Review Summary: Remember the rhythm guitarist from My Chemical Romance? Well he made a solo album, and it's pretty damn good.
Given that all the hype at the time of this album's release was around Gerard Way's solo effort, this album actually slipped by me at first. In fact, this is a much better album than Gerard Way's solo record "Hesitant Alien." Those who were die-hard My Chemical Romance fans will likely find themselves drawn to this album because while both Frnkiero andthe Cellabration and Gerard Way changed their sound from My Chemical Romance, Frnkiero andthe Cellabration pulls it off much better.
Let's cut to the chase, Frank Iero is by no means a great singer. However, he doesn't try to be. There are no songs off the record that involve him attempting to reach some high note that he's incapable of reaching. He knows where his boundaries are, and he sticks to them, which ultimately benefits the album. His screams are rare, but they're very impressive. They work because of how sparingly he uses them, as they're only in maybe two or three of the twelve songs for a few seconds at a time.
Iero's guitar work is stellar as well. While there may not be many memorable riffs from the album, the guitar serves as a perfect and energetic accompaniment to the vocals. The drumming is impressive, but even more so is the bass. Unlike with My Chemical Romance, you can actually hear the bass in the songs. It's low, rumbling, and sends shivers down your spine.
However, "Stomachaches" isn't a perfect album. The production feels weak, as there are a handful of songs where the guitar or the drumming overpowers the vocals, and it can becomes hard to hear and understand what Frank is singing. Also, the album is on the short side. Sure it's twelve songs, but they only add up to 38 minutes of music. So it would be best to listen to the album online before deciding to make the $9.99 purchase.
"Stomachaches" represents ex-My Chemical Romance guitarist Frank Iero's transition into a stronger punk sound, and it works out tremendously. There are a few flaws, but not enough for the album to be less than excellent. Great vocals, stellar guitar work, and pulsating bass lines make this one of the biggest surprises of 2014.
Highlight Songs: Weighted, Joyriding, Stitches, Tragician, Smoke Rings, Stage 4 Fear of Trying
