Despite the
passage of time since the breakup, the fans' grief remains palpable. If you
have loved ones among the afflicted, you may find that asking what they want
produces the same answer over and over again: "For MCR to get back
together!" (Do not be surprised if they incorporate the MCR cover of "All
I Want For Christmas", or sob, or both.)
While the
band members are working on various projects, not all of these are easily
accessible as gifts, and there may be some feelings of 'Oh, I get it; you want
to make music, you want to be in the studio, just not together!' Again, it has
all been very emotional, but their music still lives, and music itself still
lives. I've compiled a list of five albums released this year that may be
enjoyable for the bereaved.
I have
written about each of these bands at least once, but this is in the context of
being for My Chemical Romance fans. Most of them should be available via
Amazon, iTunes, and normal outlets, but I will indicate if there is a specific
source.
Burials by AFI
This is an
excellent band. While their sound and themes are not strictly similar to MCR,
they are not incompatible either. There is a skill and depth and emotion, and
they have so much already recorded that if the recipient responds well, they
can spend a lot of time going over the catalog.
Mark Hoppus
of Blink 182 recently (November 15th)
tweeted "Greater Than 84 on the new AFI album is my super jam.
Please repeat it into my brain over and over ad infinitum." My two
favorites were "A Deep Slow Panic" and "Heart Stops", but I
had felt like "Greater Than 84" and "17 Crimes" might be
more integral to the album, so I don't know. Uncle Mark is very wise.
Gold
Tattoos by
Farewell, My Love
Farewell,
My Love is newer than AFI, but they are similar in that while they don't really
sound like MCR, they work well with them. The band often mentions MCR in the
list of those whose fans might appreciate them. They also mention Black Veil
Brides, Falling In Reverse, and Get Scared. I can't vouch for any of those, but
as an MCR fan, I like Farewell, My Love a lot.
Because
this is a relatively young band, you can get in on the ground floor. The band
follows followers on Twitter, and checks their mentions. They are pretty
responsive. It is totally possible to meet them, and they will tell you to
believe in yourself and follow your dreams.
Gold
Tattoos brings in
my favorite songs from the previous EPs, seems to be bringing everything
together under a theme about the contents of a mysterious chest, and gives us a
chance to hear drummer Chad Kowal sing on "Paper Forts". All the members
are likable and charismatic and good, but I feel like the gooey-centered heart
of the band is Kowal, and that track is really special to me.
No
Country For Old Musicians by Reggie and the Full Effect
Yes, James
Dewees has done keyboards for My Chemical Romance for years, and that might be
reason enough, but also, he does have participation of other band members here.
And the key attraction for a grieving fan on this album is not that you will
hear some righteous guitars, see that the song features Toro or Iero (or both!),
and think, "Yeah, that's what I'm talking about." That does happen,
but I think the most comforting thing is the speaking voice of Frank Iero.
I have
mentioned before that I find Ray's voice very soothing, but Frank has this kind
of Zen quality that I'm not sure I fully appreciated until this album. You hear
him on "Robo Fonzie Meets Frank" and "We Make a Breakfast",
and there is something so guileless and positive about him, even as he is being
called a Guido. There may be a pang, but there will be enjoyment too, and there
is a lot to cheer up a sad person on this one.
On a side
note, does "Guido" only mean Italian back East? I thought it
specifically meant the orange and trashy ones, like "chav", and I
know Frank's not a chav. Anyway, I know there has been a lot of Reggie this
past week, but I think that's everything out of my system now, until February.
Probably.
Exiled
from Bear Country
by Revenir
On my
initial review of No Country, I was careful not to dwell on the
connections between Dewees and My Chemical Romance, because every project
should be able to stand on its own merits. I have carefully done the same with
Revenir, but this is the time to talk about it.
Revenir
drummer Matt Pelissier is the original drummer from My Chemical Romance. That
has brought some fans to him, and that's good because Revenir is a great band.
They are so approachable and accessible and just there for their fans. It has also
brought him some harassment and stupidity, and he does not like talking about
it.
So, I will
make a few points. One, moving forward, and concentrating on the current
projects, is appropriate and healthy. Two, there is no reason to hold it
against anyone. I've been looking at a lot of bands over the past couple of
years, and lineup changes are pretty common. Since these often happen with
young (immature) males in the heady world of rock, there are often hurt
feelings. It's still not reason to hold it against anyone. (And I say that as
someone who does hold a grudge against Pedicone for stealing.) There is room in
my heart for both bands, and I know I am not the only one.
(A third
point could be 'Don't be stupid to bands or band members, but that will probably
be its own post someday.)
Anyway, my
point is that Revenir is a great band, and you should buy their record. They do
not have a label yet, so may not be available everywhere, but you can buy Bear
Country through Bandcamp:
Save
Rock and Roll by
Fall Out Boy
It is
fairly common for MCR fans to also be FOB fans, and this album has been out the
longest, so the odds are high that the fan you are shopping for already has
this one. However, I could not exclude it. These two bands are friendly with
each other, and Fall Out Boy is the band that knows how to get back together
after years and side projects and will be able to offer helpful advice on the
subject. Therefore, Patrick Stump's voice is the voice of hope. Maybe some of
us have known that all along.
Honorable
mention goes to the All-American Rejects. They are also friendly with MCR, and
compatible, but people don't seem to make the connection in quite the same way
that they do with Fall Out Boy. So, while their most current album, Kids In
The Street, is already over a year old, this might be another option.
http://sporkful.blogspot.com/2013/03/one-year-of-kids-in-street-1yeaarkits.html
http://sporkful.blogspot.com/2013/03/one-year-of-kids-in-street-1yeaarkits.html
Happy
Holidays and, as always, support your local record store!
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