My Chemical Romance is a recent discovery of mine. The black parade is their third album and it has made quite an impression. Musically this is punk-flavored rock that comes at you like a freight train loaded with melodic goodness. Everything about the album is catchy as hell and after a few listens every single song has taken turns playing in my head through the day.
The energy level is kept at a crackling level through the album. Lead singer Gerard Way has a flamboyant, in your face style and he is backed by an energetic, fast moving rhythm section. The band stops for no one, pulling out all the stops to make this a convincing album, or rock opera, which is probably a more fitting description. There is a strong musical feel to the whole affair with orchestral parts, bombastic, overblown melodies and a big bold production. I believe a
Queen influence is not far off. Themes of love, death, war, deceit, self-belief and finding inner peace are central elements in the lightly knit together story of a terminally ill person, re-discovering a will to live.
It is a fragile structure, but it works wonderfully, in large part due to the massive energy that shines through in the music. Enthusiasm is really a keyword when it comes to describing the band and their performance. Clean unadultered enthusiasm shines from everywhere and it won me over quickly.
Take the opening moment of
This is how I disappear. If this passage doesn't make you jump around with an air guitar in your hand, then you definitely need to hunt down the movie "Bill and Ted's excellent adventure", watch it and then return to this song. If you're still unmoved, then I guess you're just a lost cause. Better move on.
The music contains a great deal of detail.
Various instruments roam around in the background, underlining the melody if you listen close enough, vocal harmonies that only hit me after a while and orchestral passages that enhance the music without becoming attention grabbing. The band fearlessly dive into a lot of experiments and the album becomes much better for it.
Similar for ALL the songs on the album is that they have parts that I can just not help but sing along to every time I hear them. It is something that doesn't happen that often.
To pass breezily past some of the songs (don't want to spoil all the surprises), the title track has a superb way of building tension, releasing it with a convincing power and yes, enthusiasm. The highlight of
The sharpest lives is how the music underlines the lyrics in a most convincing way as well as the ending part.
I don't love you is a wonderful free-flowing song. Musically it is so smooth and melodic that it has become a real addiction. Gerard Way's performance is filled with emotion and he carries the message across in a heart piercing way. This is one song I don't think I will ever tire of singing along to.
House of Wolves is an uptempo rocker that keeps its melodic base tight and sweet while
Cancer is a short but effective ballad. 2 minutes of pure emotion.
Teenagers is the most direct song on the album and should become a live favorite. The chaotic
Mama features Liza Minelli on guest vocals.
The two last songs add a grandeur to the album that leaves a lasting impression and an uncanny urge to take the trip one more time.
Disenchanted has a huge melody line and it is one of the defining songs on the album. Really fabulous. When the chorus hits for the first time a feeling of this being just right is in the air.
Ending the album
Famous last words delivers a deep impact and makes the album come full circle. A strong riff leads the way for wrapped up emotions unfold. The final crescendo before the last chorus is very close to musical perfection and provides a satisfying ending, or perhaps, beginning.
Shared between all the songs is their melodic heart that beats with a passion that simply has to be experienced. The album has kept on growing through the past two months and it doesn't feel like it is losing its impact in any way. Sometimes painful, often inspiring and ultimately bound to get me in a good mood, the album is outstanding and a total success.
Two very enthusiastic thumbs up!
Written by
Steen Sunday, January 7, 2007
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