Skylines and Turnstiles
| Industry | Music |
|---|---|
| Founded | 2001 |
| Founder | Gerard Way |
| Headquarters | New Jersey , United States |
| Products | Music, albums, songs |
Skylines and Turnstiles is a track by the American rock group My Chemical Romance, featured as the seventh song on their initial album, I Brought You My Bullets, You Brought Me Your Love (2002). Combining elements of hardcore punk and pop-punk, the lyrics were influenced by the events of the September 11 attacks. Gerard Way composed this piece—the band's inaugural song—immediately following his experience of the attacks, with its development continuing alongside the formation of My Chemical Romance. The writing credits include band members Frank Iero, Matt Pelissier, Ray Toro, Gerard Way, and Mikey Way, while production was handled by Geoff Rickly.
Retrospective critical opinions have been varied, with some praising it as a highlight and others viewing it as a less refined album entry. Despite this, it remains a fundamental song for My Chemical Romance, playing a crucial role in shaping their musical style and identity. "Skylines and Turnstiles" was the first song performed live by the band and was also part of their reunion tour setlist. A demo recording of the track was included on their compilation album, May Death Never Stop You (2014).
Background, writing, and composition
Prior to establishing My Chemical Romance, Gerard Way was involved in the creative arts sector—accounts differ between him being an action figure designer at Fun House in Hoboken, New Jersey or an intern at Cartoon Network in New York. After witnessing the September 11 attacks firsthand, Way decided to leave his art career behind to form a band with the intention to "see the world" and "make a difference." On that very day, he crafted "Skylines and Turnstiles" in his parents' basement using a guitar and practice amplifier. Subsequently, he brought Matt Pelissier from a local rock group on board to handle drums.
Way and Pelissier then introduced the song to guitarist Ray Toro, who quickly contributed enhancements. The band recorded The Attic Demo, which included "Skylines and Turnstiles," in Pelissier's attic space. Later, in May 2002, they recorded this track along with much of their debut album at Nada Studios located in New Windsor, New York, under the production guidance of Geoff Rickly from Thursday.
From a musical standpoint, "Skylines and Turnstiles" merges hardcore punk with pop-punk influences and has been described by some critics as fitting within the "horror-punk" genre. It showcases vigorous guitar riffs coupled with powerful vocals that became emblematic of My Chemical Romance’s sound. The lyrics express Way’s emotions of fear, uncertainty, and optimism following the September 11 attacks, referencing the destruction of the Twin Towers while contemplating life’s fragility.
Release and live performances
The first live rendition of "Skylines and Turnstiles" took place in October 2001 as the opening number during My Chemical Romance’s debut concert. The song was officially released on July 23, 2002, as part of I Brought You My Bullets, You Brought Me Your Love, positioned as track seven. A demo version later surfaced on their 2014 greatest hits compilation May Death Never Stop You, alongside other early demo recordings. Although not frequently included in live performances over time, it featured regularly during initial concerts following the album launch and was reintroduced during their My Chemical Romance Reunion Tour, notably performed as the second song at their September 11, 2022 show at Brooklyn’s Barclays Center in New York City.
Critical reception
The track has received varied evaluations from music reviewers over time. Austin Saalman of Under the Radar identified it as a notable highlight, whereas a 2008 critique from Sputnikmusic characterized it as rough and lacking quality across nearly all aspects. Dillon Eastoe from Gigwise listed "Skylines and Turnstiles" among the band's lesser-recognized songs, drawing attention to Way's "unrefined" vocal delivery and the "intense" lyrical content inspired by the events of September 11. Tatiana Tenreyro of Paste acknowledged the emotional rawness of the lyrics but remarked that it was not "one of the strongest tracks in terms of sound." In an article for The Ringer, Rob Harvilla pointed out that although it may not be the finest piece on I Brought You My Bullets, this was the initial composition that set Gerard Way on his course to fronting the group.
Many critics have regarded "Skylines and Turnstiles" as one of My Chemical Romance's essential songs, recognizing its key contribution to shaping their musical identity. Both Spin and Billboard ranked it within their lists of the band's top 10 and top 15 songs respectively, with Billboard's Taylor Weatherby commending its emotional depth and stating it significantly influenced the band’s subsequent work. Cassie Whitt and Jake Richardson from Loudwire placed it fifth on their ranking of the band's best songs, describing it as "arguably their most significant" given its status as their first written track. Law positioned it at number 19 in a list of their 20 greatest songs, calling it a "rough-edged early effort" that shines with potential.
Credits and personnel
Information sourced from Apple Music.
Template:Col-begin Template:Col-2My Chemical Romance
- Gerard Way – lead vocals, songwriter
- Raymond Toro – guitar, background vocals, songwriter
- Mikey Way – bass guitar, songwriter
- Matt Pelissier – drums, percussion, songwriter
- Frank Iero – songwriterTemplate:Col-2Additional personnel
- Geoff Rickly – producer
- John Naclerio – recording engineer, mixing engineer
- Ryan Ball – mastering engineer
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