SpenniesThe Black Parade (My Chemical Romance) - Best Album This Year?
December 8th 2006 01:46
We're in December, and I'm going to come out and say that for me, my favourite album of this year has been The Black Parade by My Chemical Romance!
My Chemical Romance first shot to fame in 2002 after achieving prominence by offering free downloads of their music on sites such as MySpace and PureVolume. Their first two albums “I Bought You My Bullets You Bought Me Your Love” and “Three Cheers For Romance” established them as one of the most popular emo acts going round.
In 2004, fellow punk band Guttermouth were kicked off the Warped Tour for allegedly insulting My Chemical Romance by claiming that they were more concerned with clothing and making money than they were in the artistic merit of their music. Whether the story is true or not, one listen to their latest album Black Parade and you’ll know that these are boys who take their music seriously.
Though Black Parade was released in September this year, I only purchased it a few weeks ago as I wasn’t in the mood for another depressing album from another eyeliner wearing, depressed emo band. When I heard that Black Parade was a concept album centred around a dying cancer patient, I was even less enticed. However, since purchasing the album, it’s sat in my cd player on constant play ever since. I don’t think it’s an exaggeration if I claim this to be my pick as The Album of The Year.
While essentially being an album about confronting our own mortality, this is not a depressing album. It is uplifting, enthusiastic and a lot of fun. Producer Rob Cavallo, who regularly works with Green Day has helped to craft an album that incorporates every aspect of rock.
The opening tracks 'The End' and 'Dead!' are The Black Parade’s equivalent of Green Day’s Jesus of Suburbia (in my humble opinion, the best track on American Idiot). There are big emotion filled ballads, such a 'I Don’t Love You' and the sublime 'Disenchanted'. Then there is the theatrically camp, Thin Lizzy-esque 'Mama' featuring none other than Liza Minnelli. 'Teenagers' is a country-meets-punk song that pokes fun at an older generation lamenting about the youth of today. It's a song that rocks out….but weirdly makes me want to boot scoot at the same time! The album finishes on a high note with 'Famous Last Words', an unashamedly optimistic big-chorus rock song.
If the album contained only the current single 'Welcome to the Black Parade' it would be worth the purchase price, but it is filled with songs worthy of being released as singles in their own right.
My Chemical Romance have paid homage to all that is good about rock, and thumbed their noses at everyone who has tried to pigeon hole them, and they’ve done it in spectacular fashion.
My Chemical Romance first shot to fame in 2002 after achieving prominence by offering free downloads of their music on sites such as MySpace and PureVolume. Their first two albums “I Bought You My Bullets You Bought Me Your Love” and “Three Cheers For Romance” established them as one of the most popular emo acts going round.
In 2004, fellow punk band Guttermouth were kicked off the Warped Tour for allegedly insulting My Chemical Romance by claiming that they were more concerned with clothing and making money than they were in the artistic merit of their music. Whether the story is true or not, one listen to their latest album Black Parade and you’ll know that these are boys who take their music seriously.
Though Black Parade was released in September this year, I only purchased it a few weeks ago as I wasn’t in the mood for another depressing album from another eyeliner wearing, depressed emo band. When I heard that Black Parade was a concept album centred around a dying cancer patient, I was even less enticed. However, since purchasing the album, it’s sat in my cd player on constant play ever since. I don’t think it’s an exaggeration if I claim this to be my pick as The Album of The Year.
While essentially being an album about confronting our own mortality, this is not a depressing album. It is uplifting, enthusiastic and a lot of fun. Producer Rob Cavallo, who regularly works with Green Day has helped to craft an album that incorporates every aspect of rock.
The opening tracks 'The End' and 'Dead!' are The Black Parade’s equivalent of Green Day’s Jesus of Suburbia (in my humble opinion, the best track on American Idiot). There are big emotion filled ballads, such a 'I Don’t Love You' and the sublime 'Disenchanted'. Then there is the theatrically camp, Thin Lizzy-esque 'Mama' featuring none other than Liza Minnelli. 'Teenagers' is a country-meets-punk song that pokes fun at an older generation lamenting about the youth of today. It's a song that rocks out….but weirdly makes me want to boot scoot at the same time! The album finishes on a high note with 'Famous Last Words', an unashamedly optimistic big-chorus rock song.
If the album contained only the current single 'Welcome to the Black Parade' it would be worth the purchase price, but it is filled with songs worthy of being released as singles in their own right.
My Chemical Romance have paid homage to all that is good about rock, and thumbed their noses at everyone who has tried to pigeon hole them, and they’ve done it in spectacular fashion.
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Comment by Jimbo
Short Film Making
Media Blotch
Punk Rawk News
Comment by KylieW
Celebrity Obsession
It is very Queen. But there's something so infectious about it all. I love it!
Comment by Sisi
Comment by KylieW
Celebrity Obsession
You could be right. Maybe best rock album. I was just impressed that I could pick one album as my favourite, I have a very bad habit of never being able to make a decision! No problem this time round.
Comment by AnthonyB
What a great choice in Best Album, Kylie. I have the utmost respect for your celebrity and musical taste.
By the way, is this a new site? It looks terrific !
Comment by KylieW
Celebrity Obsession
I didn't mind American Idiot. I really loved Jesus of Suburbia. But I love Green Day's older stuff the most.
I haven't bought JT's album. I can't bring myself to spend money on something by JT (it's like the fact that even though I don't hate Kylie Minogue these days I can't bring myself to actually spend money purchasing her music!). But 'sexyback' is popular with the ladies!
Thanks for the comment about my musical tastes. You're obviously a man of discerning good tastes also! : )
Yeah, I just took over this site the other day. Thought I'd give music a go as well!