Friday, March 6, 2015

Album Review: Stomachaches by FrnkIero

Photo from Wikipedia

Words by: Erin Robinson

Frank Iero (Pronounced eye-ear-oh) Is a singer/songwriter. He's mostly known for being the rhythm guitarist and back-up vocalist for My Chemical Romance. He was also the vocalist for Death Spells and Leathermouth, and owns a music label company called B.CALM Press.

This album titled Stomachaches is actually titled because of digestive issues Frank is battling, and his coping through his songwriting. Frank uses his storytelling on this album to help forget how he felt, and his process of getting better. A true testament to the notion that punk-rock can be calm, yet melodic and neckbreaking. These songs will take you through a gamit of feelings.

All I Want Is Nothing (1:50)-- This is the intro to the album. And though short, it has a lively beat. You feel the need to get up and dance. To me, it reminds me of youth, and desperation. Best friends and love, and the cruel disappointment of life. "If I can't have one more second of time, when I was yours and you were mine.." I think we all have that moment when you wish you could go back to that moment in time.

Weighted (4:08)-- A powerful song. Again, talks about love and life. The best lyric to this song in my opinion is, "Let's laugh, let's learn to laugh at ourselves again, let's love." There seems to be a message from track one, to track two. We can't go back in time, so let's move forwards and learn to love again.

Blood Infections (2:18)-- Young, lusty love. The beat is heavy on the drum, and worth getting up on the dance floor and moshing. Headbanging at it's best. With lyrics like, "No one hides in the dark but me" or, "Everynight's our night, baby"

She's the prettiest girl at the party, and she can prove it with a solid right hook (3:36)- Written about his wife Jamia. Talks about love, and a fear of failing. Wanting to be a couple, yet fearing the neglect.

Stitches (4:37)- About slipping away in love. "All I want, I want. I need what I need. I need what I want." Drum beats definitely drive this song. It's slow, yet a song you can slowly jam to. This song could be title song for a Halloween movie. It has that sad, dark, low-key melody.

Joyriding (2:21)- Neat video accompanies this song. Dressed all in white, Frank and his band are in a stark white room, playing to no one. Out of nowhere, blood covers the white room in a bath of gory goo. All blood and gore in the video, but the song has a good beat. "I hate my weaknesses, they make me who I am."

Stage 4 Fear Of Trying (3:10)- Slow song, with a heavy beat. Pretty good lyrics. "I have reached for the stars, but those stars don't reach back."

Tragician (3:08)- About a couple in love who just can't get their shit together. See another storyline evolving from the previous songs on the album, til now. The ups and downs in love and life. The beginning intro sounds a lot like "I'm Not Okay" From an old My Chem album. Possibly a throwback to his old group

Neverenders (1:57)- Yet another short song. Mostly heavy beats and headbanging music. "Everybody's got something to say about your life and the choices you make" Sounds familiar in everyone's life. Parents and peers always have something to say about the choices that are made.

Smoke Rings (2:19)- Stripped down to bear feelings. This song talks about not being good enough.

Guilttripping (4:21)- "I remember a time when someone could love me" Another song about life, and crap we go through everyday.

Where Do We Belong? Anywhere But Here! (3:20)- Where do we belong? A question all teens ask at some point in their life. We don't belong in childhood, but we don't want to face being an adult. Just live the life, learn to love, and stay strong.

My own personal opinions on the songs are just that. I'm sharing what these songs mean to me, and my teenage years. We all fear loving and learning, yet we strive to party, and leave the fear and hurt deep inside.

Awesome first solo album for Iero, and I hope to hear more in the future. I believe these songs could reach number 1 on the charts.

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