“The Only Difference Between Martyrdom and Suicide Is Press Coverage” Panic! At The Disco
(click thumbnail)Single: “The Only Difference Between Martyrdom and Suicide Is Press Coverage”
Album: A Fever You Can’t Sweat Out (Fueled By Ramen/Decaydance)
Dates Recorded: June to August 2005 at Matt Squire’s private studio in College Park, Maryland.
Single Producers: Matt Squire
Single Engineers: Matt Squire
Single Mixer: Matt Squire
Mastering: U.E. Nastasi at Sterling Sound in New York City
Other Projects: Matt Squire has worked with artists including Northstar, The Receiving End of Sirens, Midtown, Thrice, and Junior Varsity, among others.
Single Songwriters: Panic! At The Disco
Console: Trident 70 Series console
Recorder: Pro Tools|HD
Monitors: Genelec 1031A
Select Microphones: Rode NTV, Shure SM57
Select Preamplifier: API 512B
Select Processors: Empirical Labs Distressor, Alan Smart C2 compressor, Valley People Dynamite compressor, Waves Renaissance compressor (plug-in)Panic! At The Disco — a synth-flavored emo-pop quartet with valuable indie cred — never deemed “The Only Difference Between Martyrdom and Suicide Is Press Coverage” a single. Nonetheless, it has experienced notable success on modern rock playlists nationwide. “It’s never been officially added at radio,” recalls producer/engineer/mixer Matt Squire of Track 2 from A Fever You Can’t Sweat Out, an effort completed in no more than four and a half weeks. “Radio stations picked it up on their own volition.”
This band of four teenagers from Las Vegas cleverly melds well-performed neo-punk instrumentation, electronica-like breaks, and wordy, smart lyrics within catchy vocal melodies: “The Only Difference…” is a prime example of the band’s deft abilities. “I give the band a lot of credit because the vision was there from the beginning,” explains Squire regarding the song’s unique aural components. “What wasn’t set was the arrangement, some of the chord changes, and the way we incorporated the electronics. We tried to find a way to blend it all a bit more so it wasn’t like, ‘Here’s our rock part; here’s our dance part.’ That was the evolution we made together.”
The project was recorded to Pro Tools|HD and mixed through a Trident 70 Series, a console recently retired at Squire’s private studio in Maryland; an SSL 4040G now resides in its place. “The 70 Series sounds awesome, but functionally, it’s limited and notorious for falling apart,” says Squire, who recently moved, upgraded, and refurbished his studio to meet the increased production pressures of his post-Panic! projects. “The SSL is like a gift from God.”
For Panic! vocalist Brendon Urie, various acoustic guitars, cello, and several percussion instruments, Squire relied upon his beloved collection of Rode NTV large-diaphragm microphones. “They don’t make them anymore and they sound much better than the Rode NTKs,” he offers. “If you don’t have ‘U87 money,’ you can still find a NTV on eBay for $500.” The remainder of the lead vocal chain consisted of an API 512B preamp to an Empirical Labs Distressor set to “Opto,” then straight to Pro Tools. Finally, a Waves Renaissance compressor plug-in provided final vocal processing. “I came up with a vocal setting on a project two years ago. Now I use it on everybody and it always sounds good. Don’t ask me what it is, though!”