Customer Reviews

Three Cheers for Sweet Revenge

5 star:		(322)
4 star:		(78)
3 star:		(33)
2 star:		(22)
1 star:		(38)

 

 

The winning formula of My Chemical Romance (MCR) is a mixture of four totally different styles, Gothic/British vocal and lyric, "Sonic youth"-ish type of rhythm guitar, neck-breaking "Metal"-ish guitar solo, and punk/emo rhythm, and this album (their second album and first major label release) show what is the best answer they can work out from the formula.

This 13 tracks disc is a combination of strong melodies, smart and exciting arrangement, breath-taking guitar solo, the mix-up of emo/punk rhythm and guitar solo is refeshing and sucessful twist, they sucessfully made turn and twist and stop, nothing really innovative here, but they just combined things that we already knew in smart and effective ways, in order to push and pull listeners to different climax and scenes, and the "Romeo and Juliet" inspired lyrics are sentimental and powerful, listen to "Thank You for the Venom", "I Never Told You What I Do for a Living", "Helena" and their first single "I'm Not Okay (I Promise)", you might feel weird at first, but you'll find yourselves singing their tunes while you have nothing to do soon.

If youre going to be like everyone else and compare this cd to their first cd, "I brought you my bullets..." with hopes of it being along the same lines, then you may be a little disappointed...like I was at first. But after I listened to the whole thing through the first time (thats all it took) it ranked equally high, if not higher, than their first album. It may have a more pop-punk influence with less screaming but it definitely has more energy. Even the songs packed with emotion like The Ghost of You are full of energy. Plus, every song is catchy. In fact, I have never heard an album as catchy as this. Excellent vocals by the way.

1. Helena-Excellent choice to put this song first. I listened to this about 8 times in a row before moving on to track 2. One of the most catchy and energetic songs on this cd. 10/10
2. Give em Hell Kid-Another energetic song, try not moving to this one. 9/10
3. To the End-well...more energy. Awesome guitar/vocal combination in this song. Awesome lyrics too. 9/10
4. You know what they do to guys...-Very cool intro to this song, kind of jazzy. One of the harder choruses on the album. Very catchy. Probably my third favorite. 10/10
5. Im Not Okay-"You said you read me like a book, but the pages are all torn and frayed"-good song and very emotional. Catchy and more punk sounding than others. Energetic, just like all others. 10/10
6. The Ghost of You-Wow! My definite favorite. Best chorus I have ever heard and great lyrics. "at the top of my lungs, in my arms she dies, she dies" Most emotion in this one, but still hits as hard as the others. I like that. 11/10
7. The Jetset life is gonna kill me-Great hard hitting chorus and good all around song. 9/10
8. Interlude-just an interlude, nothing special
9. Thank you for the venom-"Love is the red of the rose on your coffin door, What's life like, bleeding on the floor,
the floor, the floor" Some of the best lyrics. Not AS catchy as the rest though. 10/10
10. Hang em high-has a old country sounding intro, very cool. Very fast paced song. Full of energy but the chorus is not all that catchy. But cool nonetheless. 8.5/10
11. Its not a fashion statement...-"this hole that you put me in wasn't deep enough and i'm climbing out right now " Another song with very good lyrics. Energetic and catchy, no complaints. 10/10
12. Cemetery Drive-one of my favorites. I love the chorus and the lyrics. The lyrics in this song most resemble their first album the most I think. Good subtle guitar parts during the verse. Very cool. 10/10
13. I never told you what I do for a living-my second favorite and the song with the most screaming. "another knife in my hands
a stain that never comes off the sheets clean me off im so dirty babe" "they gave us two shots to the back of the head
and we're all dead now." -good lyrics too. Ending of the song is really good. 10/10

Overall-97%
Buy it!!

I was impressed with them in I Brought You Bullets, You Brought Me Your Love but not floored. They came out with this new release and I picked it up out of curiousity.

This time, they floored me. The music is nothing short of amazing. I had chills going up and down my spine when I heard the first track Helena. The riffs, and tunes are catchy, and the singer's voice is really filled with emotion. You can feel the music.

My favorite track on the album is probably I'm Not OKay. The song is amazing. Catchy and a great song to sing your lungs out to, especially if you can identify with their message.

If you are looking for something kind of like Finch/Taking Back Sunday/Thursday I would reccommend this. It's not the same, it's just sort of like them. My Chemical Romance is more hardcore ballad like, with fast guitars and heavy beats..

A sound choice, if I do say so myself.

Great metal guitar solos, punk style songs, nice rythems, and a dash of "emo" helped My Chemical Romance sell out this album. First off, I would like to say that this is one of most well originated albums of all time. Just look at the names of their songs. "Thank you for the venom" "Its not a statement, Its a deathwish" "I never told you what i did for a living". I mean, these are great names for songs, with great style, rythem, and punk to go along with it.

This album gives you 13 quality tracks that can blow you're mind away!
Let me first start with "I'm Not Okay (I promise)" You may have seen this video on MTV, or on the internet, but for those of you who have'nt, this is their best song on the album. The beggining guitar sequence is a nice way to introduce the plot, and the lyrics blow me away. This was "My Chemical Romance's" first single, and I don't think it will be their last.

Helena: This song was probably my favorite out of the 13 tracks on this album. The chorus is really catchy. At first, this song might seem weird, but I promise that you'll enjoy it after a while. Back to the chorus. Here are the lyrics:

"What's the worst thing I could say
Things are better if I stay!
So long and good night
So long and good night!"

They might not seem to snazzy on paper, but they are really catchy when listening to them. I enjoy the plot line as well. This song really showed the emotional side of My Chemical Romance, and I hope that they can make more songs like this in the future.

Thank You For The Venom: Wow! At first I was stunned. I thought that this was one of those kind of songs you just do to add to you're album, but I was wrong. The chorus is amazing, and the rythem drum fillers are awesume. The versus' are short and fast. Great lyrics, and great rythem make this song killer.

It's Not A Fasion Statement, Its a dishwish: This song starts out with a pretty good guitar filler. The drums are consistant, with some nice fills. I found this song very entertaining, and I bet that you'll be humming the chorus beat after listening to this after a while.

I didn't review all of the tracks, but I did review my favorite four. I really don't know how you can call this band pathetic emo/punk/pop, because they arn't. They are a great band in the making, and it will take a few years for them to be on top of their game. I really think that this album was their start to fame.

I first discovered this band on TakingBackSunday.com, the band said that they had a new album coming out and that it was really good. Well, since I am a huge fan of Taking Bak Sunday, I decided to check them out. I looked at reviews and downloaded the song Helena, and I was instantly in love with them. I decided to buy the album, and I have come to the conclusion that it was a purchase that was well worth it. If you are a fan of emo/punk, you will like this band. The album is very catchy, and will appeal to most people. Here is a track by track review.

Helena 10/10 Great opener, great energy, a standout.
Give 'Em Hell Kid 9/10 Catchy, pretty short, well tune overall.
To The End 9.25/10 Has twisted lyrics, but is a very upbeat and well played song.
You Know What They Do To Guys Like Us In Prison 9.5/10 Great intro, reminds me of Bohemian Rhapsody, this is a very unique song, always good to listen to.
I'm Not Okay(I Promise) 10/10 It bugs me how people seem to be dissapointed with this song, it is so awesome, its one of my favs, so so catchy.
The Ghost of You 10/10 Arguably the best song on here, its the albums only ballad, its incredible.
The Jetset Life Is Gonna Kill You 9/10 Somewhat of a stepdown from the first 6, but its still great and catchy, you'll hum it a lot.
Interlude N/A Interludes are usually nothin special, but I must say this is relaxing.
Thank You For the Venom 9/10 One of the catchiest choruse on here, one of the two songs I heard before buying the cd.
Hang 'Em High 8.5/10 Worst song on the album, has a country feel to it. Still catchy, typical MCR.
It's Not A Fashion Statement, Its A Deathwish 9.5/10 The song on the album that really gows on you, good beggining, the real song has the f word in it.
Cemetary Drive 9/10 Has great lyrics, and a good beat. Nothin too special though.
I Never Told You What I Do For A Living 9/10 Ends the album pretty good, could be better but not much to complain about.

Incase You Do Not Have The Time To Read the Track By Track Review, look at this:
Top 5
1. The Ghost Of You(I'm A sucker For Ballads)
2. I'm Not Okay(I Promise)(Underrated and dang catchy)
3. Helena(One of the best openers I've ever heard)
4. You Know WHat They Do To Guys Like Us In Prison(Unique tune)
5. Its Not A Fashion Statement, It's A Deathwish(It Grows On You)

Anyways, check this album out. Its so catchy and unique that you can not go wrong with spending 12 bucks.

Alright guys, here's the deal. Liking something because it's underground and no-one has ever heard of it is all good and well, and I have nothing against the people who really don't want this band going mainstream, I'm one of them. My reasoning behind this seems to have not been explained, so I will state them. I've been with Gerard and the boys since early 2004, right after the release of the new album. Before I'm Not Okay, before Helena. I loved the music because it was emotionally drawing and I felt I could really identify with it. Plus it sounds great. I have NO PROBLEM with people getting into this band because of the Helena video, or the I'm Not Okay video, all the better for the band. I do however, have a problem with all the people who tell me how god awful this band is then they get popular on MTV and everyone starts liking them. If you're going to like a band, do it because you enjoy the music and because it connects with you and makes you feel whatever it is you're trying to feel at the time, not because it's what everyone else is doing and you want to act like you know what you're talking about. Anyways, on to the review.

Helena - 9.5/10 - Great track, beautifully done, introduces the album very well.

Give 'Em Hell, Kid - 10/10 - Excellent track, if you know what he's saying it's actually very interesting. Great sound, wonderful song all together.

To The End - 9/10 - Not as good as the previous two tracks, but still a great song.

You Know What They Do To Guys Like Us In Prison - 10/10 - Wonderful addition to the CD, one of my favorite tracks. Kinda weird sounding, interesting lyrics..but that giggle at the end gets me every time.

I'm Not Okay - 8.5/10 - It's really not a bad track, just overplayed. Good song though, nothing like the rest of the CD.

Ghost of You - 8/10 - I don't really know why, I just don't click with this track. It's not bad, I'm just not a fan of the way Gerard sings on this song.

The Jetset Life Is Gonna Kill You - 8.5/10 - Not a big fan of this one either. Not much to say about it.

Interlude - No rating here, just a filler, doesn't count.

Thank You For The Venom - 10/10 - Excellent song, very fast paced and great guitars at the beginning and throughout the song. Drumming is nice too, and the vocals are fantastic.

Hang 'Em High - 9/10 - Didn't really like this song the first few times I heard it, but it definately grew on me. Great track

It's Not a Fashion Statement, It's a Deathwish - 9/10 - Another great song, well done.

Cemetery Drive - 10/10 - A very haunting song with great vocals. A personal favorite.

I Never Told You What I Do For A Living - 9.5/10 - Great song with a very interesting verse late into the song.

I picked up this CD this summer and I must say that it gets better every time I listen to it. There are few cds that I can say will never get old and this is deffinitely one of them. There are many CDs that you have to be in the mood for to listen to them but "Three Cheers for Sweet Revenge" will put you in the mood the second you put it in. I say, "three cheers for My Chemical Romance". It is really too bad that this band is going to be getting huge in the near future, that always puts a damper on the bond you have with their music. It's never the same when 12 year old girls are walking down the street singing "Hallelujah, lock and load," (Thank You For The Venom, track 9). But if it must happen, it must. There's not a song on this album you could say something bad about. It is truly a masterful job.

Here are the three songs that stand out to be my favorites
1. You Know What They Do To Guys Like Us In Prison (#4) - I try to listen to this song at least once a day, just to get me by. This is my favorite one to listen to while driving and just scream out the lyrics as loud as I can.
2. Thank you For The Venom (#9) - I love the guitar in this song, and the lead up to it in track 8 is simply perfect. "Sister, I'm not much a poet but a criminal, and you never had a chance"=great song.
3. Cemetary drive (#12) - I can't say how much I enjoy this one. I love the contrast between the verses and the chorus, and the drums at the beginning are a great start. Also, the lyrics are grand. Probably my favorite on the CD.

Those are just three of my favorites but I could say something about every song. I like to keep things short and to the point though.

Also, I was fortunate enough to see My Chemical Romance open for Face to Face on their farewell tour. They put on an amazing show my friends. So much energy, you can't leave with your voice after seeing them. One of the best live shows I've seen. Very very very fun. So see them if you get the chance.

This band has some real talent. They have some very original music on a lot of their songs and his voice can do some incredible things. There is nothing I can say bad about this CD or band. So check it out, it is great stuff. And please, let's stop judging bands by the videos we see on MTV, this band had a lot going on way before that stuff ever started.

"Love it, or leave it, you can't understand..."

Ok, let me begin by saying I am a die-hard product of classic 70's and 80's rock and am a musician of over 20 years. Very little music today moves me, as the musicianship and commitment to melody in today's bands has take a very drastic step backwards. However, there are some exceptions. Bands like Jimmy Eat World, Green Day, and My Chemical Romance have found a niche for themselves in that they really pour their hearts out into the music and do it with catchy melodies, which is somewhat of a forgotten staple in music nowadays. Sure, not the greatest musicianship (but neither were the Ramones or Nirvana and so many countless metal bands I used to follow) but they get a free pass in my CD player for making up for it with melody and just good song writing. If being drawn to music that moves me emotionally and as the same time, makes me want to sing along, makes me a simpleton, than I guess that's what I am. Maybe I'm looking in the wrong places, but JEW, Green Day, and MCR are probably the only commercial rock bands I listen too nowadays. I think the problem is that many people quickly rush to judgment and associate these bands with other young and less talented bubble-gum punk bands of today like Blink 82, Simple Plan, etc. of course all the horrible rap metal stuff. The fact that they wear make up doesn't do anything for me because at the end of the day it's about the music. Great album, from beginning to end.

With their psuedo goth-punk look, unorthodox name, and sketchy if not somewhat juvenile song titles, I'm not ashamed to admit that I wrote this band off, at first, as being another melodramatic emo-trash group that no one except those who FREEBASE emo music and culture into their system could appreciate.

You know, the kind of people who hang out at skateparks with quaffy, psuedo new-wave hairdo's and sit at the top of half-pipes making fun of the fact that you don't know who "From Autumn to Ashes" is or the fact that you consider "Dashboard Confessional" and "Brand New" to be legit emo. You know, those jerks who will rave and rave about a group one minute, but the second said band's video plays on TRL or Fuse they cry "SELL OUT".

To me, the emo scene is just as bigoted and closed-minded as our forefather's punk scene was 30 odd years ago.

The scene is lame, biased, and, like any other scene, hypocritical at its core, but in all honesty a great deal of the music is very compelling.

Acts like Thrice, Matchbook Romance, and Underoath have put forth great albums with splendid musical arrangments that are complemented by intelligent and complleing lyrics dealing with everything from heartbreak to political angst to the turmoils of the inner self. These talented acts help to positively build upon the image of American music and further help to inspire artists like them.

And with that being said, I can say confidently that My Chemical Romance's "Three Cheers for Sweet Revenge" can be added to that glorious roster.

With their raging rhythms, crystal leads, and captivating vocals, MCR have proven themselves worthy to be set apart from the more generic and uninteresting emo acts such as Hawthorne Heights or the bland mundanity of the once intriguing Taking Back Sunday. This is a group that you can proudly blare on your stereo or MP3 player and anyone with any real taste in modern rock (be it emo or otherwise) can't touch you.

Probably the biggest standout on this effort is the opening track "Helena". Whoa! Now this is how you start off an album right! The haunting near whisper of Gerard Way's (vocals) "Long ago..." along with the single note, palm-muted friction further excentuating his gasps softly coaxes you to draw closer to the song. Then out of no where, a ferocious wall of raw aggresion pummels you into submission. The verses chruning out crunchy, guitar-driven harmonies with Way's voice searing and soaring the whole way. Then comes the chorus, delivering a dramatic tension and intense melody to help bring the song back full circle to the next verse. And the solemn, and almost eery, bridge brings the song back to its epic chorus for an amazing conclusion. The second single off of this CD, it truly stands out as one of the best. An amazing song to get the album up-and-running.

That rapid fire pace is kept going strong with the following tracks "Give 'Em Hell Kid" and the absolutely exquisite "To The End." On the latter of these two tracks, the cryptic storytelling lyrical style and the beatuifully tonal lead progressions played by afroed lead guitarist Ray Toro (or it could possibly be other guitarist Frank Iero, I'll admit I'm not certain) adds a great deal to the desperation and despair that this songs conveys.

This rapid fire progression is only enhanced by the next (and unfortunately titled) track "You Know What They Do To Guys Like Us In Prison" featuring an uncredited Bert McCracken (of another equally gifted act "The Used")singing backup (note: the maniacal little chuckle at the end of this song will send a shiver up your spine.)

Then of course, there's "I'm Not Okay (I Promise)" the track that started it all (well, at least in the eyes of the mainstream anyway :-P.) A very good, upbeat song with a huge climax, roaring vocals and guitars, a lightning quick chorus. Although the guitar solo isn't going to really impress too many people, it still feels very appropriate and does not take anything away from the song.

And then, the album decides to slow down a bit with the serene, yet still grandoise "The Ghost of You". It's blissfully tragic lyrics and meloncholy lead bring out the soul of the song and give it a very deep and tranquil feel. Then the instumrments quickly build up to let out the explosive chorus. I dare anyone not to sing along to Way's gripping lines and wrenching confessions. This song would make an exquisite single. If the Grammy committee weren't run by fuddy-duddy no-nothing fops (Sorry, but these days I don't think that there would be too many people out there who would disagree with that statement. No true artists anyway.) then I would certainly be tempted to regail this song as record of the year, but that's just one 20-something's opinion. A truly mesmerizing tune.

After this brief, yet only slight change of pace, the listener is thrown back into full throtle with another (also unfortunately titled) song "The Jetset Life Is Gonna Kill You." Throbbing beats pulsate throughout this song and while it is not the best song on th album, it certainly keeps the listener interested.

But after this song things get a little iffy...

The whisper quiet and solemn "Interlude" serves as an introductory track to "Thank You For the Venom", but the pillowy soft nature of "Interlude" contrasts so vividly from the almost metallic thumping of "Venom" that it reall kills off a bit of the effect that the latter song has overall. Which is really a shame becuase "Venom" is a great track. It's pulse-pounding beat and nail-driving verse make it one of the hardest songs on the whole CD. Not bad a bad tune on it's own, but I recommend skipping "Interlude" if you can.

And after that song things get very iffy...

The tracks "Hang 'Em High" and (ugh, these titles!) "It's Not a Fashion Statement, It's a Deathwish", while not awful songs by any means sound very generic and uninspired. "Hang 'Em High" starts out well enough with a great verse and interesting lyrics, but the chorus feels a little mismatched with the rest of the song, and the outro is just utter chaos. And "Fashion Statement" really has no stand out attributes to it at all. It just feels like a very plain (though still not terrible) track.

But the album does get an uplift from another slower paced track "Cemetary Drive." With wrenching, painful lyrics and more wonderfully played leads, this song acts as somewhat of a beacon in the darkness of medioocrity that threatens the latter half of this album. The track is not quite as grippng as "Ghost of You" but it is compelling nonetheless and worthy of a least a few good listens.

The biggest letdown though is the pedestrian final track "I Never Told You What I Do For a Living." Nothing sets it apart from the worst of the tracks on this CD and when it's finally over, you're left feeling as if you've come up a little short. A bit ironic that an album that starts off so bombastly would end with such a disappointing fizzle, but it is still not unlistenable by any means. Fans will probably get a kick out of it, but it isn't going to win them any praise on the whole.

"Three Cheers..." is an album that starts off amazingly, but tapers off a bit towards the end. But don't be scared away by a few mediocre outings. The whole of this album may not be greater than its parts, but the parts are so brilliantly done that you won't mind wading through a few muddy tracks to get to them. A truly enjoyable listen for any fan of rock. A MUST HAVE for anyone into emo of any sorts.

"Because if you don't have this album then you're a fake and a loser douchebag communist :-P."

Sorry, I couldn't help myself with that. No matter how quaffed or unquaffed your hair may be (:-D) this is still a good album to have in your library. I don't care how legit or unlegit that may be!

Nootch.

I am not a very big fan of modern-day bands. Most of the music out today is not creative and sounds the same. I must say that I do like My Chemical Romance. I never heard of them until I saw the "Helena" video on MTV. I have bought and listened to both of the albums and even though their follow-up is more radio friendly, they have not sold out. There are so many music fans out today they hate any bands who go from cult to mainstream. The sounds of a band will change overtime. If you look at some of the greatest bands of all time (Rolling Stones, the Who, Cream, Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin), they were all played on the radio and they all were well known all over the world and THEIR MUSIC CHANGED OVER TIME. Just because a band is well-known or has a video on MTV does not make them sell-outs. Stop trying to "be different" by only liking underground bands or bands not on a big lable. Like music in whatever form it comes in whether it is rock, emo, hip-hop, country or whatever else. If you want to be different, like music that you like and not just some genre that you think makes you different.