Gerard Way takes a bold and intentional step away from punk rock with his first solo effort, Hesitant Alien, released Sept. 30, 2014. Way was the lead singer of My Chemical Romance since its inception in 2001, until it disbanded last year. Traces of the punk rock band’s sound can still be found on his new record even as Way ventures into new genres.
Hesitant Alien’s lighter, danceable tunes break away from the signature sounds of MCR and move closer toward indie rock, but Way manages to maintain a level of angst, intensity and eccentricity on tracks such as the dark and dramatic “The Bureau.”
“No Shows,” the second single off the album, provides a breezy contrast with lyrics like “Stay free/ Don’t go/ Cause we don’t need no shows.” Way recently told music magazine NME that he knew “No Shows” was special from the beginning. He said the track is about not fitting in, and celebrating that fact. Unfortunately his efforts aren’t quite successful—the track is undeniably catchy and engaging, but it comes off as trying pretty hard to sound that way.
While some tracks, such as “Juarez,” resemble MCR with scratchy guitars riffs and growling vocals, Hesitant Alien also gives Way freedom to explore his Britpop influences, such as Blur and Pulp, in a way that he was never able to with his old band. “Drugstore Perfume” has an ethereal, sweet quality that would be hard to imagine in Way’s previous work with My Chemical Romance.
The album ends with the anticlimactic “Maya The Psychic,” leaving the listener with a sense of indifference. Ultimately, Hesitant Alien doesn’t have the cohesive structure of concept album The Black Parade and it feels disjointed at times, but Way has built himself a good foundation to work with. Recognizably Gerard Way but distinctly not My Chemical Romance, Hesitant Alien establishes a new identity as a solo artist while still satisfying fans.
Rating: B
