This is how I imagine the conversation went between the members of emo/pop/punk band Panic at the Disco, before the recording sessions for their sophomore album, “Pretty. Odd.”

Scene - A recording studio in Las Vegas

Brandon Urie (lead singer): Hey guys, it’s time to write a new album. We have the entire country waiting for our next move.

Ryan Ross (guitar): The entire country? How accurate do you think that is?

Brandon: Look at our record sales; the whole United States bought our album with their allowances.

Spencer Smith (drums): This is going to be great. I have been reading ‘Invisible Monsters’ again, and I think this new album can have at least 10 more Chuck Palahniuk references than the last one!

Brandon: Forget that. It is time for us to evolve musically.

Ryan: Yeah! That is exactly what I was thinking! We can have lots of different things on this album. Garage Band has so many options, we can make another album that improves on our last one!

Brandon: Hold on, dude. I just discovered this album called ‘Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band’ by this band called The Beatles. It’s really cool, and I heard from someone that their music still makes money. Think about it, we could retire early and be just as rich as we are now with half the effort!

Spencer: I don’t know, Brandon. Will we still be able to rock? You can’t really sing like ... what’s his name? Paul McCartney?

Brandon: That’s the best part! We don’t have to change anything about our style, we just have to sing about stupid stuff like clouds and the moon and people will think we are deep. All we have to do is talk about the Beatles’ music we are listening to in our interviews, and people will think they are our influences and respect us for following our elders.

Ryan: That, and all we have here is our stupid acoustic guitars.

Brandon: Perfect! Now all we need to do is hit record on our Macbooks, and wait as the whole world buys into our con.

Jon Walker (Bass): I should never have left the 504 Plan.

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