My Chemical Romance - The Black Parade
Record Label: Reprise Records
Release Date: October 23rd, 2006
My Chemical Romance formed in 2001, shortly after lead singer Gerard Way witnessed the September 11 attacks and decided he wanted to do something meaningful with his life. The band worked quickly to release their first album I Bought You My Bullets, You Brought Me Your Love out by 2002. It showed the band trying to find their sound, from the powerful guitar riffs to the quick drums, all raging against Way's amazing vocals. My Chemical Romance's second album,Three Cheers For Sweet Revenge then showed the band's evolution from their first album with a much more consistent sound.
The Black Parade is yet another step up. Featuring a completely new sound again, the band takes on a more theatrical sound in this album. Beginning, ironically, with the song "The End", the album is loosely based on the story of a cancer patient. This being the main theme behind the music, the album is full of high emotions. "The End" is just one of the songs which uses ideas outside of the five-piece band. A piano is a constant extra throughout the album, as well as a choir in a few songs.
The band seems to have solidified their sound by their latest album, though each song is still unique in itself. They go from fast, radio-friendly songs such as "Dead!," "Welcome To The Black Parade" and "Teenagers," to the soft and slow "Cancer" and "Disenchanted," to the powerful, fast-moving "House Of Wolves," which is more reminiscent of their roots in I Bought You My Bullets. The album explores many different themes and issues including suicide, relationships, trends, alcohol, life and death, fame, terrorism.
Lyrically, the band has evolved exponentially on this album. Always eloquent with their words, songs such as "This Is How I Disappear", "I Don't Love You" and "Sleep" have moved the band into the territory of poetry. Way has improved in leaps and bounds with his vocals, never afraid of trying something new and taking risks. This is again apparent in the band's third album as Way's vocals blow us away over and over again in "Welcome To The Black Parade," "I Don't Love You" and the powerful last track, "Famous Last Words".
Hidden track, "Blood" is lyrically reminiscent of Misfits, but is completely different from anything the band has done up until now. The short track shows again the range of Way's vocals. My Chemical Romance has not stopped evolving in huge doses, and we can only wait to see how their sound progresses yet again with their fourth studio album.
I don't think the RIYL is very accurate with this album. These guys are one of my favorite bands, but I wouldn't rate it that high. And why no musicianship score? Anyways, I love this album. Nostalgia, nostalgia, nostalgia. And I still love it to this day.
Album is good, I''ll admit, but not this good. Vox are not a perfect 10. Also, the outfits have to mean an instant -5%.
Little bit of filler here, Cancer isn't as good if you listen to it intently, and the lyrical theme is blurry but not in an intriguing way.
the kids who liked this band at my high school ruined this album for me.
i never gave it a chance, apparently you like it though..
96, are you fucking kidding?
nice review though.
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