan, because the instant he saw it, he knew who I was talking about and this was fresh after Ryan and myself had broken up. But above anything Ryan is my friend and he just said that he wasn't going to let his own ego get in the way of good music. Nevertheless out of respect to him, I didn't want him to write the music for this song so Hunter wrote it and its really different, in a good way. Even though the lyrics aren't out of this world, I feel that its one of the most upfront songs I've ever written on my own."

"As long as you don't leak it we'll send you a copy. :p Hell any fellow musicians who wants a copy 2 or 3 weeks before the album is released just hit us up and we'll send it to you. If we like you, of course." :p

--.` Ryan Ross Hernandez.

"Sort of..... :p I'll send you a copy before we head off to Europe at the end of this week. When we see you guys in the UK for the tour, you better know all the songs by memory. Haha." :D

Since there has been some confusion as to what the lineup will look like for this album, so we've decided to give more details as to who's doing what on each song.

Ashley Perry - Lead Vocals on all tracks except "Falling Stars".
Backing Vocals on all tracks.

Ryan Ross Hernandez - Lead Vocals on "Too Careful", "Who Framed God?", "Turn It Off", "Things Are Looking Up", "Falling Stars", "Misguided Hearts".
Lead Guitar on "Too Careful", "Disloyal Order of the Ignorant", "A World of Magic Can't Fix Your Tragic Life", "There's Only One Exception When It Comes to Love", "Falling Stars", "Misguided Hearts".
Rhythm Guitar on "Who Framed God?", "Turn It Off", "A Feeling We Don't Appeal to", "Bitter Tears and Broken Hearts", "Things Are Looking Up", "Writing in Stone Across a Personal Map", "All I Wanted Was (Me & You)".
Backing Vocals on all tracks.

Gabriel Hunter - Lead Guitar on "Who Framed God?", "Turn It Off", "A Feeling We Don't Appeal to", "Bitter Tears and Broken Hearts", "Things Are Looking Up", "Writing in Stone Across a Personal Map", "All I Wanted Was (Me & You)".
Rhythm Guitar on "Too Careful", "Disloyal Order of the Ignorant", "A World of Magic Can't Fix Your Tragic Life", "There's Only One Exception When It Comes to Love", "Falling Stars", "Misguided Hearts".

Josh Fallon - 3rd Guitar on all tracks except, "Who Framed God?", "Falling Stars".

Nick Asher - Bass Guitar on all tracks.

Josh Fallon - Drums on all tracks.

Overall Review: Broken Down on Memory Lane

The barely-out-of-teen years, crew from Nashville, Tennessee has delivered. Broken Down on Memory Lane is PANIC!'s best album so far. It has all the passion and whole-heartedness that their debut I Rather Die Than Have Another Broken Heart! possessed but combines it with the slick, tight production that was We Are the Directors of This Dramatic Love Story, and the catchy hooks and riffs of Nobody Puts Baby in the Corner, to create something beyond all previous releases. Though definitely not without imperfection, the record features songs that will please every listener, be it die-hard fan, music critic, or a skeptical hater. This time around, anyone who listens through this album cannot deny the immense talent of every band member. On Broken Down on Memory Lane, Ashley Perry's well-known powerhouse of a voice, nor Ryan Ross Hernandez' angst-fueled vocals are not the sole driving force of the record. For once, you could actually believe their stringent, repeated statement that "PANIC! is more than Ashley and Ryan."

"Too Careful" opens the album with a furious crash driven by Joey Fallon's near-rabid drum tempo that isn't careful in the least. Perry stated that Fallon had held back on previous releases for fear of overpowering her vocals. No fear. The entire band steps it up: guitarists Ryan Ross Hernandez and Gabriel Hunter, bassist Nick Asher and third guitarist Josh Fallon each get time to shine, as if the band is using this first song to re-introduce themselves to their fans (and introduce themselves to those who have been living under a rock since "Force Our Smiles, Baby, Half-Dead" or "MySpace Whore" hit the airwaves).

The band has certainly matured lyrically, though they certainly fall into cliches on occasion. "There's Only One Exception When It Comes to Love" begins acoustically and features some of the best PANIC!'s lyrics yet. Perry sings, heartbreakingly honest. "Only Exception" is apparently the first love song from this band and Perry gives the whole story within the song (for those of you who really want to know).

"Disloyal Order of the Ignorant" is among the weaker tracks on the record (and is their yet-to-be-a-hit first single); it essentially is MySpace Whore 2.0, with a barely different guitar riff, but this time Perry directs her fury at her bandmates rather than poking fun at Hollywood's lifestyle. There's no denying that the entire band is angrier than ever before, but angrier does not equal better. The angry-at-the-price-of-quality idea plagues other tracks such as "Turn It Off" and "A Feeling We Don't Appeal to," which begin to blend into a blur of hard drumming, shrieked vocals and predictable chord progressions after a few listens. The chorus of "Turn It Off" would sound more at home on a "Let Go"-era Avril cd, with its near-emo influenced lyrics. Yes, its a Christian-faith influenced song. Shocker, not at all in someways the band have always attempted to sneak in some religious references but not in this full-length song form. But each have their redeeming qualities-- the fervent breakdown on "Things Are Looking Up" catches the attention of the listeners -- that keep even the worst songs on the record from being truly terrible.

At the wise old age of 20 (soon-to-be 21, this December), the success of PANIC! makes lead singer Ashley Perry a veritable elder stateswoman. Yet, her solo song "Bitter Tears and Broken Hearts" is a mixed bag. While she delivers her trademark punk-influenced vocals, they seem misplaced over the acoustic instrumentation and hand claps. Although it does bring older PANIC! fans to remember the band's days of Friday night mall anthems. It may be a stretch to say that PANIC! probes dark subject matter on Broken Down on Memory Lane, but they work on fattening their otherwise prototypical pre-adult catalog of lyrics.

"Who Framed God?" mixes it up, utilizing a slightly slower tempo and a vocal back-and-forth by Perry and Hernandez. PANIC! is at their best when collaborating, like the fist-pumping gang vocals at the end of "A World of Magic Can't Fix Your Tragic Life" that also features a hard bass line by Asher. Same with "Writing in Stone Across a Personal Map--" Hernandez again joins Perry on vocals, saving the song from Just Okay land. Perry and friends abandon the slick in favor of a more gritty tone that takes the song to the next level.

"Falling Stars," is an opus acoustic anthem, bringing all this exuberance full circle. On Hernandez' only solo attempt on the record, Ryan never forces anything, and his rugged vocals are tailor-made for the material at hand -- even the acoustic first half of "Stars," which never brings in the strings or the choir arrangements for emphasis. Like very rare pop/rock bands, PANIC! merely focus on organic melodies with a tightened, finely-tuned pop-rock core. He keeps the lyrics so simple, yet he sings them so painfully honest, you could almost feel his pain. Mixing a good riddance to his former lover and softly playing in a broken-hearted lover's bedroom late at night.

"Misguided Hearts" is easily the most well-crafted, mature song the band has ever produced. Exquisitely subtle acoustic guitar by Hernandez and Hunter and gloriously bare vocals by Perry and Hernandez make this simply the most beautiful PANIC! song to date. Yet, the grandiose "All I Wanted Was (Me & You)" that closes the album, gives "Misguided," and "Only Exception," a run for their money. This song can really be called epic, a song worthy of Muse or, dare I say write, U2 that is meant to be played in an arena to thousands of people. Perry raw-throated, insistent chant of "All I wanted was you," sliding from note to note will send chills down your spine at the very least. (A popcore dork will probably burst into tears.)

From their first album, I Rather Die Than Have Another Broken Heart!, to now, the progression is as obvious as growing up. The band is now a natural at buffing the pop architecture. Perry and Hernandez are dripping with more confidence than ever, and their even sneering less to soar higher. Who needs the ‘tude? Come time for a crucial hook and chorus - like on "Who Framed God?" - and the song is immediately a phoenix. But progression can be dirty work. Take ender "All I Wanted Was (Me & You)" - much more “radio” than anything on Broken Down on Memory Lane, it’s forcefully booming to be epic, although its the least-lyrical song on the album, its hard not to be taken a back by Perry's powerful vocals. She alternates between a recluse verse and an awkwardly unmatched chorus. Isn’t this where Avril Lavigne went wrong?

There's no denying it: PANIC! are here to stay (and they make sure of it on "Things Are Looking Up"). They have proven themselves with this record and shown that they deserve all that they have worked for. The record has mediocre cuts, certainly, but the incredible quality of others make me look forward to their next record, which will hopefully be entirely comprised of brilliant tracks like "Misguided Hearts", "There's Only One Exception When It Comes to Love". and "All I Wanted Was (Me & You)." This band has not yet released their classic album, fans and critics alike know they can make, but Broken Down on Memory Lane shows us that they are capable of it.

Simultaneously down-to-earth and on top of the world, there is something about these main characters of Ashley Perry and Ryan Ross Hernandez that makes an album like Broken Down on Memory Lane more than another notch on that slutty pop-rock bedpost. Just imagine what will happen when the band hits their mid-twenties. Heck, their drummer hasn't even hit the twenties.

"Well I'm use to it, I've always been the only girl on tour since I was sixteen. I've never toured with another girl on the tour bus. But, yeah sometimes its frustrating, sometimes I want to rip my hair out. Still for the most part I think the guys have it much worse than me. The guys are so close to dude freedom, I probably ruin so much fun for them. For the most part its not as bad as people would think, I mean its like having five brothers that always look after you. But I've literally grown up around these five guys so they've seen at my best and at my worse moods. Although we never whore ourselves out we still get the old "sell out" from fans that are Broken Down on Memory Lane, no pun intended. Thanks for the positive comments from both you and Roberto, hopefully we get more comments like that. We worked our butts off more than ever on this record."

--.` Ashley Perry.

"We have it much harder than her, especially me since I'm like even more moodier than girls. Its still cool having her on tour with us, I mean she always keeps us in line which is good. If it wasn't for her we would be like biggest group of idiots, which we still are when its just the six of us. Her attitude on this record, I wouldn't consider it bitchy, I would say moody much like the musical set-up of the record. When the album kicks off the music is heavy, and she's angry. The half-point of the album are mid-tempos a few angry aspects, few faith aspects, love aspects. Then to end it off its the slower, acoustically fueled songs, about just our everyday lives or again love. No hard feelings though, Ashley is my favorite too. Its hard to believe I was her first boyfriend and we dated for 3 years."

--.` Ryan Ross Hernandez.

OOC: Thanks, I always try to put my best effort on my threads. :)

Edited by user 18 October 2009 04:53:45(UTC)  | Reason: Not specified

Take a Leak: Broken Down on Memory Lane

Just a day before its initial release date in Italy and Greece. PANIC!'s latest album, Broken Down on Memory Lane has leaked online in its full and to make things worse it has leaked at album quality. Now you would think the band would be pissed about it but their not with their front people Ashley Perry and Ryan Ross Hernandez saying this:

Ashley Perry: "We're honestly not stressing about it. We know that now a days everything leaks sooner than its release date, there's not very much excitement on release date anymore because its already been heard a week or so before. But we honestly aren't going crazy about it, I mean we had a huge amount of pre-orders of the album worldwide and we're glad that our fans are able to hear this record that we are extremely proud of."

Ryan Ross Hernandez: "Cool. That's all I have to say. I hope that the fans are enjoying the record. I don't feel that any fans should feel guilt for hearing or downloading a leak, that just means to me that they are excited to hear our new material. Whether fans actually buy the record or not I'm not going to judge or of them. I know its a tough economical time and not everyone can spend fifteen bucks on a record. As long as fans keep coming out to our shows whether they buy our music or not. We're not going anywhere."

Despite the leak, no release dates for any country will be pushed up. All release dates are still at their original, previously announced date. The official release date for the United States and United Kingdom both stand at their original November 3rd and November 2nd release dates, respectively.

First Week Sales + Chart Performance

UK: 34,012 sales #4
USA: 33,416 #5
Canada: 33,180 #2
Aus & NZ: 34,912 #1
South America: 35,324 #1
Asia: 33,214 #2
Europe: 33,089 #4

World: 237,147 #1

Although it had great first week sales and chart positions, making the top 5 worldwide, Ryan Ross Hernandez told reporters outside the Birdies tonight that he was "slightly disappointed" since he felt that this record was "miles beyond" their previous album Nobody Puts Baby in the Corner but both records virtually debuted with identical numbers.

PANIC! had almost no time to celebrate their victory at the IMA's since they have already boarded their flight bound for Los Angeles, where they will kick off their North American leg of their current tour in support of Broken Down on Memory Lane.

Hey send us a copy! We can't wait to here it!

-Andrew