Hesitant Alien

Hesitant Alien
Studio album by Gerard Way
Released	September 29, 2014
Recorded	Lightning Sound Studio (Hidden Hills, California), Sonic Ranch (Tornillo, Texas), 2014[1]
Genre	Alternative rock,[2] Britpop,[1][3][4][5] grunge,[5] pop,[6][3] shoegazing[2][7]
Label	Warner Bros., Reprise
Producer	Doug McKean
Singles from Hesitant Alien
"Action Cat" Released: June 11, 2014 (promotional) "No Shows" Released: August 19, 2014 "Millions" Released: November 17, 2014

Hesitant Alien is the debut studio album by Gerard Way, former lead singer of the American alternative rock band My Chemical Romance, released in the US on September 29, 2014 and on September 30 worldwide. It was officially announced in May 2014, although demos of the songs "Zero Zero" and "Millions" have circulated since 2012. The album was produced by Doug McKean, known for his work as recording engineer on a number of projects with producer Rob Cavallo, including several releases by My Chemical Romance. Hesitant Alien received mostly positive reviews, and was a moderate commercial success reaching No. 16 on the US Billboard 200 and some international charts. To support the album, Way assembled a touring band made up of select musicians who contributed to the album and were called "The Hormones".

Background

On March 22, 2013, My Chemical Romance officially disbanded. This was followed by the release of a greatest hits album entitled May Death Never Stop You a year later. Having recently signed with Warner Bros. Records, Gerard went on to announce the beginning of his solo career with the release of an advance-single, "Action Cat", on June 11, 2014.^[8] This was accompanied by a new website featuring concept artwork for the album and a new logo.^[9] The album's first single, "No Shows", was released on August 18, 2014.^[10] "Millions", the second single, was released on November 17, anticipated by a music video released on October 6.^[11]

Release

Hesitant Alien was released on September 29 in the UK, and a day later in the U.S.^[5] Pre-orders for both the vinyl and CD versions of the album became available in August, featuring a T-shirt and promotional zine created specifically for the pre-orders.^[12] On September 29, 2014, Way premiered Hesitant Alien on the online platform VyRT during a listening party with album commentary.^[13]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
Source	Rating
Metacritic	75/100[14]
Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[15]
American Songwriter	(4/5) [6]
Alternative Press	[16]
Billboard	[3]
Kerrang!	[17]
NME	(8/10)[4]
Rolling Stone	[18]
Rock Sound	(7/10)[19]
Team Rock	(8/10)[5]
The Guardian	[20]

The album has received very positive reviews. David McLaughlin from Rock Sound magazine stated that some of the songs from the album were some of the best Way has written to date, labelling the album as alternative rock. He also stated that it is nothing like the efforts made into the albums of My Chemical Romance.^[19] Jason Pettigrew from Alternative Press said: "Now in his late-30s, he’s going back to the things that turned him on, pretentious ’70s glam-rock, fractured ’80s post-punk and all the English sonic conventions of ’90s Britpop and shoegazer noise", and that the album "has enough requisite cool and clamor to insure he stays both relevant and remarkably vibrant".

Hesitant Alien topped the "Ten Essential Albums Of 2014" list in Alternative Press.^[16] The album was included at number 24 on Rock Sound's "Top 50 Albums of the Year" list.^[21] The album was included at number 4 on Kerrang!'s "The Top 50 Rock Albums Of 2014" list.^[22]

Track listing

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"The Bureau"	Gerard Way	2:38
2.	"Action Cat"	Way	3:07
3.	"No Shows"	Way, Ian Fowles	4:12
4.	"Brother"	Way	4:31
5.	"Millions"	Way, James Dewees	3:28
6.	"Zero Zero"	Way	2:49
7.	"Juarez"	Way, Fowles, Don Blum	2:50
8.	"Drugstore Perfume"	Way	4:50
9.	"Get the Gang Together"	Way, Blum	3:40
10.	"How It's Going to Be"	Way, Jamie Muhoberac	3:44
11.	"Maya the Psychic"	Way	3:02

Japanese bonus track[23]
No.	Title	Length
12.	"Television All the Time"	3:34

Personnel

The Hormones

• Gerard Way – lead vocals, piano, guitar, percussion; bass guitar on "The Bureau" and "No Shows"; keyboards in "How It's Going to Be"
• Ian Fowles – guitar; drums on "Get the Gang Together"
• Matt Gorney – bass guitar; piano on "The Bureau"; guitars on "Brother"; background vocals on "Millions"; percussion on "Get the Gang Together"
• Jarrod Alexander – drums, percussion
• Jamie Muhoberac – keyboards
• James Dewees - keyboards

Additional musicians

• Jason Freese – horn on "No Shows" and "Get the Gang Together"
• Tom Rasulo – percussions on "Action Cat"
• Mikey Way – backing vocals on "Millions"
• Sabina Olague – spoken word on "Juarez"

Production

• Doug McKean – production
• Tom Rasulo – engineer
• Andrew Law – assistant engineer
• Gerardo "Jerry" Ordonez – assistant engineer
• Zach Mauldin – assistant engineer
• Lance Sumner – assistant engineer
• Tchad Blake – mixing
• Bob Ludwig – mastering
• Gerard Way – art direction
• Norman Wonderly – art direction

Charts

Chart (2014)	Peak position
Australian Albums (ARIA)[24]	29
Irish Albums (IRMA)[25]	17
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)[26]	37
Scottish Albums (OCC)[27]	13
UK Albums (OCC)[28]	14
UK Rock Albums[29]	1
U.S. Billboard 200[30]	16
U.S. Billboard Alternative Albums[30]	1
U.S. Billboard Top Rock Albums[30]	4

Release history

Region	Date	Label	Format	Catalog
World wide	September 30, 2014	Warner Bros.	DL	N/A[31]
	September 29, 2014	Reprise	CD	9362493721[32]
			LP	9362493722[33]

References

Citations

1. "Gerard Way Explains Why He Went Britpop With 'Hesitant Alien' - Rolling Stone". Rolling Stone. Retrieved September 13, 2015.
2. "Gerard Way talks independence, alternative influences & making art - Fuse". Fuse. Retrieved October 29, 2015.
3. "Album Review: Former My Chemical Frontman Gerard Way Graduates to Glossy Britpop on ‘Hesitant Alien’". Billboard. Retrieved September 13, 2015.
4. Lisa Wright (24 September 2014). "NME Reviews - Gerard Way - 'Hesitant Alien'". NME. Retrieved September 13, 2015.
5. "Gerard Way - Hesitant Alien". TeamRock. Retrieved September 13, 2015.
6. "Gerard Way: Hesitant Alien". American Songwriter. Retrieved September 13, 2015.
7. "Gerard Way Announces First Solo Album Hesitant Alien For September 2014 Release". music.mxdwn.com. Retrieved October 29, 2015.
8. "Gerard Way premieres new song, "Action Cat"". Alternative Press. Retrieved 14 November 2014.
9. "My Chemical Romance Singer Gerard Way Releases Debut Solo Album 'Hesitant Alien' See Full Tracklist Here". Hallels.com. Retrieved 14 November 2014.
10. "Alter The Press!: Gerard Way Premieres New Song "No Shows" on BBC Radio One". Alterthepress.com. Retrieved 14 November 2014.
11. Jon Stickler. "Gerard Way Posts Video For New Single Millions". Stereoboard.com. Retrieved 14 November 2014.
12. Gerard Way. "Gerard Way". Gerardway.com. Retrieved 14 November 2014.
13. "Gerard VyRT Listening Party". My Chemical Romance. September 29, 2014. Retrieved October 3, 2014.
14. "Reviews for Hesitant Alien". Metacritic.com. Retrieved 14 November 2014.
15. Erlewine, Stephen Thomas (September 29, 2014). "Hesitant Alien". AllMusic. Retrieved September 13, 2015.
16. "Gerard Way - Hesitant Alien". Alternative Press. Retrieved September 13, 2015.
17. Ian Winwood. "Former MCR Frontman Goes Ape on Spectacular Debut Solo Outing". Kerrang!. Retrieved 14 November 2014.
18. Spanos, Brittany (September 29, 2014). "Gerard Way, Hesitant Alien, review: 'Ex-My Chemical Romance guy goes glam, pulls it off (mostly)'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved November 14, 2014.
19. McLaughlin, David (October 2014). "Gerard Way - Hesitant Alien". www.rocksound.tv (192) (Rock Sound). Rock Sound. Retrieved 15 September 2014.
20. Simpson, Dave. "Gerard Way: Hesitant Alien review – a confident, swaggering set of songs". The Guardian. Retrieved November 14, 2014.
21. Bird, ed. 2015, p. 26
22. Emily (March 18, 2015). "The Top 50 Rock Albums Of 2014". Kerrang!. Retrieved July 26, 2015.
23. "ヘジタント・エイリアン / ジェラルド・ウェイ 時代を駆け抜けてきたマイ・ケミカル・ロマンスのフロントマンによる、キャリア初のソロ・アルバム! 彼のアート・センスの総てをぶつける、ジェラルド・ウェイ色を前面に押し出した快作の登場! 日本先行発売。 日本盤のみボーナス・トラック1曲収録". CDJapan.
24. "Australiancharts.com – Gerard Way – Hesitant Alien". Hung Medien. Retrieved October 4, 2014.
25. "GFK Chart-Track Albums: Week 40, 2014". Chart-Track. IRMA.
26. "Charts.org.nz – Gerard Way – Hesitant Alien". Hung Medien. Retrieved October 3, 2014.
27. "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved October 5, 2014.
28. "Gerard Way | Artist | Official Charts". UK Albums Chart Retrieved October 5, 2014.
29. "2014-10-11 Top 40 Rock & Metal Albums Archive - Official Charts". Officialcharts.com. Retrieved 14 November 2014.
30. Hesitant Alien - Gerard Way - Awards at AllMusic
31. "Gerard Way Hesitant Alien (Digital Download - Warner Bros. #)". AllMusic.com. AllMusic. Retrieved September 15, 2014.
32. "Gerard Way Hesitant Alien (CD - Reprise #9362493721)". AllMusic.com. AllMusic. Retrieved September 15, 2014.
33. "Gerard Way Hesitant Alien (LP - Reprise #9362493722)". AllMusic.com. AllMusic. Retrieved September 15, 2014.

Sources

• Bird, Ryan, ed. (January 2015). "Top 50 Albums of the Year". Rock Sound (London: Freeway Press Inc.) (195). ISSN 1465-0185.

External links

• Hesitant Alien at YouTube (streamed copy where licensed)
• Official website