As much as My Chemical Romance supplied the pop-punk/Hot Topic soundtrack for the past decade, there was a bit of pomp and throwback to the Jersey boys rooted in the late 1970s and early ’80s. Glammed-up excess, concept albums and power ballads run through the MCR’s first three albums, but more as an undercurrent than an overt statement.
Not anymore. With its fourth full-length album, “Danger Days: The True Lives Of The Fabulous Killjoys”, MCR has created a cartoonish yet epic collection of songs paying homage to David Bowie and Iggy Pop with utter glee. Cast as outlaws in a post-apocalyptic future, the gang (paced by the lead-singing stylings of Gerard Way) fights Big Brother the only way it knows how — with expansive anthems fueled with hook after hook.
Doctor Death-Defying provides a running commentary throughout, imploring you to “listen up” before cranking into “Na Na Na”, the album’s first of many sing-a-long singles.
More follow, quickly, as “Bulletproof Heart, Sing ”and “The Only Hope For Me is You” share this quiet/loud/quiet/IMUSTSINGALONG theme. It becomes a bit comical even as you’re unable to resist it. Perhaps sensing this, Doctor Death-Defying tells the audience it’s “time to hit the red line,” and what follows pushes this album to the border of greatness.
“Party Poison” has MCR at its rocking best, showcasing a Judas Priest riff and expert guitar work by Ray Toro. “S/C/A/R/E/C/R/O/W” takes all the best elements of a ’80s hair bands (they do exist), turning gentle arpeggio moments and cheesy guitar solos into a stirring celebration. Then there’s “Summertime”, a top 40 hit if there ever was one, which comes across easy and natural, exceptional since it’s surrounded by songs that sound nothing like it. The band is showing off — clicking off genre after genre with scary confidence.
“Vampire Money” — with its obvious Stooges influence — takes the album home with a glowing flourish. It’s true My Chemical Romance is borrowing at will, but there’s never a time during “Danger Days” you aren’t aware it’s MCR coming out the speakers. It’s distinct and definitive, and has the band primed to dominate another decade.
