My Chemical
Romance - Three Cheers for Sweet Revenge
By Mark Hensch
Formed in 2001, the five piece set known
as My Chemical Romance is known for a style of dark, yet sleek and stylish,
lyrics over an ever changing set of sonic sound. After gaining much respect
from their debut, I Brought You my Bullets, You Brought me your Love, the
high octane rockers went on a major touring exodus, along with bands like
The Used, Thrice, Story of the Year, and many others besides. This dedication
and drive to the fans had many salivating for the sophomore release by
MCR, Three Cheers for Sweet Revenge.
The aptly titled album finds the lacy and
soft "Helena" explode into a passionate and emotional rocker later on.
"Give 'Em Hell Kid" is a punk/pop punk rocker, power chords and bass lines
adding nice texture to vocalist Gerard Way's odd and usually anguished
lyrics.
"To The End" is an interesting surrealist
tune with some jazzy background riffs over the more dominant power chords,
not too mention a cool little solo towards the end.
"You Know What They Do to Guys Like Us
in Prison" simply rules. The piano-like guitar intros, jazzy backdrops,
and darkly romantic lyrics would make the song worth it alone, but it doesn't
even end there. It busts out with a thrash chorus, features a great guitar
solo, and is peppered with guest vocals from one of my favorite vocalists,
Bert McCracken from The Used.
"I'm Not Okay (I Promise)" is like quasi-goth
pop rock, which is either a good thing or a bad thing depending on your
cynicism.
"The Ghost of You" waifs in with a murky
and crushing mellow progression, and Gerard really adds some awesome vocals
to this song, which is easily another highlight to the album.
"The Jet Set Life is Gonna Kill You" rocks
in with some organ effects, a building drum beat, and glassy guitars. "Interlude"
is a quiet but acceptable piece of filler.
"Thank You For The Venom" showcases
a more metal approach to MCR's sound, and is a strong thrash ballad of
heartbreak and loss.
"Hang 'Em High" is a sweet track that
moseys in with some generic Spaghetti Western type effects, before changing
it somehow to a powerful rock version.
"It's Not a Fashion Statement, it's
a F---king Death Wish" is another strong rocker that
falters a little but largely comes across as pretty enjoyable.
"Cemetery Drive" wades in with some strange
guitar parts and a soft, consistent drum beat. Like every song before it,
the morbid and Gothic undertones pervade the lyrics and make the songs
that much more interesting. "I Never Told You What I Do for a Living" is
a good Goth rock closer.
I will admit I knew only a little of My
Chemical Romance before the release of this album, and as such, it is both
helpful and harmful as I am not an overtly-biased fan, but I also am judging
something that might or might not have improved from previous works and
I don't know it.
At the end of the long night though, I
was pleased by these guys. The genre they reside in is really a hodge-podge
of classic goth, pop punk, thrash, hardcore, and screamo. Picture an unholy
matrimony of H.I.M. and A.F.I. perhaps, or something old-school rock with
Gothic Punk leanings. I am pretty intrigued, and I gotta say this is a
really amazing album. Four stars for the CD, and Three Cheers for My Chemical
Romance.
Three Cheers for Sweet Revenge by My Chemical
Romance
CD Info
My
Chemical Romance - Three Cheers for Sweet Revenge
Label: Reprise
Rating: 
Tracks:
1. Helena
2. Give 'Em Hell Kid
3. To The End
4. You Know What They Do to Guys Like
us in Prison
5. I'm Not Okay (I Promise)
6. The Ghost of You
7. The Jetset Life is Gonna Kill You
8. Interlude
9. Thank You for the Venom
10. Hang 'Em High
11. It's Not a Fashion Statement, It's
a F--king Death Wish
12. Cemetary Drive
13. I Never Told You What I Do for a Living |
Listen
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