This is a true story and a fitting one. The week that could change the course of American politics for the next couple of years also sees My Chemical Romance's The Black Parade reach No. 1 on the Billboard album charts for the first time. No, this isn't 2006.
When the album was initially released, it reached No. 2 but was beaten out for the top spot by the soundtrack to Disney's Hannah Montana. (Yes, this all sounds like a weird alternate universe, but it is, in fact, reality.)
The reason the excellent album has new life is that it was re-issued for its 20th anniversary, and done so in a brilliant way. The physical variant of the reissue comes in 20 different formats, with six bonus tracks. Those two aspects alone are enough to increase sales and give collectors of the album more reasons to buy the various editions.
My Chemical Romance's The Black Parade hits No. 1 on the Billboard album charts
Still, 20 years is a long time for an album to reach No. 1 for the first time. It marks the longest time ever for an album to peak at the top spot after its initial release. So if you thought that The Black Parade hitting No. 1 was odd, it is. Also, the situation is unprecedented.
But My Chemical Romance seems far from done, even though their most recent studio album was Danger Days: The True Lives of the Fabulous Killjoys, which was released in 2010. Many fans might have sadly assumed that the record was the last from the band.
A highly successful recent tour in celebration of the 20th anniversary of The Black Parade appears to be followed by the band heading into the studio to make another album.
That is what frontman Gerard Way told fans at an October Hollywood Bowl concert, saying that an extension of the tour wouldn't be happening because the band wants to focus on recording new material. Literally, "Next year, we wanna go make a record."
That's the hope. There is no guarantee that My Chemical Romance will push out a full LP, of course. Sometimes, things change when a band enters the studio. Maybe the material isn't as strong as it seemed, or perhaps interpersonal relationships make everything too stressful.
Assuming that My Chem does record a new album, what is certain is that it needs to deliver greatness. The band can do that, of course, but few albums are going to be met with such massive anticipation by a fan base as fans of MCR preparing for a new record from the group.
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