Brendon Urie was alone. Well, mostly.
After the sprawling, Beatles-esque experiment of Pretty. Odd. and the subsequent "creative differences" split that saw Ryan Ross and Jon Walker depart to form The Young Veins, Panic! At The Disco wasn't really a band anymore. It was a duo consisting of Urie and drummer Spencer Smith. The stakes were high. Fans were nervous. Could the guy who sang "I Write Sins Not Tragedies" actually carry the songwriting mantle without the band’s primary lyricist?
The answer arrived in 2011 with Vices & Virtues. It was a return to the theatrical, dark-pop roots of their debut, but with a polished, steampunk-inspired sheen. But honestly? The standard ten-track release only told half the story. To really get what was happening in Urie's head during that identity crisis, you have to look at the vices and virtues deluxe album tracks.
These weren't just "throwaway" b-sides. They were arguably some of the best songs the band ever produced.
Why the Vices and Virtues Deluxe Album Hits Different
If you bought the standard CD back in the day, you got a solid pop-rock record. It was punchy. It had "The Ballad of Mona Lisa." But if you were a die-hard hunting down the Japanese imports or the iTunes pre-order exclusives, you found a completely different atmosphere.
The deluxe version isn't just "more music." It’s a tonal shift. While the main album feels very much like a bid for radio play—sleek, fast, and aggressive—the bonus material is weird. It’s moody. It’s experimental in a way that bridges the gap between the vaudeville of their first record and the solo-project synth-pop that would eventually define Death of a Bachelor.
Take "Bittersweet," for example. It’s got this driving, frantic energy that feels like a caffeinated heartbeat. It’s quintessentially Panic! because it manages to be both anxious and incredibly catchy at the exact same time. Then you have "Kaleidoscope Eyes," which is a shimmering, psychedelic nod to their previous record but filtered through a modern pop lens.
The vices and virtues deluxe album tracks didn't just pad the runtime; they provided the emotional nuance that the polished standard tracks sometimes lacked.
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The "New Perspective" Problem
You can’t talk about this era without mentioning "New Perspective." It’s a weird anomaly. Originally released for the Jennifer’s Body soundtrack, it often gets lumped into the deluxe discussions because it was the first real taste of the post-split Panic! sound.
It was the bridge.
Without that song, the jump from the folk-rock of 2008 to the synth-heavy theatricality of 2011 would have given fans whiplash. It set the stage for Urie to prove he could write a hook that would stick in your brain for a decade. It’s a masterclass in power-pop.
The Deep Cuts That Should Have Been Singles
Let’s be real: "Stall Me" is a top-five Panic! song.
I’ll die on this hill.
The chorus is massive. The production is thick and layered. It has that specific "Panic! snarl" that Urie perfected. Why was this left off the main tracklist? It’s a question fans have been asking for over a decade. Often, labels make these calls based on "cohesion," but in hindsight, "Stall Me" and "Oh Glory" are the soul of this record.
"Oh Glory" feels like a frantic diary entry. It starts with a demo-like quality before exploding into this wall of sound. It captures the frantic energy of a band trying to find its footing while the world is watching to see if they’ll trip. It’s raw. It’s honest. It’s exactly what a vices and virtues deluxe album should offer—a peek behind the curtain.
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The Steampunk Aesthetic and Cultural Impact
You remember the top hats.
The 2011 era was defined by brass gears, vests, and those weird bird-mask things. It was a specific moment in alternative culture where "Steampunk" was briefly the coolest thing on Earth. The music videos for this album—specifically "The Ballad of Mona Lisa"—cemented this look.
But the deluxe tracks added a different layer to this world-building. Songs like "I Wanna Be Free" and "Turn Off The Lights" felt more like the "vices" part of the title. They were darker. They dealt with the claustrophobia of fame and the messiness of a public breakup (musically speaking).
Vices & Virtues was the sound of a band surviving.
Tracking Down the Rarities
The biggest frustration for fans today? Streaming rights.
Depending on where you live in the world, the vices and virtues deluxe album is a nightmare to find in its entirety on platforms like Spotify or Apple Music. Some regions have the "Bonus Track Version," some have nothing but the standard ten songs.
- The iTunes Deluxe: Included "Stall Me" and "Oh Glory."
- The Shockhound/Pre-order Exclusives: Featured "I Wanna Be Free" and "Turn Off The Lights."
- Japanese Editions: Often the "holy grail" for collectors, containing tracks like "Kaleidoscope Eyes."
This fragmentation is why the album has such a legendary status in the fandom. You had to work to hear the whole story. You had to be on the forums. You had to be on Tumblr. It was a communal hunt for the "lost" Panic! songs.
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The Production Magic of Butch Walker and John Feldmann
The sound of this record is no accident. Working with Butch Walker and John Feldmann was a strategic move. Walker brought the rock sensibilities and the "big" choruses, while Feldmann added that pop-punk urgency.
They pushed Brendon Urie's vocal range to its limits. Listen to the high notes on "Nearly Witches (Ever Since We Met...)." That track, which actually features lyrics written by Ryan Ross before he left, is the perfect closing statement. It’s a ghost of the past haunting a very modern pop record.
The deluxe tracks often feel like the playground where these producers and Urie just had fun. There was less pressure for a "hit," so you get weirder vocal takes and more daring arrangements.
How to Properly Experience This Era Today
If you really want to understand why people still obsess over this specific era of Panic! At The Disco, you can't just hit play on a random playlist. You need to approach it like a time capsule.
Start with the "New Perspective" music video. Watch the "The Ballad of Mona Lisa." Then, dive into the deep cuts.
The vices and virtues deluxe album is a testament to resilience. It’s what happens when an artist is told their best days are behind them and they decide to prove everyone wrong by leaning into their most eccentric impulses. It wasn't the end of Panic!—it was a second birth.
Actionable Ways to Explore the Vices & Virtues Era:
- Check Local Record Stores for the Deluxe CD: Many physical copies from 2011 include the "Stall Me" and "Oh Glory" tracks that might be greyed out on your streaming app.
- Use YouTube for the "Lost" Tracks: Because of licensing messiness, YouTube remains the most reliable place to find high-quality versions of "Bittersweet" and "Kaleidoscope Eyes."
- Watch the Vices & Virtues Short Film: The band released a "The Calendar" short film and various teasers that flesh out the aesthetic world Urie was building.
- Listen for the Ryan Ross Credits: Check the liner notes for "Nearly Witches." It’s a fascinating look at how the band transitioned and kept pieces of their history alive.
- Compare the Mixes: If you’re an audiophile, listen to the difference between the standard album tracks and the bonus material. The bonus tracks often have a slightly rawer, less "radio-ready" mix that many fans actually prefer.
The transition from a four-piece band to a solo vehicle wasn't seamless, but this album made it look easy. It’s the sound of someone finding their voice in the middle of a storm. Don't let the standard tracklist fool you—the real magic is hidden in the deluxe.