It’s been about two years since alternative rock band My Chemical Romance announced their breakup and we have already heard solo material from each of the members. The most recent being former lead singer Gerard Way’s first solo album. Titled “Hesitant Alien,” the album is a wonderfully crafted collection of songs that range from glam rock to Britpop and all 11 tracks are a far stretch from MCR’s 2005 album “The Black Parade” and its less heartfelt follow-up, “Danger Days: the True Lives of the Fabulous Killjoys.”

The sound is nothing like Way’s former band’s, which is much more polished and shakes the teen fan base, like the music Way used make. The album is possibly one of the best works Way has ever made and it makes one wonder if he just needed a change to make it happen.

While it’s hard to understand some of the lyrics through the bashing instruments, it all seems to work in its own way. However, the track list setup may be the album’s only downfall. The first three tracks are captivating, pumping you up for the rest of the album, before falling into the ballad, “Brother.” It’s a bit more slow from there on, with the slight exception of track “Zero Zero.” Finally, the album picks up again with “Get the Gang Together” and finishes with the exciting sound it started with.

It’s no doubt that this record is better than MCR’s fifth album, when the band was deteriorating and had no idea how to top themselves after “Danger Days” was released. Although fans are still heartbroken over the sudden 2013 breakup, it was probably for the best, because the band went their separate ways and all of them are doing amazing things, musically. In a 2014 interview, Way revealed that he had relapsed into drug and alcohol abuse, though he’d been clean since the early 2000s, and knew that keeping MCR together would be the end of him.

“Hesitant Alien” is the beginning of a promising solo career for Gerard Way, who has the potential to produce one fantastic record after another. If this debut album is any indication of Way’s potential, this will definitely be the case. “Hesitant Alien” is now available in stores, iTunes, and Gerard Way’s website.

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