27 Albums That Shaped the First 27 Years of My Life, #19: My Chemical Romance - The Black Parade

As I quickly approach my 27th birthday (an age, coincidentally, that many musicians met their own mortality), I have been thinking about the role that music has played in my life. I have not played an instrument for nearly sixteen years and have never been in a band, but I would still consider myself an audiophile. The 26000 songs on my hard drive would agree with me as well.

Because of all those things, I thought it would be as good a time as any to compile my list of the 27 albums that most shaped these first 27 years of my life. Starting Friday January 31, I will be posting one album from the list every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday until we reach #1 just before my birthday.

Let me make one thing abundantly clear: I am not saying that these are the 27 greatest albums of all time. I am not so arrogant to believe that my personal opinion is the definitive voice on music. I like what I like. Hopefully you will be able to unearth some gems from my list. If not, that is alright. These songs and albums are important to me regardless of anyone’s opinions of them.

#19: My Chemical Romance – The Black Parade
Release Date: October 24, 2006
When I first heard the album: November 2006

Why I loved it then: We’re getting to the point in this countdown where I am (or was) in love with each of these albums, so it’s hard to rank them. But it must be done! Words cannot express how much I loved this album in 2006. I thought Gerard Way was pretty much the coolest guy ever. I wanted the band jacket he had in the “Welcome to the Black Parade” video, and I would rush home from college to catch the end of TRL to see the “Famous Last Words” video. I even considered bleaching my hair like he did during that time period. I love music that conveys emotion, and I love albums that tell a story. The Black Parade had both.

Why I still love it now: If Queen was in their prime in the mid 2000s, their album would probably sound a lot like this. It takes a concept, expands on it, and does it with such conviction and aplomb that it is nearly impossible not to be filled with awe and wonder while listening. I like the album’s first two singles (“Welcome to the Black Parade” and “Famous Last Words”) significantly more than the rest of the album, but that doesn’t make the rest of the album filler. Those two songs are just THAT good.

Lingering Lyric: “Do or die, you'll never make me/Because the world will never take my heart/Go and try, you'll never break me/We want it all, we wanna play this part”
Top Tracks: Welcome to the Black Parade, I Don’t Love You, Famous Last Words

Previous Entries
27. Avalon - In a Different Light
26. The Dangerous Summer - Golden Record
25. Just Surrender - If These Streets Could Talk
24. The Lumineers - The Lumineers
23. Relient K - Two Lefts Don't Make a Right... But Three Do
22. Better Luck Next Time - Third Time's a Charm
21. Linkin Park - Minutes to Midnight
20. ZOEgirl - Life