My Chemical Romance – Three Cheers For Sweet Revenge

Those who know and love My Chemical Romance hold them very dear to their ears. Among the rows upon rows of endless bands out there, we hear something new, something special about these five Newark, New Jersey natives that grabs our attention and begs to be played on repeat for hours on end. In 2002 they released their debut album I Brought You My Bullets, You Brought Me Your Love and personally, I was blown away. The album was a hit in the “scene” but never made it to the radio loving public. Two years later they are back with a new album, new songs, and the same My Chemical Romance rock.

The album begins with one of my favorite songs from this 13 track adventure, Helena. The soft guitar and whispering vocals quickly flow into the fast drums and distortion behind the clever words from Gerard Way and the high pitch back up vocals which fit beautifully into the equation. Just when you’re rocking out, the song switches up to a chorus even your grandma can enjoy. Even if this is the first time you’re listening to it, you’ll be trying to sing along to “so long and goodnight” every time Gerard sings it. If this track doesn’t make you fall in love, just keep listening. There’s enough energy in this album to power my whole town for a week.

The first time I saw these guys play was in February of 2003 when they opened for The Used in Toronto. I guess something clicked with the bands, because Bert McCracken lends his voice to my favorite track You Know What They Do To Guys Like Us In Prison, and he does quite a good job with his schoolgirl giggles and backing vocals any soprano would be jealous of. Every time I listen to this song I can picture the band playing in 50’s jazz club, it just has that feel to it at the beginning. I really don’t know what else I can say about it, it’s just captivating and it never lets go.

Lyrically fans of the band have grown accustom to hearing about the drugs and the death painted ever so graphically on a canvas of regret. Although this album speaks loudly about these subjects, we’re in for a ride when relationships come into the program with the single I’m Not Okay. I must say that even though I enjoy this some immensely, it is one of the weakest songs on the record. To The End is something I didn’t expect. The first 30 seconds sound like something I’d hear at a rave, but as it progresses you can hear the MCR in them with these words: “say goodbye to the heart you break and all the cyanide you drank”. Oh great death, it will never escape us.

What can I say, My Chemical Romance have been one of my favorite bands for over a year and that’s not going to change with this album. It’s everything I expected and more, and I would have to say I could not decide which album I like better which is definitely a good thing. When you put this record on you’re delivered to a world where anything can (and will) happen. There is no genre you can place above their heads other than pure rock. I guarantee this album will be in my stereo for quite a long time.