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GoingNumb's Journal
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My Chemical Romance: The Black Parade is Dead!
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July 01, 2008, 09:21:pm
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This is my full review of The Black Parade is Dead:
My MCR The Black Parade is Dead FULL REVIEW
Now, before i say anything bad (because i will) i would like to say that i've been an MCR fan for a long time and i've enjoyed all their albums. But i can't help it say that MCR is just not that great live. I've seen them a lot. I've seen them at Van's Warped tour, their "3 cheers" tour and at special venues and of course, the black parade tours, including Projekt Revolution and two Rise Against shows and Bamboozle. So i'm not new to their shows at all.
When i heard they were bringing out another live album, featuring all the songs off the black parade and some of their old stuff, i was sold. So much sold, i got the collector's box set (one with the free band masks). I got Bob's mask, which made me happy cause i like Bob and frankly, if you look at all the other masks, his is the best.
I got the CD/DVD in the mail today, and i immediately watched it. And i've got to say, i'm really disapointed. When i heard they were going to have the Concert set in Mexico, i was actually excited. I was first confused on why they picked Mexico and not Madison Square Garden in NYC, but when i realized that Mexico loves their "Day of the Dead" setting, i was excited to see MCR play in Mexico with Dead settings. Which is exactly what they did. Sadly, my hopes were lost when i first downloaded the free songs off their website and Mama was one of the tracks i was really disapointed about. But i thought maybe it was low quality and the DVD would make up for the fact it's better to see them than to hear them. that's not the case.
NOTE: I DONT HAVE BIG SPOILERS, BUT I ALWAYS WARN PEOPLE BEFORE HAND JUST IN CASE.
You first see clips of Mexico City as a little intro with the song "Blood" as the intro song. You see the band come out which laters starts the show. The End starts off with the classic setup, and it really sounds good. I loved it. Though, even in this song, Gerard sounds lazy and mumbles a lot, but I still liked it and i thought Dead would light up the mood, though, it doesn't improve. It seems like Gerard was tired, lazy, or just plain out of it, because he seemed like he didn't have the same energy as his early shows. Even some of his motions don't seem like he's into it. But i wasn't feeling good, so maybe it was just me. "Disapear" comes on and things improve, despite how gerard is about ready to passout from lack of air or something, but the show is cool to watch. I now i'm feeling that the show has just begun, then I threw that thought away when "Sharpest Lives" came on, which had to be the most dismal sounding version I have ever heard from MCR. When I first heard this song live, this was one of the best songs i've ever heard live. The last chorus through, it seems like Gerard woke up, by screaming into the microphone and singing really good, so things improved. I was about ready to skip through the Black Parade, because i was afraid i would have a grudge for life, but i had to watch it. But I was amazed, the song started off great, with the crowd singing, then gerard screams again, and I was enjoying myself through the song. Is it the best live version? probably not, but it's really fun to watch and listen to. Gerard is running around and really into the song, he's about ready to passout at the bridge of the song, but when the song starts up again, you forget about it and sing along. It's the best song off the album.
"I don't love you" comes up next on the setlist and things really get going. Gerard sounds prime and the band really makes the song sound amazing. Seeing the crowd sing to the song as Gerard is wailing out "I don't love you like yesterday" it's the best version i've heard from the band. House of Wolves is EASILY the MOST DISAPOINTING track off the album. Gerard, i'm sorry, but i loved the song ever since the Black Parade came out, but you really butchered this song. Watching it is slow and motionless and hearing the song on thd CD is murky. I couldn't bear it. Not too long ago, at Projekt Revolution, they sang this song with soul and power and full of energy, but hearing song mumble through "tell me i'm a bad man" and "Better fun like the devil..." is heart shattering. bash me all you want, but i was seriously disapointed. Then, there's a long interlude, which James amazingly plays a beautiful piece before finally coming to "Cancer", which is probably the highlight song, because it's just Gerard and the Crowd. Gerard grumbles throughout part of the song, but when he speaks up, it sounds great. You can barely hear the crowd. Thanks to editing. It would have been beautiful if you heard the crowd with Gerard, but Gerard does just as good wailing the chorus. And can't help his ego enough by kissing and standing motionless as the crowd screams loudly. Then Mama came on, the song that I had no hope for. The song starts off fun by gerard fooling around with the intro and chanting, "Everybody in the whole place" before starting to sing the intro. I can tell you this now, IT SOUNDS BETTER THAN THE FREE DOWNLOAD, despite the fact it's the song exact song. The chorus is sharp. Gerard seems a bit out of breath, until he screams "Mama" with fire in the background until literally grunting. The last part is good, even though Gerard is really freaking and disturbing at the end of the song. "THERE'S A SURPRISE PARTY! FOR ME!" you'll see.
Then sleep starts up, which is both good and bad. The song starts off the good in the verse, but the chorus is a bit weak. But Teenagers needed to be a highlight. Which proves that Gerard is not ready to quit. I still feel that Gerard is whiped out and needs to sleep, because at times, you can tell he's out of breath and doesn't to find the energy needed. Hearing the crowd sing the last verse was cool. By the way, i would like to mention two things: James Dewees, the keyboardist is AMAZING, not only in this song, but throughout the concert. I was a bit miffed when they didn't have a Harmonica player like they did at Bamboozle. Then after the song Gerard talks about how this is the last time you'll see the black parade FOREVER!!!!! and how mexico is going to kill them off ( even though they still have US tours after the concert featuring the black parade).
Disenchanted was a nice song to listen to. It's a beautiful song anyway, but it sounded really nice live. This is probably the best sounding track off the CD and the best song to watch off the DVD. Seemed like the talk Gerard did helped him get the voice needed in the song. The verses and the chorus was sharp and nice, and hearing the Ray sing backbround vocals live added livelyness to the song. When he makes the crowd sing the last part, you can't hear them, almost to the point that makes you think if they even know the song, even Gerard screams, "I can't hear you", and neither could I. But the song was amazing to hear. To end the song and the Black Parade forever, MCR sings Famous Last Words, which is a big bang to the concert. Gerard puts tons of energy into this song. He's recreating many parts from the music video, even a part where Gerard is shown putting his eyes back, making it look like he's dead. He''s sitting down much throughout the song, but eventually he stands up and screams and danced and jumps to the bridge. Then the crowd sings "I see you sleeping you next to me......" and such and it's clear and loud which is great. And MCR puts on what could be one of the best performance of the night. I think the band puts what's left of their energy into this song. Gerard crawls on the ground, as if about ready to die....or passout before finally ending the song with the words, "The Black Parade is DEAD."
Blood ends with the credits and the DVD. I'm almost disapointed that MCR never sings Blood live, because both the CD and the DVD, it's just the original version. So if you place the CD into itunes or a music player, it'll probably say Blood [Live], but its not. Actually, it's funny how blood ends earlier than the credits and they play nothing else to end it. but it's short.
In the end, NO, it's not the perfect ending to the Black Parade, noir is it MCR's best performance. With Gerard out of breathe and on the brink of passing out, he gave all that he could in the songs that mattered and saved his engery in the ones that didn't. The rest of the band sounded great, no Ray Toro sing alongs, which disapointed me a bit. I wanted to hear Ray's metallica high pitched voice in the songs (many of his parts were silenced in editing. damn them!). There were no Mikey Fuckin' Way during the concert, noir did you really see him, but he was still there and frankly, looked really good, making himself stand out from all the other members. Frank....was frank, he jumped he probably broke his neck from jerking it all the time. He had energy like no other man on earth. Bob, i like Bob, he simply the coolest person in the band. and the keyboardist, James, needed a standing ovation that would last for a long 30 minutes. He was awesome. I couldn't hear his circus music in MAMA, but his performance before Cancer and his skills in Teenagers really bring out his charm on the keys. I think overall, the most disapointed part of the DVD performance is this: It didn't live up to the hype. When i saw the cover, and saw the amazing pictures in the booklet and seein the menu (gerard wearing a sombrero. It seemed like a fun concert, but it seemed like the DVD focused more on Gerard (which makes sense...and why not right? I mean, he is the singer). But with that, it rejects the other members a bit. Considering the fact you couldn't hear the other members in the background vocals. I think with that, if Gerard was more energetic like his other earlier shows, even at Bamboozle, I wouldn't even complain. Was this the ending I wanted to see? obviously not, but for what we got, it's still a good performance and excitng to watch. I would stick with Murder Scene. Like every DVD performance, there's good and bad songs, and the songs that were bad, were bad, and the good were good. Highlights: The Black Parade, Famous Last Words and Disenchanted and Mama and Mama's intro. I'll even throw in I Don't Love You, because it was really good. Bad moments: Gerard out of breathe, House of Wolves was bad...really bad, and DEAD! was a disapointed start to the concert. I don't know what MCR fans will think, many of them will love it, just because of MCR, and others will think otherwise. This DVD/ CD is for the MCR fans. Is this the best? no, but it's worth to see and hear MCR sing Black Parade for the last time with ALL their songs live on the CD. You won't get Helena or Venom on the CD, but the DVD makes up for that, and actually cool to hear them live again. Oh, and again, BOB's mask RULES! ok, it's seriously the coolest one out of the bunch. My sister, being the biggest Gerard fan on the face of the earth, even liked Bob's the best. Goes to show you. The coffin case is really neat too. They really did a great job with the presentation. The cover is easily the best picture. I hope MCR's newest album (due out sometime in 2009, i even heard a new song from them and it was wicked live) will be exciting. I can't wait to hear MCR's new stuff and what they bring to the music world.
Black Parade Mexico City DVD - 7.5/10
New Jersey DVD - 8/10
CD - 7/10
Box set - 10/10
Bob's Mask - 100x/10
I watched the New Jersey show as well, but I'm not going to review the concert, i think you guys read enough. Cause i love to write, i'm a writer for my school, as you can tell. I DONT SHUT UP! --All i can say is, just like this concert, they have good and bad songs and ho-hum moments, but it's exciting to watch and not to mention cool to see them at a local joint singing their Black Parade songs. Helena still sounds bad, but i figure i will never hear the perfect LIVE helena. but i'll continue to listen to the original version and dream of one day i'll hear the perfect version. But I can say that the New Jersey show is WAY BETTER than the Mexico City concert. This is MCR's prime show. I know this is short, but if anybody wants me to write a review on the NJ i will, but frankly, i don't think i'm going to get good remarks on this review. lol. I'm probably going to get banned. But Anyway....that's a whole different matter.
Mood: Indifferent, but GREAT!
Music: My Chemical Romance
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Germany
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June 26, 2008, 09:56:am
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Hey! so i'm back from Germany to those who care lol. a long five weeks, but i went other places too, like austria and such. It was really fun, but i'm so tired. put up picks later!
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A New VF
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May 16, 2008, 01:20:pm
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So I guess they made dramastic changes to the website. it's much easier to worki with now and organized. anyway, that was it. lol.
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Nine Inch Nail's New Album, "The Slip"~
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May 05, 2008, 09:01:pm
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Ok, besides the name of the album, this is Halo 27 for Nine Inch Nails. Meaning this their new album featuring 10 brand new songs including the single, Dicipline. This CD is amazing! This is the first album Trent, the lead singer, brought out that is completely label-free! For fans, he brought out the ENTIRE album + PDF files for nothing! that's right, the album is FREE! I LOVE IT! Trent is finally free to do what he wishes for his fans. This is a real treat being a NIN fan. Dicipline is amazing! The album is a fresh start that follows the shadow of their last album, Year Zero, and their hit record that brought them back up to speed, With Teeth. It always has a hint of "Downward Spiral" in there as well, which is cool. Other than that, this is amazing! First it was Pennywise that brought out an amazing album for free on their myspace, but now NIN!!! I want to see NIN live this year! that's it!
www.nin.com
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haha. my profile is so lame....
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April 26, 2008, 01:31:pm
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....it's full of random pictures and crap. but i like it.
you should to! 
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