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The Black Parade

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The Black Parade is rock quintet My Chemical Romance's third studio album, released in October 2006.[1] Like the band's first two albums, it is a concept album, centering on a character known as "the Patient," who, dying of cancer, looks back on his life from a jaded perspective.

The album was produced by Rob Cavallo, who has also produced albums for Green Day. It was intentionally leaked in its entirety on October 19, 2006.[2] In an interview with MTV, bandmember Gerard Way explained the album's title: "...the words "black" and "parade" made you think of death but [also] celebration. And that's what the record felt like, it felt like a celebration of life and death..."[3] Though several reviewers dismissed the album as a display of showmanship,[4][5] The Black Parade has, overall, been a critical success.[6][7]

My Chemical Romance has embarked on a global tour promoting The Black Parade, consisting of two separate North American trips and a European leg.

Influences

Lead singer Gerard Way has cited Queen as a major influence on the album.[8] Similarities have been noted between the guitar orchestration in "Welcome to the Black Parade" and Queen guitarist Brian May's performances.[9][10]

Way has also stated that Queen's A Night at the Opera, The Beatles' Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, and Pink Floyd's The Wall, and The Smashing Pumpkins' album Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness were particularly influential in the production of this album.[11][12]

Chart performance

The Black Parade debuted at number two on the UK album chart, behind Robbie Williams' Rudebox. In the U.S., it also debuted at number two on the Billboard 200, behind Disney's Hannah Montana Soundtrack. In its first week, the album sold 240,000 copies, far surpassing the 38,000 best-week sales of Three Cheers for Sweet Revenge, the band's previous album.[13] It has since received a platinum certification in the UK, and was certified platinum in the U.S. by the RIAA in late February 2007.[14][15] The album debuted at number three on the Australian ARIA Albums Chart and was certified platinum after shipping more than 70,000 copies. It debuted atop the charts in New Zealand and was certified platinum there, with shipments of more than 15,000.[16]

Reception

The Black Parade received generally favorable reviews from critics. Some of the most positive reviews came from All Music Guide, New Musical Express, IGN, and Rolling Stone.[9][7] Dan Martin from NME compared the album to Green Day's American Idiot, dubbing My Chemical Romance the "new kings of the world."[6]

Ed Thompson of IGN stated, "The Black Parade is a rock and roll gem that celebrates everything that was over the top about the 1970s rock scene."[17] David Fricke of Rolling Stone praised the classic rock feel of the album.[7] Rolling Stone went on to rank The Black Parade #20 in its "Top 50 Albums of 2006" feature.[18] Spin magazine named it the 5th best album of 2006.[19]

The album wasn't without its share of criticism, and was panned by such publications as The Observer and Aversion. Stated Jamie Hodgson of The Observer, "...it reeks of a band with ideas above its station."[5] Matt Schild of Aversion thought the album was "over-the-top" and "lame".[4] Theon Weber of Stylus praised the album's use of Queen influences, but went on to summarize the album as "...a goofy record of bubblegum punk, with Queen lapping at its edges and enough good tracks to justify the smattering of empty screamfests."[20]

The album holds a 79/100 score based on 24 reviews at metacritic, which equates to the site's categorization of "generally favorable reviews".[21]

Versions

There are three versions of The Black Parade, all with the same tracks. Two display the same album art, but with alternate coloring: one bares white text on a black background, while the other carries black text on a white background. The third version is a limited edition, the product description for which is as follows:

"The Limited Edition special packaging features an 11-11/16" x 5-13/16", long skinny box with hinged lid, wrapped in black velveteen material, with a debossed design on the top. The 64-page bound paperback book inside the box is modeled after a Victorian-style photo album, and contains Gerard's drawings, making-of-the-album notes, and more."[22]

A clean version of The Black Parade was released on December 19, 2006.

The Black Parade World Tour

Main article: The Black Parade World Tour

My Chemical Romance began The Black Parade World Tour on February 22, 2007 in Manchester, New Hampshire. Rise Against is opening for the group on the first leg of the tour. Thursday will open European shows, and Muse will open on the second North American leg.[23]

Track listing

  1. “The End.” – 1:52
  2. “Dead!” – 3:15
  3. “This Is How I Disappear” – 3:59
  4. “The Sharpest Lives” – 3:20
  5. “Welcome to the Black Parade” – 5:11
  6. “I Don't Love You” – 3:58
  7. “House of Wolves” – 3:04
  8. “Cancer” – 2:22
  9. “Mama” – 4:39
  10. “Sleep” – 4:43
  11. “Teenagers” – 2:41
  12. “Disenchanted” – 4:55
  13. “Famous Last Words” – 4:59
  14. “Blood” (hidden track) – 2:53

B-sides

  1. “Heaven Help Us” – 2:55
  2. “My Way Home is Through You” – 2:59
  3. “Kill All Your Friends” – 4:28

Singles

Artists

Additional musicians

References

  1. ^ "Alternative Press Magazine". AParticle. Retrieved Unknown. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
  2. ^ "The Black Parade". The Black Parade Official Site. Retrieved Unknown. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
  3. ^ "MTV". Interview. Retrieved January 21. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
  4. ^ a b http://www.aversion.com/bands/reviews.cfm?f_id=2828
  5. ^ a b >http://observer.guardian.co.uk/omm/reviews/story/0,,1892820,00.html
  6. ^ a b http://www.nme.com/reviews/my-chemical-romance/8050
  7. ^ a b c http://www.rollingstone.com/reviews/album/11371130/review/12046573/welcome_to_the_black_parade
  8. ^ http://www.ew.com/ew/article/review/music/1,6115,1548441_4_0_,00.html
  9. ^ a b http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:fq5g8qffbt04~T1
  10. ^ http://www.rollingstone.com/reviews/album/12023134/the_black_parade
  11. ^ http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/10/23/AR2006102301196.html
  12. ^ http://www.musicbrigade.com/Templates/xform____10633.aspx
  13. ^ Katie Hasty, "'Hannah Montana' Trumps My Chem, Legend At No. 1", Billboard.com, November 1, 2006.
  14. ^ http://fatherandy2.proboards35.com/index.cgi?board=chart&action=display&thread=1172163716 Fatherandy2.proboards35.com
  15. ^ [1]
  16. ^ "RIANZ". RIANZ Charts. Retrieved November 16. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
  17. ^ http://music.ign.com/articles/741/741718p1.html
  18. ^ http://www.rollingstone.com/news/story/12800635/the_top_50_albums_of_2006/4
  19. ^ http://www.spin.com/features/magazine/2006/12/0601_40best/
  20. ^ http://www.stylusmagazine.com/reviews/my-chemical-romance/the-black-parade.htm
  21. ^ http://www.metacritic.com/music/artists/mychemicalromance/blackparade?q=the%20black%20parade
  22. ^ http://www.amazon.com/Black-Parade-My-Chemical-Romance/dp/B000I2J5UG
  23. ^ http://www.mychemicalromance.com/tour


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