The evolution of a favorite album

As with most people I love listening to music.

I like a wide range of musical styles.

Much more now than when I was younger.

I love the music of the 70's. Which is to be expected of course, seeing as those were the years I was a teenager and also a young bride.

Over the years I have learned to love a far greater range of music than I would have ever thought possible when I was younger.

In fact, thanks to my dad (long story) I have even learned to like quite a lot of Country music.

I don't like it well enough to actually listen to the Country stations on the radio.

I could listen for an hour and hear maybe only one song that I like.

I really, really like Toby Keith.

In fact, when his new album came out a few weeks ago and because Target was selling it that first week for under eight bucks, I went in and bought it without having heard a single song on it.

It payed off. I love the entire CD.

Enough rambling background info. This post does have a purpose.

Quite a few years ago, I kept hearing this one song. I found out that it was "I'm not Okay" by a group with, what I thought, and still think ,had a really cool name.

My Chemical Romance.

I can't explain just why, but for some reason their name really appealed to me.

I feel the same way about the band Death Cab for Cutie.

How cool is that for a band name.

Not too long after falling in love with "I'm not Okay" I heard their song "Helena".

That song just blows me away, I love it so.

Lucky for me I have kids who also like music.

Not only that, but they know far more about bands like My Chemical Romance than I ever would.

My oldest daughter Heidi, told me once, that if I liked those two songs then I should listen to more of their music. She told me about her favorite My Chemical Romance album, called The Black Parade.

I skimmed through it briefly and just wasn't impressed. It didn't sound anything to me like they were the ones who had been responsible for Helena and I'm not Okay.

I told Heidi, sorry but I just didn't like it.

I had really wanted to like it. Especially when I saw the actual CD and all of the cool artwork on it. It's dark and rather creepy, but, fun and playful too.

This all happened a few years ago.

During this time Heidi kept telling me to give it a chance. She seemed to know that it was something I would enjoy.

A couple weeks ago I decided that I was going to find out once and for all, if I liked Black Parade. I felt like if they had two songs that I really loved (which aren't on Black Parade, just so you know) that there had to be a chance that I would enjoy more of their music.

I asked my son Kelly if he had it and he did. And lucky for me, he never played it because it was on his MP3 player.

I took it and went downstairs to listen to it.

I was determined to give it a fair shot.

I like to listen to music while I sew. That is why my stereo is in my sewing room.

I put it in my stereo and hit play.

Ooooohhhh. Uuuggghhh. All I seemed to hear was NOISE. It didn't seem to even have any discernible melody to any of the songs.

I had heard the title song Welcome to the Black Parade a few times previously.

By the time it played, (track 5 just so you know) it was a relief to hear something familiar.

It also made me think.

I realized that yes, I had heard the song a few times already. But, it had never grabbed me. I had simply put up with it to humor Heidi.

Hmmm.

If I kind of liked it now, maybe all was not lost. Perhaps if I listened to the entire album enough times the rest of the songs would start to sound good.

This is not without precedence.

There aren't all that many songs that I like the first time I hear them. And oddly enough, some of the songs that I love the first time I hear them seem to lose some of their magic for me if I listen to them too often. Where as, the songs that, gradually, over time, I learn to love, stay with me forever.

Weird? Yeah, probably. But it's how it is for me.

Well, first time listening to the entire CD. Not a fan. But I did notice there were a few on there that I had kind of enjoyed.

I left it for that day.

Next day.

I listened to it again.

Strange thing.

I started to actually hear real music instead of just noise.

Track 5, Welcome to the Black Parade.

Did I actually not like this song before?

How could that be. It's a great song.

Meanwhile,

thanks to continued familiarity,

some of the other tracks are starting to sound pretty good as well.

This is the point when I deliberately don't listen to it for several days.

I have found that if I do this, that, the next time I listen, it starts to sound more familiar to me and I find myself looking forward to several of the songs I had formerly not liked.

This is usually the point when I find out if I really do like it or not.

Some albums, by this time,

I know for definitely sure that I don't like it and I will probably never like it.

As for My Chemical Romance's Black Parade,

I am starting to really like it a lot!

In fact I find myself having one or two of the songs running through my head most of the time.

I find myself taking it out to the car so I can listen to it more.

I realize that I'm even learning the lyrics.

And all of a sudden, the biggest realization of all.

I LOVE this CD!

How could I ever have thought it was nothing more than a bunch of noise. How on earth had I missed the intricate timing, intelligence and beauty of each song.

Each time I listen, I seem to notice more and more artistry and vision. What at first seemed like a vain attempt at a concept album, now falls into place with such precision and perfection, that I hear a bit of the sublime in each song.

There are layers upon layers of content.

It makes me feel as though I'm listening to a great jig-saw puzzle of sound who's pieces are effortlessly finding each other and coming together to form a whole picture.

In short, I realize that I am listening to pure genius.

And just like that, I have a new favorite.

I can't guarantee that you would find the beauty in this album like I have. Different things speak to different people.

But, if you haven't already, it just might be worth your time to snag yourself a copy, (chances are you know someone who has a copy you could borrow) and give it a chance like I did.

You just might find yourself a new favorite as well.

After all, you just never really know, do you?