My Chemical Romance: The Black Parade - by Claire The Karma Whore
[Editor's note: 'fuck' count - a pathetic FOUR!!!!]
Sunday 22nd October 2006
You remember when you were little, it’s Christmas Eve (babe, in the drunk tank – Liam) and you can’t sleep, because you know that tomorrow you’re going to get the one thing you have always wanted?? That’s how I’ve been for the past month, everytime I have thought about this album, I swear I’ve nearly wet my pants…….
But for the last week or so, I have been suffering from what’s best described as “a niggling feeling” Why? Well I think I’m going to hate this album, not so much the music, but what the consequences of this album will be. People, I fear that MCR are turning into Green Day.
Confused? Let me explain, once upon a time there was a brilliant punk band called Green Day, who wrote musical gems like “Longview”, “Maria” and “Minority” Claire loved them very much, so she was very excited when they made an album called “American Idiot” it was a good album, Claire loved the album very much. Then one day, the unthinkable happened, everyone in the fucking world brought the album!!!!!!! Even her dad! Suddenly that little punk band had overnight turned into media darlings, music for the masses, now every lyric, every note and every comedy face that Tre Cool pulled meant nothing. Nada. Gone………………………………..
I’m worried, seriously worried that once again I’m going to lose a band that I love madly, to the masses, they will change beyond all recognition, my mum will think they are nice boys, and my dad will buy their album , the single has already gone to No.1, no doubt the album will too, so, lets see what tomorrow brings………………….
This is for Claire and my God he looks like the singer from Idlewild
Well after managing to break the world record for "spending a shit load of money in the least amount of time - ever" I have got my grubby little hands on a copy of "The Black Parade", so stereo on, bass turned UP, lets see how this turns out..........
The first track that stands out is track two "Dead" which has the killer line "you heard the news that your dead? No-one ever had much to say, I think they never liked you anyway". Gerard Way’s vocals are as snarly and fantastic as usual, the guy could sing a lullaby and any "emo" would love it. The band seemed to have changed their appearance somewhat. Gerard has been pissing about with a bottle of peroxide, and is sporting a hair colour that wouldn’t look out of place on an albino, also they seemed to have raided the same wardrobe, with matching military style outfits. It’s all gone a bit bloody boy band, but that aside the music still pisses over any other band around these days.
I can’t help noticing a slight Iron Maiden influence on some of the songs, especially on "This Is How I Disappear" which is a great song. I always rate a song on how loud you need to play it, this track is begging to be played loud, as does "The Sharpest Lives", two brilliant tracks.
Go on... SMILE!
Next up, the single "Welcome To The Black Parade". Its no.1 so I guess every emo in the country has brought it. What can I say?? Fantastic song, fantastic video, my boys have done me proud, even though it’s a bit Queen-esque in places.
Somewhere along the way the "niggling feeling" returns, more so during "House Of Wolves" which reminds me a lot of Green Day, it also reminds me a bit of a White Stripes track, which I cant remember the name of....... no matter, still a decent track, maybe I’m thinking Green Day because the album is produced by Rob Cavallo, who produced "American Idiot" who knows? (Not me – Liam)
What I wasn’t expecting from this album was a track that would make me want to cry, "Cancer" is a haunting track and I defy anyone not to be moved, especially when Gerard sings the line "cos the hardest part of this is leaving you", not a track for when your drunk or generally upset (like me, all the time – Liam), unless you want to have a good bawl. Heartbreaking stuff – I’m serious!
Out with the make-up, in with the boyband look...
I’m slightly excited now, MCR have managed to get Liza Minelli (yes, Judy Jnr!) to sing a few lines on "Mama" which for me makes the track more worthy, to give Liza a line like "And if you call me your sweetheart I'd maybe then sing you a song" is the work of a fucking genius, this song is MCR at their best, it fucking rocks!
Out of 13 tracks, seven are outstanding, "Dead", "This Is How I Disappear”, "The Sharpest Lives", "Welcome to...", "House Of Wolves”, "Cancer", and "Mama". The remaining six are still bloody good, I think this album will be constantly played on my stereo for a few months solid. I notice their influences a lot more on this album than I did on "Three Cheers For Sweet Revenge". Maiden, Queen and a little bit of Green Day thrown in for good measure, but it still sounds like MCR, and its MCR at their very best. I don’t doubt that world domination is imminent, but would that stop me loving them?? Fucking never, no way.
It does leave me with a question though, at 32 am I too old to be an "emo"? Or does that make me an OAP emo? Fuck knows, I wear enough black, so maybe...................*****