The Black Parade

I’m not the target demo for this album, and I definitely came in with that in mind. I can appreciate the emotional content of the album, but the musical content isn’t for me.

pop punk bangers, and so many of them. Nostalgia and BLACK PARADE makes this an easy 4.

Funny I got this today. Yesterday I started working on an arrangement of the title track in a completely different style. So I'm very familiar with the music. I like it. The emo label is misleading. It's too tidy. It sounds more like Green Day's pop punk with Muse's over-the-top drama than the unhinged alt-rock that emo is.

J’avais TELLEMENT d’appréhensions avant de lancer l’album, mais en vrai c’est bon! C’est le genre d’oeuvre qui a mauvaise presse à cause de la communauté, à la Rick & Morty et Undertale (que je suis en train de jouer pour la première fois, c’est vraiment bon guys!)

This wasn't bad but it didn't do much for me, either.

A truly incredible no-skip album.

I'm crying how emo this is! I love it. The emo boat passed me by even though I was the perfect age to love MCR, though I know several of their songs by now. For all the flack they got in the mid aughts, MCR created an extremely catchy and well-rounded album in The Black Parade. It's no wonder why they are so beloved. Maybe some lyrics are cheesy in the year 2026, but I don't mind. MCR is definitely known for being in that alternative area of pop, punk, and rock, and I was surprised to hear they went into hard rock, too! They even went a little seventies glam, though I knew that without putting words to it. My final thoughts are that MCR's appreciation is well deserved and that this is a good album to submit.

My Chemical Romance was a short-lived but highly influential act. They released only two albums during the peak of emo music, and yet are considered absolute authorities in the space. Both of those albums from that time period are user-submitted albums, which only solidifies their influence. Furthermore, the album "The Black Parade" is one of the best known emo albums of all time. And yet another layer deep, "Welcome to the Black Parade" is one of the most epic emo songs in term of scale, presentation, and popular reach. It sets an unbeatable tone for the entire album and truly stands on its own as an anthem. Even the marching band attire of the "The Black Parade" found its way into the fashion of the time and is still an immediately recognizable symbol of this album. "The Black Parade" is of course a concept album, surprising absolutely no one who was alive to witness My Chemical Romance's flair for the dramatics and theatrics. Essentially, the story is one of a man ("The Patient") who is dying of cancer and is visited by Death and a host of other characters who serve as personifications to help him through the final transitions from life into death. On the topic of WHY I think this album was so influential is because My Chemical Romance really pushed the emo envelope on this album. It has elements of metal as well as other alt rock genres such as pop, hard rock, punk and glam rock. I was not a huge follower of emo music at the time of its popularity (I was busy being neck-deep in classic rock) but My Chemical Romance and "The Black Parade" were such a sensation, they were difficult to miss, even for me. Twenty years later, the long-lasting success of this album has not faded; people still come back to it, be it for the first time or the hundredth time. Strong production, genre-defying tracks, and a knack for not being afraid to be larger than life make it clear to see why.

I'm genuinely surprised by how much I enjoyed this one. I really didn't connect with the other My Chemical Romance album on the list and just found it quite flat. But 'The Black Parade' really held my attention. Maybe having a concept to work around really worked for them, or maybe they'd just matured as artiste by this point and were able to add a bit more variety and more dynamics. Either way I really liked how they approached this album and will likely listen again.

So Helena isn’t on this? I’m out.

This isn't for me, but I see why it was popular when it was released, it really feels of it's time.

Good album I like a concept and this is a great concept

I'm incredibly surprised they're not on the original list

I can see why an entire generation lost their ever-loving minds over this album. Slick production values, tight hooks, and infectious grooves powered this album to the heights of the charts. It's this hyper-attention to production that turns me off though. As I was listening, I could see the engineer staring at me, anticipating my reactions at every turn. Too distracting to fully enjoy.

Getting this, The Devil and God Are Raging Inside Me, and Untrue in the space of 10 days is wild cause they're all in my top 10 albums of all time probably. Thanks for sending this

One of the most amazing concept albums of all time 5/5 obviously I’m not a millennial, or emo and I don’t like how their fans interpret their version of common people but this is still amazing

Jo men

The first time I heard the title track, I really liked the intro. It started off nice and then it became one of those alt-rock 2000s kinda tracks. Listening to it again today, I felt the whole thing worked better and so did a number of the tracks. But you can hear the autotune pretty blatantly, and that turns me off to listening to it again and again. Lyric wise I can see why the emo fans gravitate towards MCR. I liked it, but I can't give this a super positive review on the basis of the autotune alone. Top tracks: Title track, "House of Wolves," "Teenagers"

Rocks properly with moments that sound as if they are the inheritors of Queen (not nec a plus). Not hard to hear the appeal (big hooks and big beats and youthful energy to match big youthful emotions); one's only issue is that this just isn't one's thing. Could replace late Aerosmith record on list proper or maybe Def Leppard — yes, that would be fine.

All bangers. This record dropped at a weird time for me and had it not been so amazingly perfect, I probably wouldn't have noticed it. I'm not a big fan of the band generally but this is basically perfect.

Idk how to explain it but it’s like a mediocre album with one big song that’s really good except the one really good song is every song and it’s a great album But yeah it’s really good, better than I remembered

Love it. Just on the brilliance of Welcome to the Black Parade it could be a 5-star. 9/10

My Chemical Romance definitely belonged on the 1001. Emo as a whole is very underrepresented, and MCR may be the most successful band from the genre. "The Black Parade" is conceptually great, and at its best on "Welcome to the Black Parade." However, it's more uneven in sound and quality than "Three Cheers for Sweet Revenge." "The Black Parade" dabbles too much in glam, though "Teenagers" is entertaining. In the end, my favorite MCR songs are "Helena" and "I'm Not Okay," and that energy is mostly lacking on "The Black Parade."

At one point in my life i thought MCR was just like all the other third grade shit going round in the early 90s. I was pretty wrong there.

Alternative rock, emo, pop-punk, hard rock, punk rock, progressive rock. Me ha gustado bastante. Venga, vinilo a uno de esta nueva tanda.

Rock: Emo, Pop Punk. Creía que me iba a gustar más.

This album broke emo - no one could do it better, ever again. It’s a black-eyelined-sin that this album didn’t make the original list. Its echoes have transcended so many forms of culture, not the least of which has been music. My favourite song is Dead! (shout out to Guitar Hero 2) but Welcome is the genre high point for emo pop, so I’ll hear arguments. What I won’t hear is anything less than a perfect rating.

February 20, 2026 HL: "Welcome to the Black Parade", "Mama", "Famous Last Words" My penchant for bombastic rock of the 2000s (Green Day, Muse, The Darkness), as well as the 'title track', led me to believe I would enjoy MCR more than I did. My sincere apologies to scene kids, both past and present. I didn't know "Teenagers" was by them, so that's neat! It's annoying as hell, but that doesn't equal a bad song per se

Heard of them of course but never actually listened. I'm too old and it is too emo. That said I actually did like it pretty well. I'm suprising myself by rating this album four stars. Obviously a solid share absolutely should have been on the main list.

+1 because they are from NJ.

Iconic and timeless.

The cancer ballad was the only weak point in an otherwise pitch perfect production

I've heard about this band for a while, so I was curious when I got this album, but it's definitely a "not bad, but not for me" type of situation. I've liked some of the emo stuff that I've gotten on this list, but I just didn't connect with this one as quite as much 3/5

Super overrated. Have always felt this could be in my wheelhouse, but may is it boring. 1.5/5

cool album - probably slightly overrated imo

It's not what I expected My Chemical Romance to be. I'm not sure it gripped me though.

I like what they do, I just don't like how they do it. Very much following Green Day's "American Idiot" template, and in some ways sharper, but I'm not sure it all works all that well and it's cloying and cheesy in places. I guess at least they gave a voice to a lot of disenfranchised kids.

Quintessential emo/pop-punk album. Got to see this live about a month ago in all its theatrical glory... and it was amazing.! I'm not sure how many times ive listened to this, but every time I am singing along with all the words. So... a great submission in my opinion! 5 out of 5!

Ett av min äldsta dotters favoritband så jag har fått lyssna min beskärda del av dem under hennes uppväxt. Inte katastrof men inte så jävla bra heller. En svag trea.

Favorite songs: Teenagers, Welcome to the Black Parade, House of Wolves, Famous Last Words, I Don't Love You, This is How I Disappear, Dead!, The Sharpest Lives Least favorite songs: Cancer 4/5

Easily one of the book’s most glaring omission of the 2000s, which most likely is only because of the writers’ personal biases. Just a modern rock classic

I still hate pop-punk, it’s just that sometimes I forget that. MCR did everything they could to make me forget, and the variety in dynamics, instrumentation and melodies was a refreshing take on the pop-punk/emo genre. This record was huge and deservedly so. But even with a nostalgic lens, and this album being one of the first in my own collection, I feel very little for it. 'Mama' is a strong song in the second half of the album, but there is a reason why I always turned the cd off after the title track as a kid - and still feel compelled to do so as an adult. 7/10, but feeling generous today.

Nostalgia might play in, but I enjoyed listening to The Black Parade again immensely. I probably can’t count the number of times it’s been blasted through the speakers of my teenage room. It seems like way too ambitious of a project for MCR to pull through, but they somehow manage. The title track is the obvious main event, but the rest of the album (especially the opening half and “Famous Last Words”) is strong. Nostalgia might be the factor that ends up making this a clear 5 for me. Obvious mistake for this not to be included originally.

Queen does American Idiot?

Couldn’t get more than 4 songs in before I was sickened by how terrible the music is.

When I was in middle school, if you were a loser who didn't like radio pop/rap but was too wimpy to listen to actually out-there music, you either listened to nu metal, or this. I cringe when I look back on my nu metal phase, but I'm glad I at least wasn't into this. I can't stand this overdramatic theater kid bullshit. Rock operas in general were one of the worst things to ever happen to the history of music. And it's even worse when they're made by bands who make music for teenage girls with a persecution complex. I hate the forced over the top dramatics, the attempts to be anthemic. The melodrama. I know I keep saying this but way too many albums on this user list are so full of these overblown theatrics. Everything about it is just so fake. I also hate that people call this "pop punk" when it's anything but. Not even remotely punk and not even remotely fun, or catchy. It takes itself way too seriously. The fact that this album (and MCR in general) has been rehabilitated in the eyes of the public is a travesty. Let's just admit it's pathetic bullshit for teenage girls and nothing more.

I may have had my share of cringeworthy phases in my youth, but I’m glad this wasn’t one of them.

Teenagers indeed scare the shit outta me.

So, someone’s already deep-dived into 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die - heard Pink Floyd's The Wall, heard several Queen albums, heard punk-rock, heard Franz Ferdinand, heard Muse - and then nominates The Black Parade as a missing entry on that list? I know this album means the world to a certain generation, but musically, The Black Parade just brings nothing new. This is Queen cosplay with Offspring power chords, Boston-style layering, a Franz Ferdinand strut, and some Muse-lite drama. Just a (black) parade of overused tricks and predictable songwriting. For all the volume and ambition, I didn’t hear much originality. I get the nostalgia, but on musical merit alone, I can’t say this belongs on the same shelf as the albums it imitates. It’s not offensive or unlistenable, it’s just not necessary. At least not outside its original moment.

I don’t like this. I feel like I have to defend or justify that stance for some reason? Maybe it’s not as bad as I was expecting, and I’m defending my own preconceptions of what I thought MCR were like… but it’s still not my thing. I think the song writing is strong enough to outweigh my basic dislike of the genre and push me towards a neutral.

I’m a casual MCR fan who enjoys quite a few of their songs. I think they are a unique act that stands out in their genre. I think this is a worthy addition to the list.

I remember when this was released, my sister was a huge fan. I always liked this album. Full of energy, incredible vocals and interesting political undertones. "Teenagers" and "Welcome to the Black Parade" were huge hits.

MCR was a band that was past my era, but this was definitely a solid album.

This is not a 5-star album, but my 15-year-old me will thank me. I thank you for picking this one to complement the original list.

I can't believe this wasn't included in the original 1001? Not that's it's on my Faves list or anything but it was hugely popular and influencial.

Too bored by this record to even write a proper review. I will mostly cut and paste quotes from its Wikipedia page, then... " Dan Martin from NME compared the album to Green Day's American Idiot, positing that "it's a piece of work that will challenge every preconception you ever had about the people who made it." " Er... sorry to rain on your (black) parade, but every preconception I had about that sort of overblown-to-ridiculous-proportions "emo rock" have just been confirmed when I spun this record filled to the brim with saccharine vocal lines -- which I did not merely find quite flat on a harmonic level, but also often actively annoying in their forced delivery -- whether screamed or sung. Guess that critics praising this thing, whether now or at the time, have been impressed by the rock opera storyline and the admittedly significant seventies influences (a bonus half-point for that). But in doing so, they sort of hailed this record as a platonic ideal for the "emo" tag that can't possibly represent the whole picture. More quotes to finish, not joining the wagons of critics heaping praise on this record: " The Observer gave the album a one star review, saying, "...it reeks of a band with ideas above its station."  Theon Weber of Stylus praised the album's use of Queen influences, but went on to summarize the album as "...a goofy record of bubblegum punk, with Queen lapping at its edges and enough good tracks to justify the smattering of empty screamfests." " Empty screamfests. Couldn't have phrased it better myself. 1.5/5 for the purposes of this list of essential albums, rounded up to 2 6.5/10 for more general purposes. Number of albums from the original list I find relevant enough to be mandatory listens: 465 Albums from the original list I *might* include in mine later on: 288 Albums from the original list I won't include in mine: 336 ---- Number of albums from the users list I find relevant enough to be mandatory listens: 19 Albums from the users list I *might* select for mine later on: 31 Albums from the users list I won't select for mine: 63 (including this one) ------- Émile, j'ai enfin trouvé le temps de te répondre ! Désolé pour le retard ! Va voir sous la review du "Funeral Dress" de Wussy au dessus !

The Black Parade? You mean My Chemical Romance's magnum opus? An album that defined an angst-riddled generation? The emo album of all time despite being pop punk at best? Yeah that's fine. CONTENDER FOR THE LIST: Yes, you dolt. Yes. Why the fuck would it not be.

This album is an absolute gem, a blast to listen to and sing along with, and just overall a fun way of dealing with what teenagers would consider "edgy" themes. MCR takes those cringey feelings of youth and puts them into interesting songs that make it all palatable.

I never listened to much emo back when it was big. This is the first one I've heard that I unabashedly love. They absolutely nailed the alchemy on this, way more verve than any of their peers

Great album

Pop-punk album which I guess is culturally important in the emo 21st century. I thought I would really dislike it but it's pretty fine. It annoys me that they are always trying to reach that anthemic singalong bit. OK but not for me.

For a band whose name I've known for 20+ years, I'm surprised I didn't recognise a single on this. Even the big hits were things I don't recall ever hearing. I'm sure I've heard them before on something but not a single song I thought "oh THAT song". Fascinating. I do know this is one of the big pop punk albums. It just sounds like the 2000s. Surprised it isn't on the OG list. Once again showing that the OG authors just didn't know anything about pop punk music at all despite it being massive. Guess it they needed to add a 100th Britpop album instead. My personal rating: 4/5 My rating relative to the list: 4/5 Should this have been included on the original list? Yes.

4.5

I love The Black Parade, it's an absolute riot of an album, it's camp, it's vaudevillian, it's impassioned, it's angry, it's funny, it tells a decent story, and it rocks pretty hard. I'm not one of those people who say they found themselves in this album or in emo music or anything, I was never really into any of the emo scene properly but I enjoyed Three Cheers For Sweet Revenge and saw them live before they did this, and it blew all of the cliches about them and their associated emo reputation out of the water because it's iconic and positioned them as something unique, whatever they did before or after. The titular track is brilliant but I adore the last four proper tracks; Sleep is thunderous, Teenagers is hilarious, Disenchanted is so raw and heartfelt and furiously punches you in the face, then Famous Last Words is a stage-show finale/final act, a spectacular closer to something I still listen to on the regular and suspect I will for a long time. Production is strong without being overbearing, it's glam rock turned up to 11 for the modern age, easy 5/5.

I’ve tried listening to this more than once now. Just not my thing.

The Smashing Pumpkins of the mid-2000s. Yes,i do mean it like that.

My bangs fell over my eye and put heavy eyeliner on my eyes for me while listening to this album

Hell yeah. The most baffling exclusion from the list save for "In The Aeroplane Over The Sea". MCR is the quintessential 2000s band. When you think emo, early internet, aughties music, or literally just the concept of black clothes - this is the first thing that comes to mind. 10/10, and shame on Robert Dimery and his blatant anti-emo bias.

I was looking forward to this one but it fell a little flat. I wonder if I would have liked it more if I was in a different place in my life.

Another ridiculous snub, I have absolutely no idea how this still isn’t in the 1001 It’s a landmark album that still holds up incredibly well, and is the undisputed highlight of the ‘emo’ genre. It’s theatrical, energetic and packed full of hooks, and every single song on it is a winner.

Just perfection. I was onboard from Three Cheers, but this is on a other level. I was shocked by wasn't on the original list, and it's gotta be the single biggest omission for me. I nearly added it myself.

A formative album for a few of my friends who were a bit younger than me, and had maybe not really listened to albums when this came out. The emo "American Idiot", which I mean as a compliment! Well worthy of inclusion in the next edition of the book - in place of any one of a bunch of albums I disliked!

Stone cold classic, and totally unexpected. This should have been on the list. It's a talented emo band who channeled an incredible moment of inspiration for an album not only head and shoulders above the rest of their output, but which legitimized the genre. They created a sound, borrowing from Queen, which transcended the scene and has not staled 20 years later.

When I was

This album, told through a few stories: Sitting in the car waiting for the bus (since the stop was nowhere near my house), "Welcome To the Black Parade" came on the radio, since it was white hot at the time. My mom, who'd probably heard MCR in passing (I really liked "Three Cheers"), noted, "Wow, this sounds a lot like Queen". I, a 14/15 year-old shit head, was like, "No fucking way." Looking back, of course it does. The anthemic vocals of Gerard Way, the Brian May-esque guitar playing of Ray Toro. Like, obviously the whole record is shooting for something like Queen. It's also got other influences, notably, "Ballroom Blitz" for the emo generation in "House Of Wolves", and the cock-rawk school shooter anthem that is "Teenagers", but it drapes them all in a black Thursday shirt and makes them their own. There was a girl, at the time, who I didn't realize was into me (we were all teenagers once). I hopped on AIM, after school, after she burned me a copy of this record, and she asked me what I thought. I had listened to it once through, and gave her an honest review of "Eh, about a 3.5/5." She promptly logged off and did not talk to me again. For real! Sorry Kelly Rose. Time and distance has shown me: you don't get an album that turns an entire genre on its head every day, and you're absolutely right. Hope you're doing well. Favorite tracks: "Famous Last Words", "Welcome To the Black Parade", "Dead!"

Sorry but I always hated MCR for some reason, even saw them live once supporting muse and my opinion didn’t change, can see why a lot of folk like them, and probably would hate my Favourite band, but sorry can’t give this more than a 2.

It's a pretty solid album overall. The title track in particular is pretty great. There's a few not so great songs sprinkled in. I'd give it a 3.5 if I could. As for now I'm giving it a 3 because honestly I think this album is a bit overrated and not even their best album.

Can anyone say, GUITAR HERO? Welcome to the Black Parade is a great song. Definitely more on the harder side of rock, and I'm glad it wasn't a rock ballad. Rest of the album is pretty strong as well.

This is pretty great. Definitely has a perfect sing along energy that works well with high energy rock style here. I do like that they can definitely bring the noise as well as hold back the tempo at key points. The album is solid from start to finish... though Disappear, Black Parade, and Teenagers probably my favorites. Adding this to my music library, will listen again.

It contains two all time great songs. And while it's not my culture, it feels so culturally important I'm shocked realising this wasn't on the original list.

I honestly don't get why this was left off the main list. It was the anthem for a whole culture in the 2000s and has great crossover rock appeal. The title track is like the weakest hit out of the album imo because dead, teenagers, i dont love you are all even better. It's the peak of emo rock before it became annoying screaming like bring me the horizon. Thank god 9/11 happened because we wouldn't have this album without it.

Better than expected

This is time capsule fodder right here. For one moment in time this emo craze captured the youth in its histrionic chokehold and squeezed until our ears bled. I was a youth at this time and I mainly avoided the mainstream, but when I did sample from the emo buffet I preferred Fallout Boy.

My Chemical Romance and Fall Out Boy are the two bands that really tell you if someone grew up a millennial in the early 00s. This whole album is more of a nostalgic vibe than it is a good standalone album. It’s a bit long, the emo-pop sound goes more emo on some and more pop on the ones that are fun to listen to. This album has some solid creative marks and some overall really good songs. Not sure if this whole album will hold up over the years but some songs will. 6.8/10

Surprisingly catchy and expressive with a compelling concept. This has a big sound that I don't hate, but the vocals are hard to like, running the gambit from soaring and theatrical to snotty and annoying. But even if it's not my thing, I can see that it's really a high water mark for its genre and a significant work for its time. Totally should have made the original list. Fave Songs: This Is How I Disappear, Cancer, Famous Last Words

I haven't heard a good epic concept album in a long time (historically speaking). My Chemical Romance did it! Glad to have been introduced!

I have enjoyed some isolated tunes from this group, but never an album. This album was well worth the listen.

We all know I'm a sucker for a rock opera.

Another group I swore was on the list. No turns out I must be thinking of The Chemical Brothers. I wasn’t excited to listen until the first song started. Wow that is good! I’m a sucker for a concept album and this is a great one! You’re right… I should listen to this death-themed album before I die! Terrific!

Never thought I'd really like an Emo album. This one is very good. Forgive me for my prejudices.

I was a little old for this when it came out, but enjoyed catching up today. Emo rock or punk pop aren't really my thing, but this is decent. Apparently it's a concept album. Rating: 3.5 Playlist track: Welcome to the Black Parade Date listened: 28/08/24

should not be on this list

Alternative rock, emo, pop-punk, hard rock, punk rock, progressive rock. Me ha gustado bastante. Venga, vinilo a uno de esta nueva tanda.

The title song really sums up this band; an atmospheric opener with so much potential and ideas then it instantly breaks down into the most generic high school garage rock possible. 2.4

Rating: 9/10 Best songs: This is how I disappear, The sharpest lives, Welcome to the black parade, House of wolves, Teenagers, Disenchanted, Famous last words

Enjoyably theatrical

Fantastic! Never heard the album before but I've heard My Chemical Romance before. This is now a favorite of mine. Instant love. Thanks to the submitter! The whole album is really great. Love many of the songs but the ones that standout the most are: Dead!, Welcome to the Black Parade, Famous Last Words, Teenagers, The Sharpest Lives, I Don't Love You, Cancer, Mama, Disenchanted Just so much good on this album. Might be one of my favorites of the user submissions. 4.5

Solid.

This album definitely should have been on the original list. It is a genre defining and decade defining. I was in high school when this came out and though I wasn’t into this kind of music, it was inescapable. It is a theatrical glam and prog rock inspired pop punk masterpiece. Listening to it now is interesting because it really stands on its own. It’s much more ambitious than other pop punk albums. Of course it’s over the top, but it fulfills its aesthetic goals perfectly. Its search for meaning in a world broken in the wake of 9/11 and the war on terror perfectly encapsulates the spirit of the time as well.

I get it now. I finally get it with this band. That's not necessarily an endorsement or an admission I've fallen in love. But I get it now. Maybe this is the least emo output these fellas released upon the masses.