The Artist: My Chemical Romance
The CD: Welcome to the Black Parade
Best Track: Famous Last Words
Favorite Track: Disenchanted

The Good: Do you ever watch PBS? You know, during pledge week, when the TV station drags a whole bunch of musical artists who used to be popular when your parents were kids . These people still sound pretty okay right? There are lots of older people with white hair are in the audience. That's going to be us one day. No, not the guys on stage, the people in the audience. The music of our generation is very different from anything else that has ever existed. It's even dramatically different from the sounds of the 90's! There are artists around now, who are going be huge to us in 20-30 years. You know, Fall Out Boy, Justin Timberlake, Kelly Clarkson, John Mayer, people like that. Who knows, maybe we will be watching Justin or Kelly in 30 years still singing on PBS. Fallout Boy and Pete Wentz will still be hot to people in 20 years, and who knows? One band who will be hugely popular in 20 years will be My Chemical Romance. A lot of this will be due to the second album: Welcome the Black Parade.

This is an album that solidifies this band's place as the top of their genre. Whether they're Emo, Rock, Alternative or a weird combo of all three, they are undoubtedly phenomenal. Much of their incredible sound is provided by lead singer Gerard Way. Unlike many alternative rock singers, Way can do more than just scream. He has strong, brooding, very unique vocals that give MCR, their personified sound. Part of the Black Parade's, brilliance is Way's ability to go from screamo style to rock or even pop vocals without much effort. An example of this can be heard in "I Don't Love You" and "Disenchanted." The man can sing. However, not all the band's success is because of Way. The guitars are another great aspect of MY Chem's sound. Guitarists Ray Toro and Frank Iero are exceptional. It's crazy how both guys build off of each other. Tero is the guy you will commonly hear on the CD, but Iero can be heard in support 60 percent of the time. The guitars rip and build as the CD goes on. Perhaps the best shreds are on "Famous Last Words." The bass is strong, and drums pounding as well.

The Bad: If there's any criticism that can be drawn, it would have to be towards the lyrics of Black Parade. While many of the songs are poetic and have a true artistic feel to them which could be an example of the greatness of the band -- there are parts of the CD that can feel downright strange. As you probably know, MCR is a band very much oriented with darkness, and a certain, Macabre feeling to them. The CD is surrounded by death and suffering. Some of the songs such as "Cancer" and "Dead" -- while musically, strong and even nice sounding at some points, are the topics of scorn. The CD has strange parts where you will probably feel a little creeped out. There's even a weird Liza Minelli sort of thing at the end of "Mama." Still, the lyrics do have a sense of hope to them. "I'm not afraid to keep on living, I am not afriad to walk this road alone."

There's a few F bombs, and other lesser curses if that kinda thing bugs ya. But don't let this bother you too much, Everywhere you look people are swearing. Even Avril Lavinge is swearing on here CD! I'm not saying I approve of it, I'm just saying swaering is not too big a deal in today's world right? That's pretty much why this CD got the PA sticker. So don't let that scare you away from this great CD.

The Result: It's a fast paced, lyrically and musically incredible CD that if you love music will entertain you. My Chemical Romance has created a poetic-hard-core rocking CD; just listen to it, you won't be sorry. Real close to perfection, but some strange lyrics and drak undertones, stop me from giving it the top score. Keep an open mind, don't be dragged down by the theatrical elements of MCR.

4 out of 5