So after buying about 3 music magazines the other day in a desperate attempt to become even more "down with it" I learned two things: One is that the NME is shocking, the other is that Cursive are pretty cool. Now I must warn you from the outset that this album is, without doubt, a concept album. If you think you can handle that then read on, and frankly I think it would be better if you did.
The album's lyrics tell the story of a son trying to justify himself as a flawed human in the face of his bible-bashing mother, but I almost feel like I should stop there for risk of inflicting SPOILERS upon you! That's cos the lyrics are very well written, and while they're at times slightly too melodramatic they never reach David Tennant levels of over-exaggeration [yeah, that's right, I just dissed the Doctor. What you gunna do?]. It helps that the vocal delivery is sincere, and more creepy than whiny.
Musically, there are a few moments that sound like an alt-rock Alkaline Trio ["In the Now"], turbo-charged blues ["I Couldn't Love You"] and some macabre atmospheric moments. Quite a few songs, including personal favourite "Mama, I'm Satan", sound really restrained for the most part, but then RIP IT UP about 1/2 way through. The song structures are varied though, so its not a straightforward case of "down, up, next song, down, up, next song...". It's gripping. I was particularly drawn to the intelligent drumming, which becomes almost as much a melodic instrument as the guitars. There's also some pretty cool alternative instrumentation (never before has a flute been so rock 'n' roll)!
There's just one problem, and it's completely unfair because it's got nothing to do with the album. It's a damn good album. It's gripping, it's varied, it's got some really great moments... but for me this is all ruined by three fairly sizable letters...
M.C.R.
Three years ago, My Chemical Romance released "The Black Parade", and while I don't think it was all that bad, it was an epic disappointment compared to "Three Cheers..." That, coupled with their poncing around in uniforms and singing "Ooh look at us we're doing a concept album aren't we so relevant! We heard "Sgt. Pepper..." once and we like Queen and all those bands that our fans are too young to remember because they weren't even born yet" just got on every ones tits.
And the problem is that I can't listen to "Mama, I'm Swollen" without wanting to kick some sense into the stupid 12 year olds who turn up to MCR shows in full Black Parade regalia! To be honest, if MCR had released this album instead I would have joined the ranks, grabbed a jacket and some guy-liner and hope that my balls would un-drop. But as it happens they didn't and now they're spoiling other songs for me!
So quit pissing in the punch, Way! No one cares anymore!
Chris/Audio Bigot
xx
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment