Album Details

• Artist: My Chemical Romance
• Album: Life On The Murder Scene
• Label: Reprise
• Year of Release: 2006
• ME Rating:
• Reviewed by: MusicCritic on 2011-03-21

Never before has such a comprehensive package been released by a band with only two albums to their name. Life on the Murder Scene is a live CD and two DVDs, including a video diary and a barrage of live performances from every venue imaginable.

The diary is the key to it all, showing My Chemical Romance grow from fledgling New Jersey based punks to goth superheroes. The connecting thread throughout the video - and the thread that holds the band itself together – is their absolute belief in their cause. MCR don't think their important, they know it. And don't try to convince them otherwise.

Delusions of grandeur aside, Life on the Murder Scene is an interesting look at a self-destructive band that probably never should have made it out of their friends' basements. If you think that such a young band couldn't possibly have that much interesting to say, consider this: Within weeks of becoming one of the biggest bands in North America, singer Gerard Way dove headfirst into drug and alcohol addiction that nearly took his life. Only weeks after that, Way was stone cold sober and the band continued their meteoric rise. This is just one of the stories revealed in the diary that make the band seem more like the comic book characters that grace their albums' artwork.

The live performances are surprisingly tight from a band with such a chaotic sound. Way's voice holds up despite high pitched shrieking that would shred the vocal chords of a lesser man. Not surprisingly, the band's best performance is of their best song, 'I'm Not Okay (I Promise).'

My Chemical Romance are a long way from being a legendary band, which is what this package would have you believe they are. Despite that, Life on the Murder Scene will be a great landmark if the band achieves the kind of longevity they seem headed toward.

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