One of the things the really bugged me about the whole "modern rock" and Nu-metal era (is it over yet?) was the sameness. Not just that a lot of the bands sounded the same, but that the songs themselves tended to be extremely homogeneous from start to finish. Sure, there was the slow part in the middle (which we used to call the "bridge" and it was there to connect the musical parts, not just take up space). Maybe even a slow part with a coupla turntable scritchy-scratches. But that's it. The fast part, followed by the slow part. Or maybe the angry part, then the not quite as angry part.
So the new garage bands (the White Stripes, Hives, Jet, etc.) came along to breathe some fresh air into a pretty danged stale scene. One listen to Jet's Get Born and I was transported back to a time when groups were not afraid to present multiple styles to their audience.
Paralleling the "modern rock" thing was the Californi-punk scene. Fronted (at least in my mind) by Green Day, some of the same staleness was allowed to creep in with way too many skankin', harmonizing rockers extruding the same 'product'.
Ah, but what happens when a group comes along dragging elements of garage, "modern rock", neo-punk with them? Well, in one case you get My Chemical Romance.
On first listen, I was thinking of Less Than Jake....sort of. One the one hand, there's the furious four-chord workouts and tight harmonies. On the other...all sorts of surprises. The vocals swallowed and spit out of "Give 'Em Hell Kid" (which makes me think of the White Stripes.) The frenetic, almost Queens of the Stoneage "To The End". "I'm Not OKAY (I Promise)", which starts off very much like Andrew W.K. before turning into one of those anthemic, singalong-type things (despite the not-so-happy lyrics.) The pretty much Anthrax-ish intro to "Thank You For The Venom". "Hang 'Em High" teases you with an Ennio Morricone motif before blowing up in your face. "Cemetery Drive" recalls early Cure (at least at first.)
There's a lot going on here, and I don't intend all of the band name-checking to mean that My Chemical Romance has nothing of their own to say. Not all all. They've clearly absorbed all sorts of modern influences, internalizing them and transforming them into, well...something else.
One thing's for sure, it ain't boring. Check 'em out.
(First posted on Mark Is Cranky)
Article comments
1 - Dawn
This made me think of something that struck me as odd the other day. I was listening to an old interview that Terry Gross did with Robert Plant, and as they were playing some classic Zepplin I thought "Holy shit, the White Stripes sound a hell of a lot like Zepplin."
Am I the only who notices this? If so, bugger off!
2 - Mark Saleski
oh yea...i can hear that.
it's the rawness of the guitar.
3 - REL
hey. my chemical romance fucking rocks. i just went to their concert 2 days ago. i went to go see the lostprophets but walked out in love with My chemical romance. i even ended up buying one of the fucking expensive shirts to represent my love for them...
BUY THEIR CD TO*fucking*DAY!!!!
4 - wecutyoumang
does anyone know of a good place to get my chemical romance shirts?
5 - Andrew Maxwell
Yes, the White Stripes are very reminiscent of Led Zeppelin - especially De Stijl. And My Chemical Romance are equally reminiscent of the White Stripes. I think that Gerrard Way, Jack White and Robert Plant are, in a variety of aspects, interchangeable. Check out all 3, it's my holy trinity of vocalists actually.
6 - tori
does n e 1 know how old Mickey Way is? if n e 1 does please e-mail me @ vegetarian_cutie@yahoo.com thanks so much everyone <33 ilu all <33 tori
7 - Shea
It's actually Mikey Way, just to be safe.
8 - shelley
my chemical romance rox!ther a great band who im only starting to get into recently, and already songs like "cemetary drive" and "helana" are stuck in my head 24/7. definatley give the aulbum a listen-its worth it!
9 - Jena
I love mcr they are asome i like them soo much
10 - Jena
ohh yeah if you like mcr leave a comment at either site
they are xanga sites just say that you like them if you have a xanga i will comment back in a while but i dont get on it that much well yeah bye
if you want a xanga site go to www.xanga.com and make one they are awsome
11 - kari butler
hey mcr rocks. i love you peeps soooo much. in a non opsessed way. lol. your lyrics helps me get threw things that are happening in my life that are really stressful. dont know how.thanks for being alive.
love always and forever
-kari
12 - Christina
OMG my cheical romance fucking roxx!!!i love Gerard Way!i just got their new c.d. three cheers for sweet revenge,ppl should pick up a copy when u can itz worth it.
13 - Rosie
My Chemical Romance are fucking awesome, and both of their albums rock. Gerard Way is a fucking awesome guy who is writting songs about things to try and change peoples lives. They fucking rock!
14 - prerna
mcr is sooo fukin osm !!!! imm soo in love wit almost all dre songs...helena..im not okay...cemetry drive..n demolition lovers is teh bestststs!! lol mcr rules baby !!!!
15 - sexyhun
omg mcr rock my world i love them so much XXXXXXXXXXXXXX oh and i think aiden suck
16 - Megaroo
Hey, MCR rock and i love them to pieces
17 - Megaroo
hello im writing with boredom