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Good Charlotte
Chronicles of Life and Death [DualDisc]
Release Date: 2004 10 05
Label: Epic/Daylight
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Good Charlotte's popularity exploded in 2002, when the brash singles "Anthem" and "Lifestyles of the Rich and the Famous" catapulted them to the top of the punk-pop heap. Once there they couldn't be stopped, at least in part because they endorsed their pop side as much as their punk-derived image. When naysayers tried pointing out the music's lack of substance, Charlotte's irascible core -- tattooed brothers Benji and Joel Madden -- challenged them with the issue of "Boys and Girls," a vacuous yet irresistibly fizzy new wave-styled goof. The Chronicles of Life and Death, Good Charlotte's first post-fame album, uses that status as a loosely binding concept. The Maddens are unquestionably happy with their celebrity. But they've also realized that money won't always buy happiness, or heal their old scars. After an indulgent string section intro, the title track begins to the beep of a heart-rate monitor. "Money talks/In this world," Joel Madden sings the song's modified power pop strut. "That's what idiots will say/But you'll find out/That this world/Is just an idiot's parade." It's the jaded realization on the other side of "Lifestyles"' stardom-baiting. Whereas their previous effort was, with a few notable exceptions, boisterous punk-pop, Chronicles includes an echoing relationship-woe piano ballad ("The Truth"), the subdued "Ghost of You"'s synthesizers and vocal harmonies, and quirky keyboards and acoustic guitars in the lyrically bitter "The World Is Black" ("I can't live when this world keeps dying..."). Joel Madden has also matured since Young and the Hopeless -- his newly developed husky tenor suits him well on the more introspective material, but can still belt out the rousing punk-pop choruses of "Walk Away (Maybe)," "Predictable," and "Secrets." The album's best track might be its greatest departure. "I Just Wanna Live" is a punchy blend of power chords, string samples, and disco beats that features Madden rapping in a Nelly-inspired flow. For all their well-crafted ambition on Chronicles, "I Just Wanna Live" feels like Good Charlotte's centerpiece, since it's spiked with rock power, but gets its soul from the pop life they lead. [The Chronicles of Life and Death was also released in a DualDisc version.] Johnny Loftus, All Music Guide

Tracks:
TitleComposerTime
1Once Upon a Time: The Battle of Life and DeathMadden, Valentine
2Chronicles of Life and DeathMadden, Madden
3Walk Away (Maybe)Madden, Madden
4S.O.S.Madden, Madden
5I Just Wanna LiveFeldmann, Madden, Madden
6Ghost of YouMadden, Martin, Madden
7PredictableMadden, Madden
8SecretsMadden, Madden
9TruthMadden, Madden, Feldmann
10World Is BlackMadden, Madden
11MountainMartin, Madden, Madden
12We BelieveMadden, Madden
13It Wasn't EnoughMadden, Madden, Feldmann
14In This World (Murder)Madden, Madden
15Meet My Maker [*]Madden, Madden
16Once Upon a Time: The Battle of Life and Death [DVD]Madden, Valentine
17Chronicles of Life and Death [DVD]Madden, Madden
18Walk Away (Maybe) [DVD]Madden, Madden
19S.O.S. [DVD]Madden, Madden
20I Just Wanna Live [DVD]Madden, Madden, Feldmann
21Ghost of You [DVD]Madden, Madden, Martin
22Predictable [DVD]Madden, Madden
23Secrets [DVD]Madden, Madden
24Truth [DVD]Madden, Feldmann, Madden
25World Is Black [DVD]Madden, Madden
26Mountain [DVD]Martin, Madden, Madden
27We BelieveMadden, Madden
28It Wasn't Enough [DVD]Madden, Feldmann, Madden
29In This World (Murder) [DVD]Madden, Madden
30Meet My Maker [DVD][*]Madden, Madden







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