The Chronicles of Life & Death (Life Art Version)

 Review

Common Sense Media says

Heavy thoughts and angst, yet still having fun.
greenON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age.
yellowPAUSE: Know your child; some content
may not be right for some kids.
redOFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age.
not for kidsNOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age.

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Quality
 
Sometimes media can be age appropriate but a real waste of time. Our star rating assesses the media's overall quality.

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Parents say

Kids say

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that this band 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.

  • Some of the imagery might be unsettling to less mature (younger) teens.
  • Blood and death imagery, as affectation.
  • Sophisticated relationship stuff, but nothing explicit.

What's the story?

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 will of course 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).


Is it any good?

 

Over all, the lyrics reveal some deeper thought about big issues, and will be appreciated more by thoughtful teens than by younger kids, who might find some of the very visual songwriting disturbing. The music is performed with vibrant immediacy, and the Madden brothers, the centerpiece of Good Charlotte, turn in terrific performances. If angst-filled posturing seems to come with the territory, so what? Somehow everyone still sounds as though they're having fun.


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What families can talk about

Families can talk about the use of different orchestrial sounds in music. What feelings do church bells or choral singing evoke in music? Parents can also ask their kids if they think putting out two almost identical albums at the same time is a clever idea or a rip-off.


This review was written by Kathi Kamen Goldmark
Adult
April 9, 2008
 
PERFECT
I AM A HUGE FAN CD ROCKS I WOULD SAY 8 AND UP IS FINE AND SKIP THE SONG WE BELIEVE BUT KIDS EVENTUALLY NEED TO LEARN LESSONS GREAT CD

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Adult
April 9, 2008
 

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Adult
April 9, 2008
 
This CD was good. There was no sex-related songs, but it was kinda violent, one of the songs is titled murder, but is not to violent just iffy (a 7 yeasr old should not be listening to some of the songs). Good Charlotte is a band that is kinda scary looking but they sound better than they look. So for people who like rock this CD is good for them.I think it is apropriate for kids 13 and up.

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Teen, 18 years old
October 21, 2009
 
Not there Best
This album is sorta boring (compared to there first 2). They're not singing about real things in this one (unlike first 2). There are a few good songs on the album, but it cant mach up 2 the first two. There is a lot of talk about death. and one song uses the word murder, another includes a few violent images (as do others on the album). Some words include a**, d*mn, and myb 1 h*ll. myb a few other minor words. Not to mention they'res like a 5 minute pause on the last song (that talks about bleedin after). My advise is to avoid this album and just listen 2 the first 2

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Adult
April 9, 2008
 
Too bad it's not their death...
Can't we play good bands on the radio anymore? The answer is yes and that is why we have bands such as Weezer, Franz Ferdinand, and the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, but the problem is that bands like Good Charlotte show us that the media and MTV are still evil. Oh how this band pretends to be a punk and well they ain't no Clash and if you classify them as pop they ain't no Blur. They are mindless slaves to wage. Absolutely horrid, absolutely annoying, absolute trash. We all really should get a life and start listening to music where music still has passion and that would be indie artists (notice that I would call an indie musician an artist and I would never fathom calling anyone in Good Charlotte an artist) or music of the past.

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Adult
April 9, 2008
 
i think
i think people should realy get to know a band befre judging them on there music good charlotte are great guys who belive in god and would not write any songs that were out there i let my 8 and 4 year old listen to them and these guys are for real unlike alot of bands out there they care about there fans and what people think of then and some of their songs people put down like "bloody valantine" is a song about a eger allen poe (sp) book a tell tale heart they are not going out telling poeple to kill someone and stuff and also the song on there cds "hold on and sos are a big help to kids i work with kids who were thinking of killing themselfs and listened to these songs and found out that even rich and famous people have it ruff and that if these guys can make it though things they can too i wish there were more bands like good charlotte out there who care about people not just the money >>>>

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Teen, 16 years old
April 9, 2008
 
Awesome!
Yet another great CD from Good Charolette!

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Teen, 18 years old
April 9, 2008
 
I cries! I laughed!
yo this music rock!

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Adult
April 9, 2008
 
The Best Good Charlotte...
This album interested me because my favorite Good Charlotte song is on here and because it's supposed to be more mature, which I like. It's a fantastic album; I love most of the songs. The only one I really hate is the opening bit. And, quite unusually for a powerpop band, some of the songs almost made me cry....

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This review was written by Kathi Kamen Goldmark
Artist:Good Charlotte
Release date:October 5, 2004
Label:Sony Music
Genre:Punk Rock
Parental advisory:No

This review was written by Kathi Kamen Goldmark
 

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About our rating system
ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age.
PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids.
OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age.
Learning ratings
BEST: Really engaging, great learning approach.
GOOD: Pretty engaging, good learning approach.
FAIR: Somewhat engaging, OK learning approach.
NOT FOR LEARNING: Not recommended for learning.

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