Album Review: Gerard Way – Hesitant Alien
Rating : 3.5/5
It’s very easy to understand why so much apprehension surrounded the release of Hesitant Alien. Many fans held their breath upon hearing the news that ex-My Chemical Romance frontman was launching a solo album which would see him ditching the morbid dramatics of The Black Parade, for a bright blue suit and electrifyingly red hair. With more than a decade of worldwide success under his belt with the New Jersey alt-rockers, it was always going to be difficult for vocalist Gerard Way to justify the transition to an eighties Glam-Rock and Britpop influenced album. We love it, though.
Hesitant Alien is certainly something different to other music we hear nowadays. In interviews, Gerard Way claims the intention behind such a drastic change was primarily, “to make one-hundred percent uncompromised art.” The captivating guitar solos, theatrical concepts and intensity of the My Chemical Romance cult has been stripped away and replaced by a much more raw, ‘artistic’ sound. The album is characterised by distorted vocals, and lengthy beats. The two lead singles ‘Action Cat’ and ‘No Shows’ are somewhat uneasy sounding radio singles compared to the previously addictive choruses such as ‘Teenagers’, yet are still incredibly catchy and pleasing to the ears.
It’s important to listen to Hesitant Alien as a concept in itself; it needs to be considered from a fresh viewpoint, without comparing it to a band which is clearly in Gerard Way’s past. It’s clear that the album is symbology for the new start Way is thriving for, and quite frankly, what better way to do it? The album is certainly a slow burner, but the more it’s listened to, the more Way’s musical interpretation, influence and skill can be appreciated. The grimy rifts and electric vocals of ‘Zero Zero’ are reminiscent of an early Radiohead mixed with Placebo. The album itself seems to have many influences that the vocalist has been yearning to experiment with. For instance, ‘Get The Gang Together’ incorporates a saxophone and congo percussion intermingled with guitar shredding: think old school British rock such as Sex Pistols, mixed with the likes of David Bowie.
The album introduces Gerard Way as an entirely different artist – yet it’s still as lyrically hypnotic as ever, and still carries undertones of his previous musical rendezvous. ‘Action Cat’ produces thought provoking social commentary: “We want television bodies that we can’t keep/ We have battles in the dark when she falls asleep.” ‘Bureau’, as it’s opening number, differs from the pace of the rest of the album, yet somehow manages to fit in with the whole thing.
Overall the album isn’t for My Chemical Romance fans as much as it is Gerard Way fans. It is clear from the onset that Hesitant Alien was never intended to be. As a concept it’s certainly different; Way has reinvigorated and brought together a mix of influences and woven them into something that’s rather genius.
Although it seems Way has ditched the sounds of My Chemical Romance completely, we still get tingles in our spines listening to the music he continues to produce.
(originally posted 16th November 2014 www.in-bloom-music.co.uk)
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