PUBLIC – “Honeybee”: This rockin’ trio from Cincinnati could very well be following in the footsteps of fellow hometown heroes Walk the Moon. With production several notches up from the Red EP, “Honeybee” is a quintessential summer anthem that serves as an appropriate preview of the band’s forthcoming sophomore EP, to be released with Counter Rhythm Group.

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Honeybee is by far the group’s strongest single thus far. John Vaughn sings on point, channeling Young the Giant’s Sameer Gadhia a bit. People recommend this band for fans of the Killers, but they have a sound all their own which is owned to the fullest in “Honeybee.” Driving, effectively structured drum beats back a riff that’s simply irresistible. Matt Alvarado shrinks back a bit, but is nonetheless crucial to getting the bass’ timing just right. And of course, Ben Lapps doesn’t disappoint on the drumming.

-Ryan Getz

Panic! at the Disco – “Ms. Jackson”: It’s Panic! At The Disco, it’s going to sound different. After three albums, if you haven’t figured that out yet, I don’t know how to help you.

Panic has just announced a new album “Too Weird To Live, Too Rare To Die!” that releases in October and dropped the first single “Miss Jackson” featuring Lolo. I was a little surprised at the announcement, I kind of forgot the hints they’ve been dropping.

They’ve been sliding down the favorite band slope recently, but they still hold a special place in my heart and I’m still excited for what they have next.

Listening to “Miss Jackson,” I’m really digging it. I think it’s a lot better then what they had on their last album, Vices and Virtues, which I wasn’t that impressed with (excluding Ballad of Mona Lisa).

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The biggest complaint I’ve heard so far is that it sounds like Fall Out Boy and I would have to agree. If you switch out Brendon Urie’s vocals for Patrick Stump it would defiantly sound like a bonus track off of FOB’s new album. And although I understand the fans complaint that they should have their own sound, I like FOB and this is just one song. Knowing these guys, the rest of the album will most likely sound different from track to track.

“Miss Jackson” is very poppy. The chorus is pretty simple which has been common for Panic post Ryan Ross. But unlike songs like “Let’s Kill Tonight” where it got really old and annoying, Miss Jackson has enough there that it stays in the good realm of catchy. The song is very easy to dance and sing along to. It also has a little bit of a dark tone which I’ve come to know from Panic.

I’m still a bit hesitant to let myself be fully hyped for the new album. Last time, the first single Panic released for Vices and Virtues was “The Ballad of Mona Lisa” which I loved, but then the rest of the album sounded nothing like it and though it was meh. So I’m a little scared that’s going to happen again. But I’m liking what I’ve heard so far and come October I planning on checking out the rest of what they have.

-Corey Leaman