Artist: My Chemical Romance
Album:Three Cheers for Sweet Revenge
Label: Reprise Records
Rating:
Reviewer: Jonathan Yost

So, I have determined that I need to plug my ears when people tell me about new music or bands. I hear all these great and wonderful things, and then I listen to the CD expecting Saint Peter to come slam dance with me because the band rocks so hard. I assume so many things, and then my high expectations crash 6 feet into the ground. That was the case with My Chemical Romance. I have at least three friends who wouldn't shut up about the new album being a religious experience for them, and I listen to it and.....blah? I was wrong. I was dead wrong.

At first, it seemed like another mediocre (pick a)-core band that sounds angsty and angry. But, my friends informed me of my tendency to have too high of expectations, and to give it some time. I continued to listen to it at school, in the car, and even sometimes sneaking it into work. And now, I can rate it on staying power as well as how good it is in general.

My Chemical Romance's Three Cheers for Sweet Revenge is a fun jaunt into angry, guitar driven rock. This is the kind of stuff that has been missing from the mainstream. I've always had a special place in my heart for distorted guitars. With Frank Iero and Ray Toro's guitars being thrashed, Matt Pelssier's drums being beaten, Mikey Way rocking the low end and vocalist Gerard Way's vocals assaulting your eardrums, this is actually one of the best new rock albums I've heard in a while. Teach me to make my decisions before I actually hear the music.

And dang, the music is awesome. As always, I have my favorite tracks. On Three Cheers..., my favorite track hands down is "You Know What They Do to Guys Like Us in Prison," featuring Bert from The Used. It has a great beat to it as well as an amazing sound and awesome lyrics. Lyrics have been especially important to me as of late. I've been really critical of a lot of bands in the Indie/Emo/Hardcore scene. It just seems that a lot of them have been putting their high school poetry to rock music, whereas My Chemical Romance writes songs as songs, but can pull off poetry status if necessary.

Another standout track is "To The End," with it's infectious guitar hook, and Gerard's vocals calling out "would you marry me, would you bury me, would you carry me to the end." It's the emotion you can feel in Way's vocals that makes all the difference. The backup vocals compliment the song, as opposed to those that stick out and sound awkward. Just a well written song that knows how to rock.

Well, I suppose the moral of this review is that don't jump to conclusions and that My Chemical Romance's Three Cheers to Sweet Revenge rocks my socks. You should definitely go out and get this album. Well, if you like rock. If Barry Manilow is your Jesus, stay away from this, but in general, get this album. Also go to the bands website and check out some of the injuries they have sustained on stage. There's even a great picture of Toro with a gash on his head from Iero's guitar. Good times. Check it out.