My Chemical Romance is a band that hit kids and teenagers alike like a tsunami. When their hit “I’m Not Ok” was first played, you couldn’t go anywhere without hearing it. It was played all over the radio hourly, just like every other hit song. My Chemical Romance came out with with their second CD titled “Three Cheers for Sweet Revenge” in 2004, their first CD under a major record label.
From here on is a review, song by song, of the CD “Three Cheers for Sweet Revenge”.
1. Helena- Helena starts off with some palm muting and low talking, then leads into some play with the high hat. At around 15 seconds into the song the song quickly picks up with heavier guitar and drum play. The music video for this song is mainly a funeral in which a girl Helena comes to live and dances around in a church. 8/10
2. Give ‘Em Hell Kid– This song starts out with clear bass in the beginning. At around 5 or 6 seconds the guitar comes in, then at 15 seconds the vocals. Around 27 seconds the song truly picks up with more full chords at a repetitive pace. The lyrics in this song are pretty repetitive as well, and there is a lot of cymbal on the drummers part, but it doesn’t sound too bad. 7/10
3. To the End– This song starts out with some “darker” lyrics and some minor background guitar play which is somewhat distorted. At around 12 seconds in the drums come in. At around 35 or 36 seconds the song completely picks up with heavier guitar play. The fills from the guitar sound like a somewhat primitive distortion. There is a lot of background vocals in this one too, and small guiar solo that isn’t too impressive. 6.5/10
4. You Know What They Do To Guys Like Us in Prison– This song starts out a lot different than the other ones with light guitar and lyrics. At about 7 or 8 seconds what seems like a harmonic is played and then the guitar fully comes in with a riff. At 40 seconds the song picks up with heavier and faster guitar playing, as well as heavier drums. There’s some background vocals in this, and the vocals mix a lot as well as if somewhat rambling with each other. At 2:04 there is a guitar solo which is better than the one in track #3. It is a smaller solo, but there sounds like there’s two guitars. Later, after the solo, there are some more harmonics, and just repetitive lyrics. At the end it is simply yelling into what sounds like a giggle… 6.5/10
5. I’m Not Ok (I Promise)– This was one of My Chemical Romance’s biggest hits, and it came out with a video as well of them in a school type environment. Basically they seem to be “loners”, but they get their revenge in the end. The song essentially starts out with just guitar, bass, and drums in the beginning. The lyrics come in around 26 or 27 seconds. At 1:50 there is a guitar solo which is better than the previous ones that includes bends and faster playing. It sounds as if there are two guitars playing, but it still isn’t that long or impressive either. The rest of the song is basically the vocalist saying “I’m Not Ok” or “I’m Ok” a lot.
7/10
6. The Ghost of You– This song is a more depressing song that comes in with a weird guitar distortion. A little later the vocals come on, with the guitar in the back background. At around 39 seconds the guitars distortion becomes heavier, and the vocals get more “into it”. However, the pace slows down once again to match the beginning. At around 2:10 there is a guitar solo that isn’t too impressive, or at least I think it is a guitar solo. At 3:11 the song dies off and goes into some light organ playing till the end. 7/10
7. The Jetset Life is Gonna Kill You– This song starts like “The Ghost of You” ends, with the light organs. It picks up very soon though. At around 45 the song picks up with heavier guitar. At around 1:05 the song seems “emptier” with some palm muting by the guitar player. At 1:35 the song picks up again with more fill by the guitar player. The lyrics get repetitive after this point for awhile. At 2:08 the fill stops and the singing becomes a little more demented for a bit. The song picks up again later though. The song ends with feedback and some weird guitar pick sliding. 6.5/10
8. Interlude– This is a small song (57 seconds). It starts off as accoustic and the lyrics come in weakly. The song dies out fast, and weak as well. 4/10
9. Thank You for the Venom– This song starts off with a heavier guitar riff. The drums play come in about every other second tp help enthuse the riff. At 19 the vocals come in weak to strong. At 2:12 a solo comes in that isn’t really that impressive either. The solo does pick up a little, and it ends into very low guitar or bass playing and vocals. The song then picks up again with more drums and then finally a lot more guitar. The song ends in a heavier guitar riff and stops abruptly. 8/10
10. Hang ‘Em High– This song starts out with a western feel, then there’s a pickslide at 6 that includes a yell from the vocalist. The song picks up with heavier guitar playing. This song is actually pretty good despite the beginning, I don’t really like the yelling. The song continues and the vocals become repetitive once again… The song ends in random notes to a fade out. 7/10
11. It’s Not a Fashion Statement, It’s a Deathwish- The guitar starts off this song with some chords. At around 9 the vocals and some light drums come in, the song quickly picks up. The chords sounds kind of weak from the guitar, and the bass is more clear in this song than usual. Over time the song becomes less powerful and picks up later, a little different though. The guitar has a different riff later in the song which may be why. The beginning guitar riff ends this song as well. 7.5/10
12. Cemetary Drive– This song starts out with a drum beat till around 8 or 9 seconds in when the vocals come in, and an extremely light guitar riff. At 39 seconds in the drums, guitar, and bass help pick up the song. The song keeps switching between a “weak” stand point and a strong one. The ending of this song is another fade out, till it is completely quiet. 6/10
13. I Never Told You What I Do For a Living– The song starts with some guitar chords and a guitar pick slide. At 7 seconds the vocals come in. The speed of the song speeds up a little, the drum beat and the vocals matching at points in beat. Near the middle of the song there is a lot more yelling, which I am not really into. However, it turns into singing again with heay guitar play, but then it fades out. Near the further end 2:40 the song starts to have some yelling, but there’s a lot more singing. The guitar playing gets a lot better and melodic as well. The vocals sound like rambling for a bit, then come clear once again, the yells… it basically variates a lot. The song ends ends with some feedback into a fade out. 7/10
Overall
This CD is an ok one. If you want to hear what they sound like I suggest downloading a song or borrowing a friends CD. I like the sound, but the guitar solo’s aren’t that impressive, especially since I usually listen to more talented players like Van Halen and such. For a party this may be a good CD to dance to or have as background music or something. If you’re looking for big talent, I wouldn’t really look here though, this is more for fun.
Questions/comments? E-mail me at chem1calburn@yahoo.com or simply message me via Associated Content.
