Review Summary: A surprising release from an unlikely character.
Outside of a few bands, Britpop is an oft forgotten genre. It had its time for a couple years, but faded into oblivion. It was a genre that was all about swagger and attitude. Think about the Oasis vs Blur fights, or all the Gallagher brothers antics. You can see by the cover, an homage to David Bowie, Gerard Way isn’t afraid to wear his influences on his sleeve. He doesn’t hide it in the music either, drawing favorable comparisons to Suede and Pulp. Through the shocking transition from My Chemical Romance frontman to Britpop star, Gerard Way has matured incredibly and it’s quite the thing to witness.
Right from the get-go, the album oozes the spirit of Britpop. From the jangly guitars to the massive hooks, the album is everything that Britpop was. Gerard Way embodies what a Britpop frontman would’ve been. He delivers his lines with a certain swagger much like Jarvis Cocker of Pulp fame. He has the eccentricity that many frontmen had, such as David Bowie or Liam Gallagher. The cover once again shows this with his bright red hair and sharp blue suit being the center of attention. The guitar work is very melodic and in-your-face most tracks, but it’s Way’s delivery that steals the show.
Hesitant Alien is all about energy. There are massive hooks that will be stuck in your head for days, such as the chorus to the lead single “Action Cat”. The album can also do the slower melancholic songs well, such as the beautiful “Drugstore Perfume”.
Hesitant Alien is always in your face from beginning to end and never ceases to stop.
Gerard Way seemed like an unlikely candidate to release such an album, however, rethinking it, he is the perfect person given its theatrical and anthemic nature. He is the star of the show and isn’t shy about it, just as he was in My Chemical Romance. Way is the physical personification of Britpop in the year 2014. This could be the spark to revive a much beloved but dormant genre.
Hesitant Alien drips with swagger and attitude, and is something the Britpop forefathers would be proud of.
