Review Summary: Solid songs, just without personality.
Imagine, if you will, a kid. A wild, untameable kid. He joined his class without hopes of popularity. But simply for being the raw, untouched, crazy person he was he unwittingly became the most popular kid in class. Then, as the kid moved on from school into college, fresh with a taste for his recently found popularity, he changed who he was in an attempt to appeal to even more of his classmates. Incredibly, he became not only the most popular in his class, but in the whole college, and the beauty was, although he had changed, he was still undeniably him. With even more of a need to be popular, this man (he wasn’t a kid anymore) went to university and in yet another attempt to gain even more friends, he let go of everything that had made him so amazing in the first place. No longer was he this unique, organic, loveable child, and instead he was just like the rest- unoriginal, bland and essentially without substance, and instead of becoming popular yet again, he lost those friends he already had, and gained barely any new ones.
That “kid” is My Chemical Romance- the most controversial band in the world of modern music. And that failed attempt at popularity was their 2010 release Danger Days: the True Lives of the Fabulous Killjoys. By no means was it a bad album, it just wasn’t them- no longer was the band who didn’t care about being “cool” and were everything but mainstream, and in their place was fundamentally a “pop” band.
The twist in the story is between The Black Parade and Danger Days, Gerard and co recorded an album they were never to release, and now, 3 years later, they are releasing those unheard songs 2 by 2. After Number One was released it almost seemed like the My Chemical Romance we all once loved were back, violent as ever, with 2 of the best songs they’d released since Three Cheers. So, naturally, I eagerly anticipated Number Two.
The first thing I thought of AMBULANCE and Gun. when they were released on YouTube 2 days ago was “is this really MCR? It doesn’t sound like MCR!” And it didn’t. That emotional, aggressive, slightly insane yet still beautiful voice heard on Boy Division and Tomorrow’s Money isn’t there, and although he sings note perfectly, Gerard doesn’t appear to really care about what he’s singing.
Neither of the two songs are bad, by any means. In fact I like both songs. A lot. It’s just that for such a unique, innovative band... it sure feels like anyone could do these songs. Both songs feel overly produced, unimaginative, and uninspired, and although they’re both catchy as hell they made me feel like they could’ve done so much more. Luckily, these are just 2 songs out of 10, and every album has its weak points. And I can only pray that these are this albums weakest, because if they are... my god, are we in for one amazing ride.
