Vetrus EXTENDED Review: "The Black Parade"
Extended Review: "The Black Parade"
By: My Chemical Romance
Overview: My Chemical Romance's third album, and by far, my favorite. The most dynamic up to this point, as far as sound and themes, for an MCR album. The band establishes this as, by far, their deepest concept album yet, with a clearly defined storyline, about a hospital patient who dies and encounters "The Black Parade", a fond memory of his that brings him into the afterlife. The band shows off their ability to use the styles of their roots in this, far more glamorous record. Queen, The Beatles, and Iron Maiden, are probably the most prominent of these.
Tracklist (that's right, not just Highlights, this is an EXTENDED review):
1) The End- An introductory song that sets the tone for the album, with striking lyrics, like "when I grow up I want to be nothing at all", just to get you into the proper mood. it's pink Floyd-type sound is SUDDENLY torn away into...
2) DEAD!- High energy, catchy and has a deceptively happy tone to it.
3) This is how I disappear- One of the more, glossed over songs in the album, "how I disappear" kinda acts as a filler, but a die hard fan cannot complain.
4) The Sharpest lives- Another slightly glossed over song, but when analysed, it is worth the time to listen to. Mikey Way's bass playing is shown off here more than anywhere else in their career thus far; the intro, a bass solo during a captivating choral chant, and the ending.
5) Welcome to the Black Parade- My Chemical Romance's biggest commercial success. peaked at number 9 on billboard charts, and set the band's name into rock history for a very long time, if not longer. As glamorously dark as the band gets, it leaves the memorable and song-writer-loved phrase "carry on" as the bands trademark chorus-line.
6) I don't love you- The UK single of sorrowful tone. One of the most emotional of the videos the band has released, too. Also includes one of the most heart-string pulling guitar solos I have ever heard. Bonus points to Ray Toro.
7) House of Wolves- Chaotic punk-metal paradise! The gothic lyrics of this little treasure is one of the most energetic on the album. "S-I-N-I-S-I-N"
8) Cancer- The piano's effect on the album's tone is felt nowhere more than here, the saddest song of the album. Quite possibly the first time since "Helena" that the band has ever focused on their true thoughts about the situation they dance around known as "death." A more genuine song is rare to find in today's music.
9) Mama- pulls out the big guns to get a point across. A devilishly playful song that causes fans to want to do nothing but sing along. The real highest point of this song is the sudden interlude that is a solo by none other than liza Minelli, singing "and if you would call me your sweetheart, I'd maybe than sing you a song" followed by the most profane moment in MCR's history. Hellions rejoice!
10) Sleep- With live audio of accounts of the bands stay at the paramour estate is heard here in the song, telling people just how far the band went to get the lyrics for his album. One of the deepest song to be heard also, with an intriguing contrast to the name, a slightly hidden scream of "WAKE UP" during the chaotic ending to the song.
11) Teenagers- A perfect poetic screenshot of teenage life, right in one hyper punk song. one of the least meaty in terms of lyrics, it survives almost entirely on its rousing chant of "teenagers scare the living s*** out of me." Another successful single that keeps My Chemical Romance in the mainstream's minds. Another song with a wicked guitar solo.
12) Disenchanted- Open to interpretation, but heartache to all who sympathise with the lyrics of this beautifully melodic song. A masterpiece of a ballad, but can be kinda depressing.
(what? I said something negative? it happens.)
13) Famous Last Words- the last single on the album. No other MCR song, or video, in my opinion even touches the true, raw, emotional power of this most vicious of songs, that manages to maintain a shockingly emotional refrain "I am not afraid to keep on living, I am not afraid to walk this world alone". it's MY favorite song of all time. another song open to interpretation, and filled with all kinds of angst to relive the right moment of your life. A sick guitar solo builds up to a thrashing climax of emotion that breaks off into the heartfelt words "'cause I see you lying next to me, with words I thought I'd never speak, awake and unafraid, asleep or dead." This song left Ray Toro, the lead guitarist to question whether the patient character of the concept even died, that the tone of the song brings hope, that the patient is maybe seeing positivity in the look back on his life.
14) Untitled (blood)- if you wait about a minute and a half, you can hear the comedic real last song on the album, one notable for it's use of piano and "timey"-sounding vocal style.
extra review factor- ALBUM DESIGN- It looks beautiful in a macabre way. Artwork adorns the entirety of the CD case and insert. With hail-shots back to The Beatles "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band", the very appearance of this album demands respect in it's incarnation of the greatest, most legendary band's own concept album.
Review- The bands use of tonal and lyrical contrast makes the album flow beautifully, almost flawlessly. The only thing that they should be rightfully accused of in the creation of this album is the band's use of emotion, as TOO MUCH, but even that would be mis-diagnosed. I don't think there is an album I will ever do this for again;
Tracklist (that's right, not just Highlights, this is an EXTENDED review):
1) The End- An introductory song that sets the tone for the album, with striking lyrics, like "when I grow up I want to be nothing at all", just to get you into the proper mood. it's pink Floyd-type sound is SUDDENLY torn away into...
2) DEAD!- High energy, catchy and has a deceptively happy tone to it.
3) This is how I disappear- One of the more, glossed over songs in the album, "how I disappear" kinda acts as a filler, but a die hard fan cannot complain.
4) The Sharpest lives- Another slightly glossed over song, but when analysed, it is worth the time to listen to. Mikey Way's bass playing is shown off here more than anywhere else in their career thus far; the intro, a bass solo during a captivating choral chant, and the ending.
5) Welcome to the Black Parade- My Chemical Romance's biggest commercial success. peaked at number 9 on billboard charts, and set the band's name into rock history for a very long time, if not longer. As glamorously dark as the band gets, it leaves the memorable and song-writer-loved phrase "carry on" as the bands trademark chorus-line.
6) I don't love you- The UK single of sorrowful tone. One of the most emotional of the videos the band has released, too. Also includes one of the most heart-string pulling guitar solos I have ever heard. Bonus points to Ray Toro.
7) House of Wolves- Chaotic punk-metal paradise! The gothic lyrics of this little treasure is one of the most energetic on the album. "S-I-N-I-S-I-N"
8) Cancer- The piano's effect on the album's tone is felt nowhere more than here, the saddest song of the album. Quite possibly the first time since "Helena" that the band has ever focused on their true thoughts about the situation they dance around known as "death." A more genuine song is rare to find in today's music.
9) Mama- pulls out the big guns to get a point across. A devilishly playful song that causes fans to want to do nothing but sing along. The real highest point of this song is the sudden interlude that is a solo by none other than liza Minelli, singing "and if you would call me your sweetheart, I'd maybe than sing you a song" followed by the most profane moment in MCR's history. Hellions rejoice!
10) Sleep- With live audio of accounts of the bands stay at the paramour estate is heard here in the song, telling people just how far the band went to get the lyrics for his album. One of the deepest song to be heard also, with an intriguing contrast to the name, a slightly hidden scream of "WAKE UP" during the chaotic ending to the song.
11) Teenagers- A perfect poetic screenshot of teenage life, right in one hyper punk song. one of the least meaty in terms of lyrics, it survives almost entirely on its rousing chant of "teenagers scare the living s*** out of me." Another successful single that keeps My Chemical Romance in the mainstream's minds. Another song with a wicked guitar solo.
12) Disenchanted- Open to interpretation, but heartache to all who sympathise with the lyrics of this beautifully melodic song. A masterpiece of a ballad, but can be kinda depressing.
(what? I said something negative? it happens.)
13) Famous Last Words- the last single on the album. No other MCR song, or video, in my opinion even touches the true, raw, emotional power of this most vicious of songs, that manages to maintain a shockingly emotional refrain "I am not afraid to keep on living, I am not afraid to walk this world alone". it's MY favorite song of all time. another song open to interpretation, and filled with all kinds of angst to relive the right moment of your life. A sick guitar solo builds up to a thrashing climax of emotion that breaks off into the heartfelt words "'cause I see you lying next to me, with words I thought I'd never speak, awake and unafraid, asleep or dead." This song left Ray Toro, the lead guitarist to question whether the patient character of the concept even died, that the tone of the song brings hope, that the patient is maybe seeing positivity in the look back on his life.
14) Untitled (blood)- if you wait about a minute and a half, you can hear the comedic real last song on the album, one notable for it's use of piano and "timey"-sounding vocal style.
extra review factor- ALBUM DESIGN- It looks beautiful in a macabre way. Artwork adorns the entirety of the CD case and insert. With hail-shots back to The Beatles "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band", the very appearance of this album demands respect in it's incarnation of the greatest, most legendary band's own concept album.
Review- The bands use of tonal and lyrical contrast makes the album flow beautifully, almost flawlessly. The only thing that they should be rightfully accused of in the creation of this album is the band's use of emotion, as TOO MUCH, but even that would be mis-diagnosed. I don't think there is an album I will ever do this for again;
10 out of 10
PERFECT SCORE
That is all.
PERFECT SCORE
That is all.
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