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About four years ago, an album was released which rocked the foundations of my 15-year-old existence. This was the infamous Black Parade album, a glam/pop/rock/pomp rock album that seemed like The Misfits molesting a Queen album - it was wonderful. 4 years on, threats of breakups and a hyped expectation of what was come has amounted to this moment, My Chemical Romance have finally produced another album, their fourth in total.
So what can I say about this album? Firstly, everything you've heard, seen and loved about the former three albums; forget it. Store it away under a different file, although the same personnel (barring the drummer Boy Bryar) and the same name, they are a different entity altogether. Gerard Way stated how he came to loathe the 'TBP' image and how it was impeding their progress as a band. That much is obvious from the opening track, Gerard & co. have definitely (and rightly so...) decided to tear apart all that they ever were before. Lets not forget, they have now hit their thirties and are married and have kids.
The opening track labelled 'Look Alive, Sunshine" starts off the album in some sort of freestyle-rap to set the concept that will shape the rest of the record, this rapper is a radio DJ that crops up several times in the album, all we know is he calls himself Dr.Death. The track morphs into the first single off the album and perhaps their strongest track overall, called....Na Na Na (Na Na...yeah, you get it...) Its full of scathing lyrics about the past, about taking life by the scruff of the neck including a break-down where Gerard rambles non-sensically about...well, I'm not all too sure, but its pretty awe-inspiring all the same. The song is full of bite, catchy - but more of a pop song than a stripped down rock song as is advertised by the MCR clan. Don't get me wrong, its a good song and the pop style actually works, though its feeble ending to the track fizzles out the first track, which until then was at least making a strong statement about the band's direction.
Okay, third track; Bulletproof Heart. Intriguing title, and like Na Na Na, its catchy and again has a certain pop element to it. Good song, though the beginning smacks of something that could pass on a Girls Aloud or possibly *shudders* a Justin Bieber album. Lyrics like 'Gravity don't mean too much to me, I'm who I've got to be' definitely set it apart as a leading track in my humble opinion and give back some of the old My Chemical Romance feel from the past. However, deep lyrics like this throughout most of the album are either non-existant, or are cloaked by generic riffs and glossy song formats. It seems to me on my second listen that MCR are making a statement by...not making a statement, perhaps I'm missing something.
Sing is the fourth track on the album, and I'm very mixed on this one. For me, it possibly has the most passion in it and stands out from the fillers in the rest of the album. Problem is, I feel there just isn't enough content in the song for it to stand by itself, it seems a little...empty in all honesty, its just missing something. Perhaps its a little repetitive, or that it sounds like its been done before...not sure, it just sounds like a tired attempt at what could have been very special, but instead, is just a good song.
Planetary (GO!) is next on the list. I remember reading somewhere that Gerard was a fan of Lady Gaga, thats definitely obvious in this song. I don't like it in all honesty, its fast paced and dynamic, but seems very much to be a filler on the album. The album seems to get a little lost in a haze of fog at this point and the fillers seem to come in a block, next song is 'The Only Hope For Me' which again is a little repetitive and stinks of auto-tuning and playing about with synths and whatnot to enhance the sound of a distinctly average song, though the lyrics are heartfelt and there is passion emanating from Gerard's voice, the drumbeat salvages the tune. Good for a drive with the top down.
Track 7 is Dr.Death again, introduces track 8, m'kay. Some kind of Japanese (I presume) woman introduces the song before Gerard chimes in 'Everybody pay attention to me, I got the answer' and it definitely demands your attention at that. The name says it all, 'Party Poison.' Sounds like a perfect track for black-clad teens to jump around their living rooms to with the alcohol their big brothers bought them, again lacks content, but good beat.
Character limits will be the death of me. I see Track 9 'Save Yourself...' as another filler to the album...to be honest, most songs sound very similar to each other, something you didn't get on the 3 previous albums. Track 10 'SCARECROW' comes close to being a favourite here for me, it sounds a little like a Dashboard Confessional song, and is a gushing song that contrasts sweetly to the rest of the album. Kids from Yesterday is the next song worth holding onto.
Overall, an album full of adequate fillers.… Expand
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