'Danger Days: The True Lives of the Fabulous Killjoys'

Gerard Way's artistic charisma is back with his band My Chemical Romance's fourth studio album, Danger Days: The True Lives of the Fabulous Killjoys. The concept behind the album is the lives and adventures of the band members' four rebellion alter-egos, namely Fun Ghoul (Frank Iero), Jet-Star (Ray Toro), Party Poison (Gerard Way), Kobra Kid (Mikey Way), and their guide Dr. Death Defying (voiced by Steve ‘Righ?' Montaño). All four revolt against the evil corporation Better Living Industries and its leader Korse (played in videos by Grant Morrison).

   Throughout the album, the band shows their anger towards almost anything that is wrong in the world, such as the song "Na Na Na", that states "everybody wants to change the world  / but no one wants to die." Although it is an average MCR song, "Na Na Na" contains more outrageous lyrics (finally, here's an artist who isn't seemingly in the music business to be commercialized and just to make money, but rather to bring and raise social issues and gain awareness).

   If someone close to you ran away from you and you are still bitter, the next track "Bulletproof Heart" is for you. The song has some heart-wrenching lyrics, and is possibly the best track of the album; "would you destroy something perfect in order to make it beautiful" is the question next single "SING" asks, with words such as "sing it out for the world / sing about everyone that you left behind… raise your voice every single time they try and shut your mouth"—seemingly pointed towards social injustices and freedom of speech. "Yeah, you got to be what tomorrow needs" is the right kind of motivation the new generation to bring up the change this world needs.

   "Planetary (GO!)" is a surprising next track with a fresh new sound, while "The Only Hope for Me Is You" is another emotional song against global terrorism, natural disasters and their aftermath. With words such as, "What if we learned off all the people burning….Purifying flame….I'll say it's okay…I know you can tell…And though you can see me smile….I still think of the guns they sell," this song is also dedicated to the victims of disasters and terrorism.

   "Party Poison" is the next track, which is much like "SING" in lyrical context because it talks about rebellion. "Save Yourself, I'll Hold Them Back" is another angry and dark song; :S/C/A/R/E/C/R/O/W" and "Summertime" are smooth rock songs that bring the band back to its roots.

   "DESTROYA" wakens you after two soft rock tunes with loud beats and words such as "you don't believe in God….I don't believe in luck…they don't believe in us….but I believe we're the enemy,"—lyrics that literally shake you up. "The Kids from Yesterday" is another song with sociopolitical theme, while "Vampire Money" is the band's take of the Vampire obsession of Hollywood. This song is reportedly written for the band's refusal to be featured in the Twilight Saga: New Moon soundtrack, and the band's disgust towards the offer.

   It is a courageous, bold, sincere and honest attempt by MCR to mirror the evils of the society and an attempt of persuasion on listeners to create change. If the album doesn't turn you into an outlaw, the least it'll surely do is make you think about the horrors of the world. The album makes the fans of the band's three-year wait worthwhile; simply listening to it will make you a MCR fan if you already aren't.