My Chemical Romance gets a lot of guff. They're one of those bands that became so popular so quickly than anyone with the least bit of elitism in their blood wrote them off on principle. The goth make-up, swoopy emo boy haircuts and fifteen year-old girl fanbase didn't help their case, either.
If you write off bands for their public image, you're probably going to miss the good they have to offer. And this is a band that has some good to offer. First of all, this particular album is a huge leap from the band's sophomore effort, Three Cheers for Sweet Revenge. On The Black Parade, My Chemical Romance demonstrates an expertise in musicianship they never managed to highlight before. Additionally, they utilize music technology—the mix of this album is fantastic, using panning and effects in a way that accentuates the songs rather than distracting from them.
So what is it about The Black Parade that's so progressive? First of all, this is a coherent concept album, something rarely seen in the genre—particularly from a band as popular as this one. Second, this is accomplished with a dynamic range of influences, as the album quickly establishes.
The first song, "The End," starts off with an intro heavily laden with acoustic guitar and piano. From there, it bursts into a theatrical layering of guitars, drums and vocals so reminiscent of Pink Floyd's "In The Flesh" that it's a wonder the band didn't sue. These theatrics have a consistent presence in the album; the first single, "Welcome To The Black Parade," sounds more like a Queen song than a punk one.
The theme of this concept album is something that's hard for people to look at, especially young people—who are the target audience. This is an album about mortality. While the album does take a lighthearted approach in a few songs, those that are more serious are definitely worthy of praise. While there are a lot of bands that have written songs about death over the years, many of them did so to explore the romance of it... to glorify it. This album doesn't do that. This is an album that intends to make young people look at the horrors of death and laments of the dying so they can learn to value the opportunities they have in their lives.
Terrific. Keep it up!
ReplyDelete"If you write off bands for their public image, you're probably going to miss the good they have to offer. And this is a band that has some good to offer."
ReplyDelete**EXACTLY. I cannot agree more with this statement. So many artists receiving praise and a lot of publicity today can attract a lot of labels...which ultimately leads to a lot of negative assumptions. E.G. Lady Gaga is just a wannabe Madonna or some crazy transvestite looking for attention. In reality, she is a gifted musician with a unique sense of style and comes from an educated background (NYU).
Lady Gaga's great. She's like Marilyn Manson for a whole other audience. I'm not surprised they already worked together---they've both got this grand, theatrical vision that involves not only the music, but every tiny detail of stage choreography and presentation. And people write them both off without looking, like you mentioned.
ReplyDeleteI would KILL to see Marilyn Manson and Lady Gaga together. Oh my God, that would be sick nasty. Haha. Yes, musicians are artists in all aspects of the word. They not only can play instruments and sing but create choreography, costuming, a persona, etc. I love music...
ReplyDeleteHelena and Ghost of You were awesome singles. You're completely right, though, seemed like people were quick to tune them out. While annoying at first, the lead singer's theatrics end up growing on you. He's no Freddie but he has a presence. I never listened to the complete album but this post is gonna make me d/l it.
ReplyDelete