This series looks into many different genres from around the world. This Flashback Friday, the spotlight hits "Conventional Weapons," a compilation album by American rock band My Chemical Romance. The release of this album was more unique than many may be used to, but it definitely pulled in the audience.
The release of this album spanned from October 2012 to February 2013. After announcing the project in September 2012, the album consists of ten unreleased songs that were recorded before the making and release of their fourth studio album, "Danger Days: The True Lives of Fabulous Killjoys." The ten songs were released in pairs of two through five EPs, with vinyls also being offered similarly. Although the album was released in five separate EPs, all five were collectible in a limited edition box that could be ordered.
The first EP, "Number One," was released on October 30, 2012. Its first song, “Boy Divison," sets the bar for the project high as its hard-hitting rock beat fills the air, followed by “Tomorrow’s Money,” which gives off an early 2000s rock sound.
The second EP, “Number Two,” released on November 23, 2012, dives into a different sound, providing flowy and chilling vocals at the beginning of its first song, “Ambulance.” Following this song, we get the echoes of the second release, “Gun” which provides catchy lyrics and a soft yet intense beat.
The third EP, released on December 18, 2012, dived into a ballad-like sound. “Number Three” kicks off its release with “The World is Ugly,” a beautiful ballad with vocals to die for. Its second song, “The Light Behind Your Eyes,” also keeps the repeated balled-like sound, with lyrics that touch the heart.
On January 8, 2013, they started the new year with the release of “Number Four,” which was fairly different from the ballads of the previous EP. “Kiss The Ring" and “Make Room!!!!” made their way to the stage, providing My Chemical Romance’s pop-punk original sound.
The compilation album’s last EP, “Number Five,” was released on February 5, 2013, returning to an intense rock beat, with “Surrender the Night,” followed by “Burn Bright,” which ended the album with a wonderful drum and guitar rhythm in tune with fierce vocals.
Before the release of this album, guitarist Frank Iero shared the story of how this project came to be in a blog post on the official My Chemical Romance website.
Below is a snippet of the blog post:
"After almost a year of beating ourselves up, we ended up shelving those ill-fated songs and reconnected with Rob Cavallo and Doug McKean to salvage our band and make what would become Danger Days.
To kill the misconception, I don't think the songs we wrote before Danger Days are bad songs by any means. In fact, I kinda think some of them are among my favorites we have ever written. A lot of them are kinda fucking rad....they just so happened to have been created in the wrong place, at the wrong time, and we as their parents were not ready to raise them just yet...and so they sat and waited.
They hung out on my iPod and every few months I would visit them and think '...damn.' At first, they gave me mixed feelings...I liked the songs but I couldn't help associating them with the hard times from which they were created. It made me a bit uneasy. But as time passed I began to enjoy them more and more, and was able to look upon the past a bit more fondly. They were my secret playlist, only for me. Like some unknown band that I discovered and loved, and that few others in the world had ever heard.
The more time went by, the more I toyed with the fantasy of releasing those songs. What would people think? Would they like them as much as I do now? Or was our first instinct of locking them away, never to be heard from again, the right move?"
The release of this album was impactful to both the band and the audience. It will definitely be one that can never be forgotten.
