Pros: First half is excellent, lively and loud, from NJ :). Interesting concept.
Cons: Second half is rather generic, the songs don't really stick out on the 2nd half.
The Bottom Line: An interesting concept and loud, lively, but morbid songs could have made this a great album, except for the second half. Very good album, but not great.
libpunkchick's Full Review: Three Cheers for Sweet Revenge [PA] by My Chemical...
My computer is currently in remission:), so I decided to write a review, after my (involuntary hiatus). Here we go.
My Chemical Romance, or MCR, as they will be referred to in the review, are a five-piece goth/ punk/ screamo band from Belleville, NJ. Belleville is actually about twenty minutes from where I live, so they're representing the Garden State. Woo! Hoo! :)
The band consists of Gerard Way-vocals, Mikey Way-bass, Ray Toro-lead guitar, Frank Iero-rhythm guitar, and Bob Bryar- drums. The album is a concept album of sorts, with a rather dark and sinister plot. A man goes to hell and makes a deal with Satan that if he brings back the souls of a thousand evil men. If he does, he will come back to live and be reunited with his lover.
The first track is Helena, which you might have seen on MTV. The song was written about Gerard and Mikey's grandmother, who taught them about art, and who was very close to them. Another interpretation I've heard is that this song is about the funeral of the protagonist's lover. Either interpretation is good.
Tracks 3,4, and 5 each have something to do with the plot of the album. Track 3, To the End, is about a hitman who kills everyone in a wedding party at a church. Gerard sings the opening lines in a sinister voice, in the POV of the killer. Our protagonist kills the killer for his soul, for he is an evil man:)
Track 4, You Know What They Do to Guys Like Us In Prison, has a dark undercurrent of black humor throughout the song. It starts off with a vaudevillian piano intro and a jaunty, light-hearted drumbeat. Then Gerard starts singing. The POV is that of gay killer who's just gone on a killing spree in restaurant. Him and his lover are caught, and go to prison. The second verse of the song displays their dark, twisted sense of humor. "They all cheat at cards/ and the checkers are lost/ My cell mate's a killer/ And they make us do pushups in drag/". Horrifying and funny, a real keeper. More souls for Satan :)
Track 5, I'm Not Okay (I Promise), was another big hit for the band. I'm sure you've seen the video for this one too, and are familiar with the song. A high-school student goes on a rampage after being asked if he's okay. "I'm not okay, I'm not okay, I'm o-f*cking kay", Gerard howls towards the end. The menagerie is getting crowded, eh?
Ghost of You is my personal favorite. It is a beautiful, haunting ballad about never seeing a loved one again. The video for this one is based on Saving Private Ryan, and Mikey is shot by the enemy during the battle scene. The video and song go together perfectly, and can give you chills. A definite highlight.
Another favorite is the last track, I Never Told You What I Do For A Living. Our protagonist finds his lover, but she doesn't know what he is doing. He doesn't want her to know, because he feels that she will hate him for it. In the end, he is killed by those worse than him. "They gave all two shots to the back of the head/ And we're all dead/ Now". A perfect end to the album.
However, some of the songs are a bit generic. The Jetset Life is Gonna Kill You, Thank You for the Venom, and It's Not a Fashion Statement, It's a F*cking Deathwish are okay, but not very memorable. They're not bad songs, but they're not great songs either.
All in all, this is a very good album. The first half is strong, all good songs, but the second half is hit or miss. The concept is intriguing and original, and it sounds like a good idea for a comic book or a horror movie. Hopefully their new album is will be better than this one, with less generic songs on the second half.
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