The Black Parade
by My Chemical Romance
  • Record Label: Reprise
  • Release Date: Oct 24, 2006
User Score
8.8

Universal acclaim- based on 790 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 708 out of 790
  2. Mixed: 19 out of 790
  3. Negative: 63 out of 790

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  1. nura
    Dec 1, 2006
    9
    all the songs in this album are superb! i like the new MCR! keep up with the good work, guys!
  2. BrendanD
    Dec 27, 2006
    8
    I couldn't believe it. I just couldn't. All you MCR fans out there can tell me what an idiot I am, go ahead, because I despised this band, banishing their songs to the same realm as other neo-bombast bands like the Killers. Oh man, was I wrong. One day, I was listening to a radio program that was reviewing it, and I heard the opening lick of "Teenagers." I thought to myself, I couldn't believe it. I just couldn't. All you MCR fans out there can tell me what an idiot I am, go ahead, because I despised this band, banishing their songs to the same realm as other neo-bombast bands like the Killers. Oh man, was I wrong. One day, I was listening to a radio program that was reviewing it, and I heard the opening lick of "Teenagers." I thought to myself, 'Hmm, self, this is pretty good. I wonder who it is.' When the announcer came on and said it was My Chemical Romance, I almost choked on the meatless ribs I was eating at the time. When the critics started giving it rave reviews, I just had to take a look. And, well, damn. It's "A Night at the Opera." It's "The Wall." It's "Quadrophenia" (actually, it's way, way BETTER than "Quadrophenia"). But what it REALLY is is "American Idiot, Part II." Which is fine -- "American Idiot" was a great, great record. Look, you can't possibly call this album a masterpiece. It's got very little below the admittedly fantastic bombast on the surface, and the vocals can get very, very trying at times. But despite the non-masterpieceness of "The Black Parade," it's a helluva lot of fun, perfect especially for males who are physically or psychologically between the ages of 13 and 17.… Expand
  3. JoseR
    Oct 23, 2006
    10
    This album will very quickly become the soundtrack to your life.
  4. JoshH
    Oct 23, 2006
    10
    Very, very impressive.
  5. GerardW
    Oct 23, 2006
    10
    hope you all like it!
  6. LindsayA.
    Oct 23, 2006
    10
    I love this album!
  7. Jasonw
    Dec 4, 2006
    10
    awesome album, a little differnt taste then their first , which at first dissapointed me, but now i can't i can't stop listenning to the music, its AMAZING. great job guys on producing another great album.
  8. JoeA
    Oct 24, 2006
    10
    My Chemical Romance has really matured as a band with this latest effort. Their music has found where it wants to be and they have taken their place at the forefront of theatrical rock music. This isn't emo, this isn't alternative, it's just music and by God, it's good music. The single "Welcome to the Black Parade" is in keeping with the classic Queen tradition of My Chemical Romance has really matured as a band with this latest effort. Their music has found where it wants to be and they have taken their place at the forefront of theatrical rock music. This isn't emo, this isn't alternative, it's just music and by God, it's good music. The single "Welcome to the Black Parade" is in keeping with the classic Queen tradition of overdone rock opera, but it's one of the best tracks on this album. Another standout includes the Misfits-meets-Panic!esque Mama, whereas Dead! is a singalong pop song in the style of Three Cheers' instant hooks and unforgettable riffs. Most of all, The Black Parade reeks of a band having a lot of very good fun, and it seems as if MCR really did while they were making this. Overall, this effort is so much better and so much more mature than their previous two albums. Difficult third album? Not for MCR.… Expand
  9. JamesJ
    Oct 24, 2006
    10
    MCR have made one amazing album here. Pure sonic joy in all of its absurd and over the top brilliance. One of the top 3 albums this year.
  10. kirstyh
    Oct 24, 2006
    10
    i think this is a very good album and it should be number 1 on the charts
  11. JohnB.
    Oct 24, 2006
    9
    Reminiscent of Green Day's "American Idiot," but more ambitious. It overreaches itself at times, but overall an excellent record.
  12. Lou
    Dec 5, 2006
    4
    Anyone else think these guys sound like Styx meets Dashboard Confessional?? Its Arena meets Emo. I dub this new genre - Arenamo!!
  13. FreddyF
    Oct 25, 2006
    10
    CLASSIC album. They have far reached what I think anyone thought they could do. TEENAGERS and MAMA are instant classics. Who ever gives it a 2 definitely hasn't heard or given the album a chance and is just biased against the bands for no reason, except for being a critical D*ck. Pretty much discredits them. This album is a MUST PICK UP!!!!! I applaude MCR vision.
  14. rafaelas
    Oct 25, 2006
    10
    its a very good album!!!
  15. JulesE
    Oct 25, 2006
    4
    Just what we needed - meatloaf meets green day. I read an interview with MCR and they namedropped Rocky Horror as major influence - now if only they had more Dr Franfenfurter and less meatloaf...either way the whole 'new generational music' tag from Los Angeles Times is laughable or perhaps just sad
  16. SyarufI
    Oct 25, 2006
    10
    The Best Album In The World
  17. nickm
    Oct 25, 2006
    9
    who ever thinks this is crap is thinking too hard, not everything has to be refered back to your glory days
  18. TomH
    Oct 25, 2006
    0
    Sorry bout being a old school MCR fan i was really hoping to see more punk sound from them cos i heard they were completely changing their sound but didnt realize they'd do a damn britney spears on us and produce nothing but pure pop trash. This album could quite possibly be the worst album of the year, even the lead singer sounds more gay
  19. DanielM
    Oct 25, 2006
    6
    It is very disturbing that this got a better review than Mastodon's Blood Mountain. Not bad, but certainly not as good as its rating suggests
  20. JustinT
    Oct 25, 2006
    9
    Great 3rd album. Happy with how good it is. Definitely a good sound, sounds like MCR.
  21. NickS
    Dec 6, 2006
    6
    MCR has definitley proven themselves as musicians, I really cant compare this album to the first one. First one in my opinion blows it away. A lot of good songs on this album, but not a hit album, they might get 2 singles out of this one.
  22. M88
    Oct 26, 2006
    9
    I'm not a fan of this "type" of music. But i find this album extremely addictive. And to say this band's new cd is just "emo-pop" is kind of a cop-out.
  23. Carl
    Oct 26, 2006
    8
    For the first time in a long time, a band I like has put out a record that went in a new direction but brought me along with them from the first note of the first song on the album. This is an album album. Songs like "Welcome to the Black Parade" which I had gotten sick of from radio overplay now fit seemlessly into the sequence of songs on the album. MCR takes familiar musical themes For the first time in a long time, a band I like has put out a record that went in a new direction but brought me along with them from the first note of the first song on the album. This is an album album. Songs like "Welcome to the Black Parade" which I had gotten sick of from radio overplay now fit seemlessly into the sequence of songs on the album. MCR takes familiar musical themes from the likes of Queen, Bowie, and even The Beatles and put it's signature snarky sound to it, creating a delicious hybrid of sound that's like nothing else in rock today yet fortunately like the best of classic Classic Rock.… Expand
  24. coreys
    Oct 26, 2006
    10
    two glaring omissions from everyone's "spot the influences". cheap trick and the marvelous 3. nobody writes a hook like cheap trick and the marvelous three is just as underrated. just like "american idiot". don't think too hard about it, just enjoy it. it's rock n roll.
  25. joanthans
    Oct 26, 2006
    10
    It is supremly different from "Three Cheers for Sweet Revenge" and "I Brought You My Bullets, You Brought Me Your Love" but even despite the huge transition in mood, singing level, and overall beat and sound to their music, MCR still continues to be one of the best around. This time around they're not nearly as post-hardcore and as such the whole CD is slowed down significantly. The It is supremly different from "Three Cheers for Sweet Revenge" and "I Brought You My Bullets, You Brought Me Your Love" but even despite the huge transition in mood, singing level, and overall beat and sound to their music, MCR still continues to be one of the best around. This time around they're not nearly as post-hardcore and as such the whole CD is slowed down significantly. The lyrics/songs don't hold as much punch as the first two CDs, but if you can get used to the transition when listening to the three back-to-back-to-back, then it is still on par with their first two. I would not however say that it is their best album, probably from the fact that it differs just that much.… Expand
  26. LeNlEnahbasta
    Dec 6, 2006
    10
    oh my god this song really unbelievable its really amazing woah ang ganda super!!!!! hehehhe its a perfect song for a rebel one!!!!!!!!!
  27. jim
    Oct 26, 2006
    0
    if you love music, than you will hate this. and btw nme: american idiot is not a good album.
  28. Cassandra
    Oct 26, 2006
    8
    This is one of those albums that slowly grows on you. The best songs are the infectiously My Chem-style infused ones, like "Mama" "Hidden Track" "Dead" and "Welcome to the Black Parade" although "Disenchanted" reminds me of their first CD (an excellent cd that every fan should have, by the way). There are some near the end that I didn't like, such as "Teenagers" and "Sleep", so it This is one of those albums that slowly grows on you. The best songs are the infectiously My Chem-style infused ones, like "Mama" "Hidden Track" "Dead" and "Welcome to the Black Parade" although "Disenchanted" reminds me of their first CD (an excellent cd that every fan should have, by the way). There are some near the end that I didn't like, such as "Teenagers" and "Sleep", so it doesn't get a 10.… Expand
  29. MaxL
    Oct 27, 2006
    9
    I have to say that I am a little surprised at the quality of this album. I wasn't a fan of their last record, but they poished themselves silly on this one. It's really quite fun, and at times, a little beautiful. And really, this is rarely the sort of thing I like. I'm shocked.
  30. MikeN
    Oct 28, 2006
    1
    The fact that this record and Sgt. Pepper are even mentioned on the same page makes me break out in hives. This is emo-pop high school bombast and self-indulgence dressed up with second rate def leopard hooks and queen histrionics. How is this so well reviewed, I feel like I am taking crazy pills here!?!
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Awards & Rankings

3
#3 Most Discussed Album of 2006
3
#3 Most Shared Album of 2006

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
79

Generally favorable reviews - based on 24 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 17 out of 24
  2. Mixed: 6 out of 24
  3. Negative: 1 out of 24
  1. The Guardian
    80
    The most bonkers album of the year, but one of the best.
    Read full review
  2. Alternative Press
    100
    The Black Parade is MCR's whole raison d'etre rolled up into one mega-decibel calling card. [Nov 2006, p.179]
  3. Blender
    90
    They've created the Sgt. Pepper of screamo.
    Read full review
See all critic reviews »