Is this really the poster boy for emo-rock that we all came to know and love? Gerard Way’s debut solo album Hesitant Alien sheds the emo exterior for a strangely joyful ode to Brit-Pop.

Free of the macabre expectations of My Chemical Romance, Gerard Way’s solo album punches its way onto the music scene with the highly Brit-pop inspired debut Hesitant Alien. Harkening to the likes of Blur, Smashing Pumpkins and Suede it never feels contrived. Hesitant Alien comes purely from Way’s artistic expression and with the 90s influences it brings Brit-Pop kicking and screaming into the modern day. The 11 track album flows beautifully between the sounds that Way is experimenting with from the Bowie inspired ‘Bureau’ with knife edge guitars to the action filled ‘Action Cat’ and the piano driven ‘Brother’ is a reflective track with strong melancholic power that is easily one of the stand out tracks of the album. Gerard Way’s powerfully emotive vocals pull the album from just being okay into a league of its own.

Listening to the album on a continuous cycle really shows the power in Way’s stylistic expression, ‘Bureau’ and ‘Maya the Psychic’ frame the album beautifully as the album builds on the sounds that are being explored. Continuing the knife edge guitar motif into the closing track creates a concentrated experience from start to finish. Fans of My Chemical Romance’s concept album Danger Days: The True Lives of the Fabulous Killjoys will pick up on the similarities but Way’s Hesitant Alien stands strongly on its own, attracting new fans and diehards alike. I am quite the My Chemical Romance fan and I could not wait to get my hands on a copy of Hesitant Alien. Gerard Way does not disappoint with his solo debut, if he continues down this path I can see a great future for Mr Way.

Nicole Stewart Rushworth

photo 1: 2.bp.blogsport.com
photo 2: xmedia.ex.ac.uk