The Black Parade
My Chemical Romance
2006
Reprise Records
Age Range: 12+
Format: Audio Recording, Music
Genre: Emo, Rock
Rating: 3/5


Derivative emo, complete with whining and make-up and tight t-shirts! Which the band apparently denies to the death? But, hell.. it's definitely better than about 90% of what's going on right now in accessible mainstream music for young adults. I can completely tell that they loved Cursive's Ugly Organ and took off from there (and really, who didn't LOVE Ugly Organ?), and that they were obsessed with Iron Maiden in Junior High. Again.. nothing wrong there! Right? Right.

The dudes can sing, it's loud and there are some messed-up time signatures, so it's at least interesting at parts. It flows pretty well as an album, and I only felt like turning three of the songs off within the first 30 seconds ("I Don't Love You," "Cancer" and "Disenchanted"). It also makes me bop my head, and kind of reminds me of Undergrad (debatable whether that's good!).

All in all, not a bad listen. I can definitely see why they're the big thing right now; if I was 14, I'd be all over these guys! I'd probably even think they were cute (especially Gerard).