NationStates Jolt Archive

I'm listening to this cd of the new (fake dare I say) emo/punk group My Chemical Romance. I try to listen to everything and be as open about it as possible. But here is what I am thinking things over on:

Imagery (both vocal and in their videos): Very Shock Rock for the Teeny Boppers. Obviously marketed toward Hot Topic Shoppers and kids that weren't even born when Nightmare Before Christmas came out (although the Lead singer, Gerard, who I've met says this is just an image, he tries his best to look like the Bone Daddy on stage). The lyrics are very "seemingly dark". I say seemingly because thye are too in your face to be subtle, and therefore have little meaning, in my opinion.

The music: While not overly complex, it isn't half bad. The tunes are not so much of the same again and again as we see in this Neo-Emo land. I kinda like it.

My problem is, is this just an example of a corporate marketing plan to sell songs like this to teens on Ridlin and Zoloft? Or is this real feeling?

I love music...but the world of music is tough...feel free to chime in...

I don't really bother worrying about whether groups are "for real" or what - if the music pleases me, I'll listen to it (usually, though, the closer it is to pop, the less I will like it).

Imagery (both vocal and in their videos): Very Shock Rock for the Teeny Boppers. Obviously marketed toward Hot Topic Shoppers and kids that weren't even born when Nightmare Before Christmas came out (although the Lead singer, Gerard, who I've met says this is just an image, he tries his best to look like the Bone Daddy on stage). The lyrics are very "seemingly dark". I say seemingly because thye are too in your face to be subtle, and therefore have little meaning, in my opinion.
This sort of insincere pursuit of an audience never did Marilyn Manson any harm, did it? And let's face it, people who can take that twit's routine at face value are unlikely to have any problem with an emo band going through the numbers by rote...

This sort of insincere pursuit of an audience never did Marilyn Manson any harm, did it? And let's face it, people who can take that twit's routine at face value are unlikely to have any problem with an emo band going through the numbers by rote...

Marilyn Manson did come to mind when I first saw these guys. Their like Manson groomed for Tiger Beat, but at the same time, the music grows on you. Manson's best songs were covers, they never were a great band, just a project of Trent Reznor's.

I just don't like the idea of taking a genuine form of music and saying "How can we market this?" It loses flavor.

My problem is, is this just an example of a corporate marketing plan to sell songs like this to teens on Ridlin and Zoloft? Or is this real feeling?



My good sir I'll have you know that statement is offensive to people who take Zoloft!

My good sir I'll have you know that statement is offensive to people who take Zoloft!

I thought nothing offended people on Zoloft...:)

My problem is, is this just an example of a corporate marketing plan to sell songs like this to teens on Ridlin and Zoloft? Or is this real feeling?
First of all, one should be ashamed of oneself to actively push the misinformation that My Chemical Romance is either emo or punk. Second.....where can I get this Ridlin stuff?

I think that music should be more about what type of reaction it invokes in somebody as a person, which is why I try not to get down on people who are really into pop music or country music or something, but personally I just can't stand to listen to most anything corporate if I get the feeling that it's more manufactured than personal on the artist's part. I hold my friends to the same level when they write songs, though....if it sounds too trite and overdone, I usually advise them to scrap it and start over.

But that's just me.....I hate the system.

edit: 900th post....wasted on My Chemical Romance. I feel the inexplicable urge to rage out to "Thank You For the Venom"....

Marilyn Manson did come to mind when I first saw these guys. Their like Manson groomed for Tiger Beat, but at the same time, the music grows on you. Manson's best songs were covers, they never were a great band, just a project of Trent Reznor's.

I just don't like the idea of taking a genuine form of music and saying "How can we market this?" It loses flavor.
I like Manson. I like their music and they put on a great show.

I thought nothing offended people on Zoloft...:)
Zoloft is strong shit. I remember hearing part of an interview with Mike Tyson where the reporter asked him if it was true that he was on Zoloft. Mike said "Yeah, but I'm only on it so I don't kill all of y'all". If it's strong enough to keep Mike Tyson from killing all of us, it should be strong enough to keep the average person from being offended.

My good sir I'll have you know that statement is offensive to people who take Zoloft!
You mean porings?

http://img134.imageshack.us/img134/8408/zoloft2km.gif

Zoloft is strong shit. I remember hearing part of an interview with Mike Tyson where the reporter asked him if it was true that he was on Zoloft. Mike said "Yeah, but I'm only on it so I don't kill all of y'all". If it's strong enough to keep Mike Tyson from killing all of us, it should be strong enough to keep the average person from being offended.

I'll have you know that little blue pill is the only thing keeping me from going into a rage and throttling the thread starter to death for that quite insensitive comment!

(I kid obviously.)

You mean porings?



Augh! Ragnarok! Kill it with fire!

Zoloft has some competition.

http://www.i-am-bored.com/bored_link.cfm?link_id=8597

Zoloft has some competition.

http://www.i-am-bored.com/bored_link.cfm?link_id=8597
I'm going to see if my insurance will cover this....

Zoloft has some competition.

http://www.i-am-bored.com/bored_link.cfm?link_id=8597

In short...awesome...

Simonist]First of all, one should be ashamed of oneself to actively push the misinformation that My Chemical Romance is either emo or punk. Second.....where can I get this Ridlin stuff?

I think that music should be more about what type of reaction it invokes in somebody as a person, which is why I try not to get down on people who are really into pop music or country music or something, but personally I just can't stand to listen to most anything corporate if I get the feeling that it's more manufactured than personal on the artist's part. I hold my friends to the same level when they write songs, though....if it sounds too trite and overdone, I usually advise them to scrap it and start over.

But that's just me.....I hate the system.

As a musician, I agree with you. My general conundrum is derived from the fact that with this band, I can't tell if they are manufactured or not. I mean sure, they have the manufactured look, but the lead singer was an Ad Exec/Designer before the band took off. Hmmm...are they for real...

As far as being emo/punk, I think they are pop-punkish, at best. I use the emo/punk genre to denote anything I catch on FUSE as they claim it is all emo though no band on there wants to say, We're Emo.

I'm emo...I'm not ashamed...

In short...awesome...



As a musician, I agree with you. My general conundrum is derived from the fact that with this band, I can't tell if they are manufactured or not. I mean sure, they have the manufactured look, but the lead singer was an Ad Exec/Designer before the band took off. Hmmm...are they for real...

As far as being emo/punk, I think they are pop-punkish, at best. I use the emo/punk genre to denote anything I catch on FUSE as they claim it is all emo though no band on there wants to say, We're Emo.

I'm emo...I'm not ashamed...
I always got the feeling that they were more manufactured than not, but then there are Green Day nouveau-'fans' that also fiercely believe that they're a complete studio creation, having only heard the transition from Warning to American Idiot. Cretins :rolleyes:

Myself, I don't watch FUSE. I don't really watch TV. And good job not being ashamed to be emo. I date unabashed emo boys, but that's the closest I personally get to it :p

I couldn't care less if they're manufactured, or what genre they pretend to be in, I still think they're shite.

I mean, for fuck sake, hardly lyrical genius is it?

I'm nooooooooooot ooooooookaaaaaaaaaaay
I'm nooooooooooot ooooooookaaaaaaaaaaay
I'm nooooooooooot ooooooookaaaaaaaaaaay
I'm nooooooooooot ooooooookaaaaaaaaaaay
I'm nooooooooooot ooooooookaaaaaaaaaaay
I'm nooooooooooot ooooooookaaaaaaaaaaay



Yea, well done with that, must have taken forever :rolleyes:

Simonist']I always got the feeling that they were more manufactured than not, but then there are Green Day nouveau-'fans' that also fiercely believe that they're a complete studio creation, having only heard the transition from Warning to American Idiot. Cretins :rolleyes:

Myself, I don't watch FUSE. I don't really watch TV. And good job not being ashamed to be emo. I date unabashed emo boys, but that's the closest I personally get to it :p

True...and from what I've heard of My Chemical Romance's first album, it wasn't similar, but it wasn't altogether different.

As far as being emo...I've been into the music since the genre came out in the late 80's/ early 90's and most of it is still good. Fire Theft, Taking Back Sunday, those are good bands. Even Chris Carraba isn't too bad. It's the people like Something Corporate or New Found Glory, or especially Good Charlotte that are emo/punk/flavor-of-the-month that I can't stand.

and I always was a cute emo boy...at least that waht all the girls who wouldn't date me told me...:)

I couldn't care less if they're manufactured, or what genre they pretend to be in, I still think they're shite.

I mean, for fuck sake, hardly lyrical genius is it?

I'm nooooooooooot ooooooookaaaaaaaaaaay
I'm nooooooooooot ooooooookaaaaaaaaaaay
I'm nooooooooooot ooooooookaaaaaaaaaaay
I'm nooooooooooot ooooooookaaaaaaaaaaay
I'm nooooooooooot ooooooookaaaaaaaaaaay
I'm nooooooooooot ooooooookaaaaaaaaaaay



Yea, well done with that, must have taken forever :rolleyes:

Not a great song, but a solid pop song with a weak message. But is that the manufactured them using a song like that to bust into the pop charts, or is that what they are more like, and their other stuff is over processed like so much cheese. This is what I'm trying to discover.

I like Manson. I like their music and they put on a great show.
The only reason Warner has a career as a pop singer is because Trent Reznor got fed up of being called the most pathetic goth wanker in the 'States and decided to prove once and for all that he wasn't. Fair play to the guy though: it worked.

The only reason Warner has a career as a pop singer is because Trent Reznor got fed up of being called the most pathetic goth wanker in the 'States and decided to prove once and for all that he wasn't. Fair play to the guy though: it worked.
We're going to have to agree to disagree here because I'm no longer allowed to flame people on this forum.

We're going to have to agree to disagree here because I'm no longer allowed to flame people on this forum.
Looks like it.

I'm listening to this cd of the new (fake dare I say) emo/punk group My Chemical Romance. I try to listen to everything and be as open about it as possible. But here is what I am thinking things over on:

Imagery (both vocal and in their videos): Very Shock Rock for the Teeny Boppers. Obviously marketed toward Hot Topic Shoppers and kids that weren't even born when Nightmare Before Christmas came out (although the Lead singer, Gerard, who I've met says this is just an image, he tries his best to look like the Bone Daddy on stage). The lyrics are very "seemingly dark". I say seemingly because thye are too in your face to be subtle, and therefore have little meaning, in my opinion.

The music: While not overly complex, it isn't half bad. The tunes are not so much of the same again and again as we see in this Neo-Emo land. I kinda like it.

My problem is, is this just an example of a corporate marketing plan to sell songs like this to teens on Ridlin and Zoloft? Or is this real feeling?

I love music...but the world of music is tough...feel free to chime in...

Firstly, they really aren't new, the first album was released over 3 years ago. Good on you for meeting Gerard, lucky wanker:) Read as far into the lyrics as you will, the whole point of the music is that it is personal and people can identify with it, do so in your own way.

We're going to have to agree to disagree here because I'm no longer allowed to flame people on this forum.
Were you "allowed" to in the first place?

I'm seething with jealousy :mad:

Firstly, they really aren't new, the first album was released over 3 years ago. Good on you for meeting Gerard, lucky wanker Read as far into the lyrics as you will, the whole point of the music is that it is personal and people can identify with it, do so in your own way.
Three years in that scene is pretty new, man. Especially compared to the other things Bal said he listens to -- the real stuff from the late 80's to early 90's. MCR is certainly "new" in comparitive terms.

Simonist']Were you "allowed" to in the first place?

I'm seething with jealousy :mad:


Three years in that scene is pretty new, man. Especially compared to the other things Bal said he listens to -- the real stuff from the late 80's to early 90's. MCR is certainly "new" in comparitive terms.
When all I used to get was a warning or a short forum ban.

Simonist']Were you "allowed" to in the first place?

I'm seething with jealousy :mad:


Three years in that scene is pretty new, man. Especially compared to the other things Bal said he listens to -- the real stuff from the late 80's to early 90's. MCR is certainly "new" in comparitive terms.

I suppose so, its just a bit crap that a year and a half ago they were actually respectable, now they have embraced the mainstream completely. As for TBS or Thrice, soooo much better, and real artists to.

True...and from what I've heard of My Chemical Romance's first album, it wasn't similar, but it wasn't altogether different.

As far as being emo...I've been into the music since the genre came out in the late 80's/ early 90's and most of it is still good. Fire Theft, Taking Back Sunday, those are good bands. Even Chris Carraba isn't too bad. It's the people like Something Corporate or New Found Glory, or especially Good Charlotte that are emo/punk/flavor-of-the-month that I can't stand.

and I always was a cute emo boy...at least that waht all the girls who wouldn't date me told me...:)

incidentally, have you heard the TBS tracks on iTunes?

Firstly, they really aren't new, the first album was released over 3 years ago. Good on you for meeting Gerard, lucky wanker:) Read as far into the lyrics as you will, the whole point of the music is that it is personal and people can identify with it, do so in your own way.

I didn't mean to say new, I've actually had the cd for a while, just never really analyzed it. I meet Gerard and Mikey by accident when I was driving around Warped Tour looking for my step-daughter who hurt herself.

The problem with the lyrics is whether they are meant though. Like when I hear Bad Religion...you know Greg Graffin means what he is saying. I need to feel that to enjoy the music.

incidentally, have you heard the TBS tracks on iTunes?

Which ones?

Which ones?

God knows, heard them in passing at lunch today. I'll get a link in a bit....

Meh, if you want real suicide rock, go listen to Nirvana. It's pretty hard to argue that Kurt wasn't genuine.

I dont really like them i tihnk they are messy and soulless.

Meh, if you want real suicide rock, go listen to Nirvana. It's pretty hard to argue that Kurt wasn't genuine.
Thats crap he was killed by the CIA.

Thats crap he was killed by the CIA.

Nah, that was Tupac.

I'd have to say that My Chemical Romance is one of the best bands that have started since 2000.

I don't know if they're genuine or not, but I'd say they probably are .I'd say the band they remind me most of is AFI, and I believe AFI is genuine.

Nah, that was Tupac.
No he isnt dead he is still writing crap.
*points to he and Elton*

Thats crap he was killed by the CIA.
I thought that was supposed to be Courtney, not the CIA?

I thought that was supposed to be Courtney, not the CIA?

Nah: she just offered someone else $50,000 to do the job after El Duce passed on it. It wasn't her that pulled the trigger.

A “real” emo song.:p
http://emosong.ytmnd.com/

Meh, if you want real suicide rock, go listen to Nirvana. It's pretty hard to argue that Kurt wasn't genuine.

Maybe it's just me but does anyone else think Nirvana was incredibly overrated?

Maybe it's just me but does anyone else think Nirvana was incredibly overrated?

No, its certainly not just you. They were a band who just happened to be in the right place at the right time.

Maybe it's just me but does anyone else think Nirvana was incredibly overrated?Nope, it's just you. :)

No, its certainly not just you. They were a band who just happened to be in the right place at the right time.

They'd still rule even if they were obscure.

They'd still rule even if they were obscure.

I'm not saying they weren't a band of some worth, but the fact that they got catapulted to global megstardom was mainly the result of luck. If it hadn't been Nirvana that ended up spearheading the whole grunge movement and the re-acceptance of (non-metal) heaviocity by the mass media then it would have been someone else.

I'm not saying they weren't a band of some worth, but the fact that they got catapulted to global megstardom was mainly the result of luck. If it hadn't been Nirvana that ended up spearheading the whole grunge movement and the re-acceptance of (non-metal) heaviocity by the mass media then it would have been someone else.
How freaky would it be if it had been Hole that did it, and Kurt and Courtney still got married?

I couldn't care less if they're manufactured, or what genre they pretend to be in, I still think they're shite.

I mean, for fuck sake, hardly lyrical genius is it?

I'm nooooooooooot ooooooookaaaaaaaaaaay
I'm nooooooooooot ooooooookaaaaaaaaaaay
I'm nooooooooooot ooooooookaaaaaaaaaaay
I'm nooooooooooot ooooooookaaaaaaaaaaay
I'm nooooooooooot ooooooookaaaaaaaaaaay
I'm nooooooooooot ooooooookaaaaaaaaaaay



Yea, well done with that, must have taken forever :rolleyes:

Just one example doesn't mean all their lyrics are crap - I saw Goldfrapp on Later... last night, and the one abiding memory I have of it, apart from those weird dancers, were the lines 'La la la la la la la la la la la la', and 'Na na na na na na na na na na na na'.
Some of Goldfrapp's lyrics are wonderful, though.

I'm not saying they weren't a band of some worth, but the fact that they got catapulted to global megstardom was mainly the result of luck. If it hadn't been Nirvana that ended up spearheading the whole grunge movement and the re-acceptance of (non-metal) heaviocity by the mass media then it would have been someone else.

This much is true. But I don't think i'd like them any less if that were the case. So I don't think the quality of their music is overrated at all. :)

How freaky would it be if it had been Hole that did it, and Kurt and Courtney still got married?

lol :p

It probably would have been Mudhoney instead - after all, it was Sonic Youth that got Nirvana the record deal with Geffen, and SY were interested in helping to open up the Seattle scene...and both Mudhoney and SY had collaborated in the past.

Maybe the Smashing Pumpkins, as well.

There's a lot of options, but I think most of them are too "heavy" to reach the heights Nirvana did.

It probably would have been Mudhoney instead. Maybe the Smashing Pumpkins.

There's a lot of options, but I think most of them are too "heavy" to reach the heights Nirvana did.I can see the Smashing Pumpkins having done it. Nirvana has the rougher songs, but they also have the more beautiful songs. Mudhoney doesn't really have any beautiful songs, but the Smashing Pumpkins have a bunch of both.

I can see the Smashing Pumpkins having done it. Nirvana has the rougher songs, but they also have the more beautiful songs. Mudhoney doesn't really have any beautiful songs, but the Smashing Pumpkins have a bunch of both.

...then again, people outside of the indie scene could have just paid more attention to The Pixies first time round, and we'd never have needed this whole sordid grunge malarky...

...then again, people outside of the indie scene could have just paid more attention to The Pixies first time round, and we'd never have needed this whole sordid grunge malarky...I doubt it, I think the Pixies would've broken up whether or not people had paid attention to them in 1991. Black Francis was (and probably is) something of a control freak.

I can see the Smashing Pumpkins having done it. Nirvana has the rougher songs, but they also have the more beautiful songs. Mudhoney doesn't really have any beautiful songs, but the Smashing Pumpkins have a bunch of both.

You've got a point. Some of Mudhoney's work does have a "beautiful" undertone to it...but it's washed out with punk. :p

...then again, people outside of the indie scene could have just paid more attention to The Pixies first time round, and we'd never have needed this whole sordid grunge malarky...

I'm not trashing the Pixies here, because they're one of my favourite bands, but they're missing the whole "dirty" aspect that makes up Grunge (which I happen to like :p). They have undertones of it, sure...but for example, the only Nirvana album I really equate with the Pixies (and then, only sortof) is Nevermind.

You've got a point. Some of Mudhoney's work does have a "beautiful" undertone to it...but it's washed out with punk. :pYeah, like "Pokin' Around" - the guitar line is beautiful, and would have made a great sad song, but they punked it up.

Yeah, like "Pokin' Around" - the guitar line is beautiful, and would have made a great sad song, but they punked it up.

Yeah. and "Check out time" and "Good enough" from the same album.

EDIT- Actually, "Check out time" is perfect. That should have been a hit single.

I'm not trashing the Pixies here, because they're one of my favourite bands, but they're missing the whole "dirty" aspect that makes up Grunge (which I happen to like :p). They have undertones of it, sure...but for example, the only Nirvana album I really equate with the Pixies (and then, only sortof) is Nevermind.

Dirty may be a defining quality of grunge, but it was the quiet-loud-quiet-loud dynamic which made Nirvana into stars. What was their breakthrough single? Does it typify their dirty end of the spectrum or their dynamics end of things?


...of course, if there was any justice in this world Nirvana would have been historical footnotes and the 13 year old kids would all be wearing Rorschach (http://www.southern.com/southern/band/RORSC/biog) shirts instead, but we can only dream.

I know they had a definate metallic sound but I can't believe your talking about grunge and not mentioning Alice In Chains!

Just one example doesn't mean all their lyrics are crap - I saw Goldfrapp on Later... last night, and the one abiding memory I have of it, apart from those weird dancers, were the lines 'La la la la la la la la la la la la', and 'Na na na na na na na na na na na na'.
Some of Goldfrapp's lyrics are wonderful, though.
Most of Goldfrapp's lyrics are crap though: "Wolf lady sucks my brain" being a particularly fine example.

Dirty may be a defining quality of grunge, but it was the quiet-loud-quiet-loud dynamic which made Nirvana into stars. What was their breakthrough single? Does it typify their dirty end of the spectrum or their dynamics end of things?

It's both. It's heavier than anything the Pixies did without being oppressively so.

I know they had a definate metallic sound but I can't believe your talking about grunge and not mentioning Alice In Chains!

That's because they were precisely the band I had in mind when I was thinking about bands from that scene that were too heavy to become megastars.

I always thought it was a shame Cell didn't have more of a career, really.

Thrice, My Chemical Romance, The Used, Taking Back Sunday? Not emo, kiddies, move along. ;)

Thrice, My Chemical Romance, The Used, Taking Back Sunday? Not emo, kiddies, move along. ;)

Time to beat some youngsters around the collective head with the old Moss Icon 7"ers again?

My Chemical Romance's image is definitely for show, you can tell. They have too much fun to really be emo. They do have good music, though (when not live at Hard Rock Orlando), so who cares?

MCR= Untalented group of loser kids putting on an image that only appeals to those teens who are pissed at their parents and call themselves "emo."