The Chronicles of Life & Death (Death Art Version) - Good Charlotte

Interesting and evocative, but one CD might have been enough.

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About Our Ratings
Common Sense rates it
4
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Music details
  • Artist(s): Good Charlotte
  • Genre: Punk Rock
  • Label: Sony
  • Parental Advisory: No
  • Edited Version: No
  • Release Date: 10/05/2004

Parents need to know

Good Charlotte gets to the heart of the matter with graphic (but PG-rated) imagery. Some fans might find it irritating that there are two versions of this CD, with the only variation being the bonus track. Ask your kids if they think this is a clever idea or a rip-off.

Message

Social Behavior:

Some dark social commentary, all too appropriate for our times.

Consumerism:

TWO practically identical CDs!

Drugs/Alcohol/Tobacco:

Nothing obvious.

Violence

Lots of death imagery, in kind of a Halloween-spooky way.

Sex

Sophisticated relationship themes, but nothing explicit.

Language

Common Sense says

What's the story?

Reviewed by Kathi Kamen Goldmark

Good Charlotte joins the ranks of bands releasing two CDs simultaneously with THE CHRONICLES OF LIFE AND DEATH, with the only differentiation being the cover art and a bonus track. True-blue fans and collectors, of course, will have to buy both.

After a ponderous beginning that includes orchestral strings, choral singing, and church bells, the band settles into a collection of energetic punk-pop, with more sophisticated themes than on previous albums.

Imagery is graphic, though PG-rated, with lyrics like "You come in cold/you're covered in blood/they're all so happy you've arrived/the doctor cuts your cord/hands you to your mom/she sets you free into this life" (on the title song) or "So this is it/this is my life/it's ending tonight...whoa, it's alright" on the "Death" bonus track. Over all, the lyrics reveal some deeper thought about big issues, and will be appreciated more by thoughtful teens than by younger kids.

The music is performed with vibrant immediacy, and the Madden brothers, Good Charlotte's centerpiece, turn in terrific performances. If angst-filled posturing comes with the territory, so what? Somehow everyone still sounds as though they're having fun.

Is it any good?

4
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Parents and kids say

All Reviews

There are 11 reviews.

2


Posted on 11/18/07 by stillconfused Kid contributor, age 11

UHHH!!!!

Okay, I don't really like this album, and I don't really care, the only reason I wrote this article is to critisize CS's views on the '2 CDs' thing. PEOPLE DO THAT ALL THE FREAKING TIME!! If you go on iTunes and browse for a while, I guarantee you'll find at least one album that is the "Bonus Track Version". I personally think that although Good Charlotte is a lame, mainstream, propagandish band, it's a pretty creative idea to make a "Life" version and a "Death" version.
4


Posted on 06/14/06 by MJ000 Kid contributor, age 13

Age 11+
4


Posted on 06/02/06 by whovian85 Adult contributor

pretty good

I must admit I'm in fact a closet Good Charloette fan. I usually listen to The Ramones (who are the greatest band ever) and The Clash. However when the sun goes down and no one else is around I like to crank them up and rock out to them.
5


Posted on 05/30/06 by soccer girl7 Kid contributor, age 12

I love it!

Why is this 14+ It is totally find for 10+. Anyway this cd rocks. But I think I liked the young and the hopeless better cuz that was more of an immature cd and this 1 is totally serious, and has really weird beats in the beginning of some of the songs, but overall it's an awesome CD! Ps: If u like 'Good Charlotte' u'll probably like 'Sum 41'
3


Posted on 04/04/06 by mthschick2006 Kid contributor, age 17

helpful

they did it again they sang about what is going on in their lives, just like their last cd it has helped me through so many things in my life
Age 2+
0


Posted on 03/16/06 by Pink Floyd33 Adult contributor

this cd sux

this a crappy cd made by a bunch of sellouts and no good charolette is not one of the best bands of alll time the beatles pink floyd led zeppelin wats wrong with u?
Age 11+
5


Posted on 09/09/05 by iluvryancabrera92 Adult contributor

I love IT!

The album is outstanding! One of Good Charlottes best!
Age 13+
5


Posted on 05/01/05 by avatar Adult contributor

i think it is a great band

good charlotte is the greatest band of all time
1


Posted on 05/01/05 by St_JimMy911 Kid contributor, age 17

2


Posted on 04/30/05 by geekoftheband Kid contributor, age 14

it was odd...

I wasn't really sure about this album. It seemed kind of spooky instead of rockin'. I didn't really listen to it much...although I have it. The song 'I just wanna live' is the best and the catchiest and most advertised. Overall this was an okay CD, they've done better though. (Some people might like the darkness, but I just wasn't feeling it...)

See all 11 reviews >

Adult Reviews

There are 4 reviews.

Age 11+
4


Posted on 06/02/06 by whovian85 Adult contributor

pretty good

I must admit I'm in fact a closet Good Charloette fan. I usually listen to The Ramones (who are the greatest band ever) and The Clash. However when the sun goes down and no one else is around I like to crank them up and rock out to them.
Age 2+
0


Posted on 03/16/06 by Pink Floyd33 Adult contributor

this cd sux

this a crappy cd made by a bunch of sellouts and no good charolette is not one of the best bands of alll time the beatles pink floyd led zeppelin wats wrong with u?
Age 11+
5


Posted on 09/09/05 by iluvryancabrera92 Adult contributor

I love IT!

The album is outstanding! One of Good Charlottes best!
Age 13+
5


Posted on 05/01/05 by avatar Adult contributor

i think it is a great band

good charlotte is the greatest band of all time

Kids Reviews

There are 7 reviews.

2


Posted on 11/18/07 by stillconfused Kid contributor, age 11

UHHH!!!!

Okay, I don't really like this album, and I don't really care, the only reason I wrote this article is to critisize CS's views on the '2 CDs' thing. PEOPLE DO THAT ALL THE FREAKING TIME!! If you go on iTunes and browse for a while, I guarantee you'll find at least one album that is the "Bonus Track Version". I personally think that although Good Charlotte is a lame, mainstream, propagandish band, it's a pretty creative idea to make a "Life" version and a "Death" version.
4


Posted on 06/14/06 by MJ000 Kid contributor, age 13

5


Posted on 05/30/06 by soccer girl7 Kid contributor, age 12

I love it!

Why is this 14+ It is totally find for 10+. Anyway this cd rocks. But I think I liked the young and the hopeless better cuz that was more of an immature cd and this 1 is totally serious, and has really weird beats in the beginning of some of the songs, but overall it's an awesome CD! Ps: If u like 'Good Charlotte' u'll probably like 'Sum 41'
3


Posted on 04/04/06 by mthschick2006 Kid contributor, age 17

helpful

they did it again they sang about what is going on in their lives, just like their last cd it has helped me through so many things in my life
1


Posted on 05/01/05 by St_JimMy911 Kid contributor, age 17

2


Posted on 04/30/05 by geekoftheband Kid contributor, age 14

it was odd...

I wasn't really sure about this album. It seemed kind of spooky instead of rockin'. I didn't really listen to it much...although I have it. The song 'I just wanna live' is the best and the catchiest and most advertised. Overall this was an okay CD, they've done better though. (Some people might like the darkness, but I just wasn't feeling it...)
5


Posted on 11/27/04 by Brittany Kid contributor, age 17

New and Improved

On Good Charlotte's third album, the band continues to blend styles such as rock, pop, punk, and hip hop. There are even some electronic, almost techno, dancy parts this time around. The lyrics are still fairly simple and straightforward, not very offensive. Instead of leaning towards the sound of Green Day as they have in the past, Good Charlotte appear to have been listeing to more The Cure and Morrisey lately. This album finds Good Charlotte with their catchiest songs to date, as well as improved vocal stylings by lead singer Joel and his twin Benji, who sings backup and is one of the bands two guitarists ( the other one is Billy). Bassist Paul and new drummer Chris create the tighest rhythm section that this band has had yet. Highlights include the infectious second single "I Just Wanna Live," the surprising piano driven "The Truth," and the seemingly anti-war track "In This World (Murder)."
See all 7 kids reviews >

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