Jethro Tull, Yes, The Beatles, Pink Floyd, Black Sabbath, Rush, RATM, My Chemical Romance
I grew up surrounded by a lot of different music styles, and since I was basically the "surprise of the family", I had no room of my own, so I always moved around the house to look for something to do and for cd's to listen to. My mother made me listen to old prog records when I was a kid, my brother loved Nirvana and metal, and my sister adored late 90's/early 2000's pop punk, pop rock, emo, and alternative. Ever since I was young I always looked for new music to listen to, constantly downloading new music and listening to it in order to shift my attention to other albums, but few projects stuck with me. One of those was my sister's copy of My Chemical Romance's second album: Three Cheers For Sweet Revenge.
At first, I really didn't know what to make out of the album. I didn't understand any English at the time, but something about the theatrical and dark tone the album took made me feel calm. memorable songs that had a lot to offer to even someone who didn't understand a word that was being told. I had to return the cd to my sister, so I bought my own pirate copy of the album. With time, a lot happened. My sister left the country, I was given her entire collection of music, got a room of my own where I could finally lock myself on to be alone on my exploration of media, started getting therapy, tried to kill myself two times, and always downloaded music to listen to. Album after album, not discriminating any genre, looking for new music to get amazed by. Of course, I was stupid, and just listened to most albums once, but few albums marked me or surprised me enough to become personal favorites. Even more prog to be discovered, and more music to come and go. Zeuhl, Krautrock, neo-prog, death metal, black metal, shoegaze, all sorts of jazz, abstract hip hop, soundtracks, etc. And TCFSR was still there. It was one of the few albums I returned to in order to relax myself and to truly enjoy something.
Magma, Omar Rodriguez Lopez, Burzum, Tool, Nujabes, CAN, Koenji Hyakkei, King Crimson, Electric Masada, My Chemical Romance
My grandfather's funeral was something that marked me deeply. I had already been to a couple of funerals before that point, but this was one of the few people I cared about in my life. His death marked a need for me to change myself, and to at least make him proud even if he wasn't around. I changed my image, changed my attitude, but stayed in a place where I was perceived as someone apathetic, indifferent, and introverted. But that wasn't the case, I just didn't trust people lightly, but I liked to talk about media in general, and specially music. It was my only way to cope with things, and since I was no longer bothered in school, I was able to listen to music by my own all day long. Worked on a comic book shop, lost 50 kg, met my first real friend who would also become the first person I loved, started to feel better about who I was and what I wanted to do with my life, and kept listening to music. Figured that listening to albums only once was incredibly dumb, so decided to revisit some discographies, as well as discovering new artists and genres that I would listen with much more patience and attention. More prog, noise rock, onkyo, stoner rock, experimental rock, musique concrete, free jazz, a bigger appreciation for what could be done with pop, etc. But TCFSR was there more present than ever. It was a part of the first birthday present I ever received from someone that wasn't family. I told my friend how I was bummed that both copies of the album were scratched and that I couldn't find it physically, and she bought it for me as a surprise. I was able to share that album with who is now my closest friend, making it one of the things that got us closer together.
The dramatic tone of death and revenge that surrounded the album was incredibly enjoyable. Since I was starting to speak English I could understand and appreciate the light storytelling that was going on, and how it complemented the instrumentals in a great way. Songs like I'm Not Okay proved being timeless anthems for the young and depressed. Catchy hooks, a dark mood, theatrical performances of a minor concept about a man that wants to be with his lover and in order to do that he has to obtain the souls of a thousand evil men; it all made the album memorable and highly enjoyable. But even concept aside, songs that grasp on death and love, on hate and passion. A journey that resonates with a lot of people for how exaggerated and relatable it ends up being. And it had been resonating with me for years up to that point.
Spinetta, Boredoms, Steve Reich Otomo Yoshihide, Glenn Branca, Les Rallizes Denudes, Fishmans, Sheena Ringo, Frank Zappa, My Chemical Romance
Graduated high school, got engaged (stupid, but it happened), moved countries to study journalism, lived some of the happiest times of my life, riots happened in my country and the country I was in, had a rough break up, a couple of dear teachers told me I could dedicate to my journalistic focus independently, lived the most difficult months of my life, but now I can say that I am more optimistic and hopeful about the unpredictable future, doing what I like doing, and trying to enjoy every second of it. In the period of two years I lived a lot of things, met some of my best friends, had new experiences, and focused more on my passions. Continued with listening to music more carefully, discovering new artist and appreciating more old ones. Increased my love for graphic design and drawing, kept writing about music and created a podcast with friends. Decided to keep a positive attitude even if dealing with my mental health. Increasing my love to share media with everyone who wants, loving music as never before. And yes, the bloody TCFSR was still there.
Might be that MCR would be more recognized for their follow up album. Might be that the band doesn't have the best reputation in the music scene. But their second album is something truly special. With twelve songs and one interlude MCR presented one hell of a proposal in their new sound. Songs like Thank You For The Venom, Helena, Hang 'Em High, I Never Told You What I Do For A Living, The Ghost Of You, or To The End share a bitter and cold message about love. Catchy tracks that make up a whole dramatic experience that presents a surprising range of emotions while still keeping a main mood: desperation. A desperation to get everything over and just accomplish what one seeks. A need to get what one seeks, but failing or just getting blocked in the process. Theatrical tragedy, that tells stories of passionate melancholy, that couldn't be more alluring to those who just look to enjoy music. It doesn't take itself too seriously as well, with tracks like Give 'Em Hell, Kid and You Know What They Do To Guys Like Us In Prison convey that anxious mellow mood in a different and playful, almost joyful, way. Exaggerating the presentation to the point where it all feels like a big play, a bloody and tragic show that has some of the most enjoyable and memorable Pop Punk/Rock tunes of the early 2000's.
Gerard Way always mentioned that he started MCR at one of his most awful periods in his life, he had finished his studies and wanted to dedicate himself to drawing and writing comics, but he had close to no success, ending up working at a place he didn't like. During that period of his life the attacks to the twin towers came to be and he felt as if he needed to respond with something. The band was formed out of an impulse of trying to do something meaningful, a group of people who had felt out of place their whole lives making music for people who needed to identify with that sort of emotion. In the process of making their first two albums and touring in order to promote their message and their art Gerard almost broke himself, he was depressed, pressured, forcing himself further and further in order to truly fulfill that call to action he had during 2001. But all that sacrifice wasn't in vain.
It may sound cheesy, overexaggerated, or very surreal as things like this tend to sound for others, but this band, these records, and, in my case, this album in particular have saved countless lives. I'm almost certain they have, and I am incredibly sure a lot of people feel the same way, even the own band has admitted knowing that multiple times. Because the album might not have changed the course of history or the world of music, but it provided somewhat of a sense of belonging to countless people who needed to feel part of something, whatever, that had value. The band's raw emotions are felt all over their first two albums, raw emotions that almost came close to killing one of its important members, but they made up for something truly helpful and special, with their third album staying in the same vein, but instead of just saving countless lives they saved themselves in the process of making it. These are hard thoughts and emotions to truly do justice with paper, but the only thing that can come even remotely close to them are those that are so simple that they just have to had come from the heart:
My Chemical Romance, Thank You
It is going to be almost 15 years since I heard this album for the first time. It has been one of those albums that has stayed with me over the years. Every time I listen to it I can't help to sing along or just enjoy the ride. When one listens to Helena as the opener to such an experience, it serves as an indicator of the kind of journey that is ahead of the listener. Death, love, revenge, passion, anger, melancholy; it is all included in the 40 minutes of the album. People may call it exaggerated, loved only due to nostalgia, "ironic", and many more things. TCFSR doesn't want to take itself seriously, it looks to communicate empathy and emotion to the listener, and that is something I will always value in music.
I will keep on listening to music, discovering new artists, and appreciating the media as a whole. Relationships that got to become a thing of the past, close people may have left this world, and I may be in another place in the world. But I am still here. And even now, listening to the album as I write this, the feeling of being calm, being joyful, and feeling at home is not lost.
I doubt it will ever be.
To all the bands that are part of my life
All the friends I love
To Music
To My Chemical Romance
Thank You
