We’ve heard Ray might have been in a pretty famous band once upon a time. When band members head off on their own, it never tends to be as good as the original line up. When it does work, however, they’ve gone in an entirely new direction. Ray Toro – who was never really heard in the My Chemical Romance days – has certainly gone off on a tangent, creating an intriguing alternative album.
‘Isn’t That Something’ begins with simple synths, both ear-pricking and attention-grabbing. The twinkly moments in the verse and the head-bopping chorus make for a lovely opener. Upbeat drums and strings introduce ‘Walking In Circles’ and at times Toro’s vocals sound a little like Bert McCracken (The Used), particularly in the higher notes. Toro sometimes strains a little harder but his voice never cracks and his soft singing is never pushed uncomfortably.
‘Wedding Day’, with its repeated pleas of “wake up”, wedding bells, and a train chugging away in the distance, is a surreal listening experience. At first it sounds out of place, but those train sounds make their way in to ‘We Save’, a repetitive song that also trundles along. Similarly, ‘Father’s Day’ is also a mixture of sounds – children playing, fairground rides, and the sea – which leads into ‘The Lucky Ones’. “Love means everything […] ooh, we’re the lucky ones,” Toro sings, upbeat lyrics to match an upbeat pace and melody.
It’s all just lovely. Written as a metaphorical box of memories for his son (whose arrival is honoured with the mobile sounds of ‘Waiting Room’), Toro shines as he finally gets to take centre stage. Not everything is positive, though – honesty and realism rear their weary heads. The contemplative ‘Requiem’ is understated and journeys from a soft, sombre sound to an emotive pop song, not too unlike Jimmy Eat World (although in this case it ends with some unexpected chanting). The vocals cut through the dramatic strings of ‘Look At You Now’, layered with some interesting percussion, but ‘Eruption’ is entirely different, a recording of police radios, guns, and shouting – specifically referencing the protests in Ferguson.
It’s all too easy to feel angry when things go wrong and in the present climate there’s a lot of frustration and confusion. ‘Remember The Laughter’ is a timely arrival then, to lift spirits and remind of us hope through its lyrics and layers. It took three and a half years to complete but the end result is a nuanced, engaging, comforting release rounded off neatly with a soaring guitar solo.
KATHRYN BLACK