Music Review: Gerard Way, Hesitant Alien

By Tyler Hodg

When it comes to music, change is often a good thing. New settings and surroundings can result in unique creations. Off the heels of a successful past, Gerard Way tries to write a new chapter in his music career with his first post-My Chemical Romance album, Hesitant Alien. It’s not easy starting again, but Gerard Way insists on proving his validity as a solo artist. Unfortunately, the “Black Parade” singer isn’t able to live up to expectations and delivers a painfully mediocre album.

Hesitant Alien starts off strong, with unexpected heaviness coming from the leading track “Bureau.” Regrettably, the songs that follow never quite achieve the same impact created by the opener. Kicking into track two (“Action Cat,” which was released as the first single), there is an immediate and evident drop of energy. Its pop-punk sound fails to achieve enough edge to be powerful and isn’t catchy enough to be memorable. My Chemical Romance was a controversial band, but their energy and character were indisputable. Hesitant Alien lacks the personality that Way’s previous work had and puts a damper on an initially promising flame as a solo artist.

Gerard Way has a legion of fans that will support him, as he should. He’s been in one of the most successful bands of the 2000s and has the ability to be an extraordinary solo artist. Hesitant Alien sounds like MCR songs that didn’t quite make the cut—they are still superior to the majority of music coming out, but not enough to propel him into immediate success. His diehard fans will buy (and hopefully enjoy) Hesitant Alien, but a mainstream hit is unlikely. By the way the songs were constructed and recorded, it’s hard to tell if Gerard Way even wants that mainstream hit or not.

There are unquestionable positives about Hesitant Alien. The album artwork fits the music well and puts an interesting visual to a rather bland audio. Dressed in vibrant colors, Gerard Way channels the likes of David Bowie and Elton John with a simple yet intriguing cover. Also, Way’s vocals are powerful, despite his lackluster backing. It’s easy to see that this was a passion project for him, making it respectable work regardless of the outcome.

Hesitant Alien isn’t a weak effort by any means; it’s just not as strong as it should be. Gerard Way is a unique writer, but the tracks recorded for this album are significantly less memorable than most of his previous work. It’s worth a listen, but doesn’t have enough to hook the listener into revisiting it afterwards. Gerard Way has promise as a solo artist, but only time will tell if his potential will ever be realized, or just forever overshadowed by his past success.

Hesitant Alien was released on September 30 by Warner Bros. Records.

Tour Dates:
10/12 – San Francisco, CA – The Fillmore (SOLD OUT)
10/13 – Los Angeles, CA – Troubadour (SOLD OUT)
10/14 – Los Angeles, CA – Fonda Theatre (SOLD OUT)
10/17 – Philadelphia, PA – Trocadero Theatre (SOLD OUT)
10/19 – Boston, MA – Paradise Rock Club (SOLD OUT)
10/20 – New York, NY – Irving Plaza (SOLD OUT)
10/22 – Sayreville, NJ – Starland Ballroom
10/23 – New York, NY – Webster Hall