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Catching Elephant is a theme by Andy Taylor
My Chemical Romance is a very solid band. They’ve proved it in all their albums, including this little gem right here. On this cd, they try to break the “emo” label once and for all by taking elements of everything and putting it into one. Did it work? Let’s just see.
The album starts off pretty great, with a song everyone knows: Na Na Na is a great track. Yeah, it’s an overplayed single, but this is one of the best post punk songs i’ve ever heard. A bit of splashes of Andrew WK, Killers, and Hives in there (with better vox, of course).
Track two goes back to familiar territory. While not as heavy as their older stuff, Bulletproof Heart is a track that the old school fans can appreciate. It’d easily fit in on either black parade or 3 cheers. Not that that’s a problem.
SING is a whole new thing for MCR. The vocals are harmonized as little as possible in the track, and it’s a very electric based one. Not my favorite song on there, but it’s a good radio single. As mentioned in the last review, the song soundwise doesn’t fit the album too much, but lyrically it’s an uprising.
Planetary (Go!) is an interesting one. It’s basically a lazy trance song that takes some small queues from Gerard’s wife’s band, MSI, and Breathe Carolina (minus the screams). I wasn’t as impressed with it as the last reviewer, but by all means, it was a pretty cool track.
The Only Hope For Me Is You is hard to describe. It’s singing style is post-grunge, it’s sound is something between Muse and Black Parade MCR, and it all comes together pretty well, which is kinda suprising. A one up to them for making it work.
After an update from Dr. Death giving some bad news, Party Poison plays. The garage punk influences are back again. I swear, this song sounds like The Riverboat Gamblers+The Hives. It’s freaking awesome. Not to mention that Gerard’s hardcore voice is helping the track have juice. So far, the second best track. Just hope sweeden’s punk kings don’t come suing you for stealing their mojo :P
Save Yourself, I’ll Hold Them Back is another throwback song for the old school fans. At least, people who liked the Black Parade. Dunno how the emo kids are gonna react to this one, cuz while it has some things they’ll like, it might make them run to the hills because of how scratchy his voice gets at times on this. This could be a hard rock radio staple if released as a single.
S/C/A/R/E/C/R/O/W is my new favorite song on this CD. An indie rock MCR song? that’s pretty sweet. I hear some pixies and killers influence in here, along with lo-finess.. Not too much to say here but good job. Lasts a little too long for my tastes, but here’s to my 3rd favorite song on here.
Summertime sounds like Taylor Swift sang the song 1979 with Tegan and Sara in the background. I really don’t know if i’m enjoying this track. Then again, that’s not the first instance that this has happened on this album. Way too poppy for MCR to ever touch. Well, Gerard’s voice once again is the thing keeping this song together.
Destroya is another song on here that should not be missed. I give my thumbs up on this one. A very Jane’s Addiction influenced song that sounds almost like Perry Farrel himself is singing backup on it. If only the CD had more cool songs like this. My only complaint is the lyrics are a bit to secular for my tastes though. Although, i’m not sure when he’s pointing to him or me. Minus that, big yes.
The Kids of Summer is another Electro-Pop song. Way better than summertime, this should be released as a single and overplayed. It deserves it. It makes me feel super joyful. Although it should’ve been put higher up in the album, it still is amazing. Gah, i could listen to this song forever. This album’s Famous Last Words has been found, as in it’s a radio staple that still gives me a huge amount of hope anytime i listen to it. Favorite #5
After Dr. Death finally signs off in a very odd fassion (i love steve, righ?), the national anthem cuts off into a cool finisher that sounds like a glam Ramones song. Vampire Money is an awesome pop-punk jam that was worth listening through the album to get to. It’s an awesome encore type song that can only be fully experienced if listened to.
Overall, this is one of MCR’s better CDs. A step up from The Black Parade and a step down from Three Cheers For Sweet Revenge. However, it gets my vote for flippy floppy album of the year.
Final Synopsis
7.75/10: too much filler to be amazing, but where it hits hard, it strikes to the core. take what great styles you got from this, combine it with a few old school style songs, and you’ll have a jawdropper.
