My Chemical Romance is back with their third studio effort, Black Parade. Gerard Way and gang take a ballsy stand and screw the norm with a concept album that pays tribute to bands of the past.
The boys have seemingly matured since their last album, 2004's Three Cheers for Sweet Revenge, and have created something that may arguably be one of the best CDs of the year.
Way and the boys bring their gothic glam rock to the masses by introducing The Patient. The CD relays The Patient's last thoughts on earth as his life flashes before his eyes. Then death comes for him in the form of a black parade, with a kick-ass band playing front row center.
Black Parade is not only their new CD, but their new persona as well. MCR transformed their style in fashion and music to create a tribute to great rock bands from the 70s. MCR's signature sound is still present, but with a heavily Queen-influenced rock feel.
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Black Parade is full of surprises, including Liza Minnelli's cameo on "Mama," depressing love ballads like "I Don't Love You," and a hidden track titled "Blood." The biggest surprise of all is the infectious and upbeat "Teenagers," a silver lining in all of the doom and gloom.
With "Black Parade," MCR steps away from being a guilty pleasure with emo connections and becomes the rock band that they and their fans have argued they were from the beginning, cementing their name in rock 'n' roll history with an oddly beautiful ode to death.
I recommend this album to everyone who thought MCR had potential as a band and is a fan of good rock music, no matter how old it is. Don't take my word for it, though: visit http://www.theblackparade.com/ or http://www.mychemicalromance.com/, where you can hear the entire CD for yourself at no charge.
Copyright 2006 Metropolitan Community College