We’ve not seen much about the emo pandemic in the grown-up press but it’s catching. Panic! At The Disco play FOUR sold out nights at Brixton Academy this week and My Chemical Romance are booked for Wembley Arena next year. Adored by the kids, it’s ignored by adults because they don’t want to listen to whining (pretend) teens at home and on the stereo. Instead, they opt for the non-threatening, post-student mithering of Chris Martin. Emo is also, at base level, punk rock (DC hardcore with the emphasis on emotion), thus comprised of frustration and other stuff that scares adults and thrills kids.
This third album by New Jersey’s MCR, however, is careerist stadium rock that cares more about bank balances than confused youth. A concept album about a man exploring his mortality, it’s so overblown and bombastic that it recalls Oasis’s ‘Be Here Now’, while the self-celebratory, Brian May riffery is at odds with the spiteful, self-hating lyrics. But at least that’s interesting compared to the emo tracks that sound like Blink-182 fitted with an anti-swearing V-chip. The only saving grace here is the T.Rex-ified ‘Teenagers’, an ode to how terrible the world is for our youth. They’re going to be even more messed up if they trust this lot.
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5 comments
Boo hoo cried Cindy lou who!!!!!
They are not EMO! and neither is thier music!!!
idiot-idiot-idiot...
This is long overdue, but...
CHRIS MARTIN DOES NOT PLAY GUITAR!
Only acoustic on some tracks...
And Coldplay donate a portion of profits to charity, AND have included many slogans etc of Make Trade Fair in their work.
Now personally i do not believe this review is fair at all. firstly it focuses mostly on the word 'emo' as if anything labelled 'emo' is bad. hence the article in the daily mail about emo being completely invalid and full of false opinions and representations of the 'emo scene'. comparing this album to such indie bores as oasis and coldplay is frankly terrible, MCR have a much deeper sound combined with interesting lyrics which puts them miles ahead of the rambling sludge of these aforementioned bands.
this album is not a cash in so much as an exploration of life and then death, and the telling of a sad yet brilliant story. i fail to see how it is in any way overblown or bombastic if it simply tells a life. this would be implying that telling about having cancer or dying should not be allowed. too 'emo' or serious to talk about in the charts these days, no doubt. it seems telling life the way it can be is now simply a cash in with no meaning. of course, people who would like to hear a proper, meaningless, corporate cash in of an album, should immediately go and buy an album by artists such as the kaiser chiefs, or the scissor sisters. i am basing all of these statements and suggestions on the general popularity i see of the musicians these days, compared with the skill shown by these musicians. ray toro is an amazing guitarist, with his 'self-celebratory, Brian May riffery.' Yes, he looks up to brian may very much and manages to write his own skilful riffs and solos. which makes him light years ahead of the bands who just write what their producer tells them to, in the hope of commercial success. not to name any names of course, because that would be telling.
I'm 15, does that mean i fit into the song teenagers then? of course, and if that means i'm going to be messed up so be it! but i've been with this band for several years now, and they've really helped me at times. have you seen the part of life on the murder scene, where in a crowd there is a person with a t-shirt, saying -'MCR saved my life'? his comment is 'that's what it's all about'. yes, MCR is about helping people, maybe even as far as saving them.
and if being grateful to them for their help makes me one of the 'emo' crowd, then this review makes you one of the 'close minded' crowd. now, i do apologise for dragging this one for so long, it's fascinating actually, this comment is longer than the review. oh well, seeing as how you only commented on one track, in little detail anyway. its not too surprising really. good luck with any future reviews, maybe you'll realise how to actually review an album sometime.
'so long and goodnight' - taken from the song 'helena'.
This review is clearly nothing to do with the album and is to do with the problems you have with the term emo. You refer to one song in this review and for the rest of it, just rant about bands that have nothing to do with this and adults not listening to this music. Well we aren't interested if adults like Coldplay. Coldplay are the biggest sellouts ever - NEWSFLASH - COLDPLAY SUCK! How can you even compare this album to oasis? Oasis steal all their riffs from different bands and mix them together to make songs - and i admit, i do like oasis to some extent, however, my chemical romance are different, they offer something rare and if you fail to see that, it's your loss. You clearly haven't given the album a chance, you've obviously heard people say my chemical romance are emo and decided you don't like emo so the album must be crap. Give it a listen, you'll find it isn't. Let's look at another factor - MCR and the used released a cover of under pressure for charity and donated all the proceeds to charity's. Now what have coldplay done for charity? Well chris martin did band aid 20, but I know for a fact, he turned up, sung his line, and went, unlike everyone else. Other people spent the whole day there, in the spirit, wanting to raise money for charity, not doing it for publicity. If you cared to listen to the album properly you would know that it didn't sound like these bands you have mentioned! Look at the individual talent of MCR - Gerard Way - Overcame depression, drug addiction and alcoholism to become a great vocalist for a successful band. Ray Toro - Amazing guitarist, one of the best around, is chris martin a great guitarist? no, he's a good for nothing sell out. Frank Iero - Another amazing guitarist, totally different style to Ray and this contrast compliments the bands overall sound. Bob Bryar - Amazing drummer, can make songs even better than they already are with his work. Mikey Way - Possibly the most important band member, keeps everything together, adds depth with skill. Here's a play on MCR lyrics on the new song 'I Don't Love you'. Heard it? No? Didn't think so. Well here's the play:
'When you go,
would you even turn to say,
MCR,
are better, than coldplay'
Goodbye