Coheed and Cambria Album: “Good Apollo, I'm Burning Star IV, Volume One: From”

Good Apollo I'm Burning Star IV, Volume I: From Fear Through The Eyes Of Madness. One word sums it up: Wow. I didn't think they could do any better than their last album, but they somehow did. This one is most definitely for the fans, though. Whereas the first two albums had songs that could be released as singles and appeal to the averge listener, the entire CD stands on its own as a single piece. Yes, it's got some catchy tunes, but you need to listen to the whole thing straight through with headphones to really get the full effect. The first 11 songs tell the story of The Writer, the man who is writing the story of C&C. The interesting part is that Claudio Sanchez created The Writer, and The Writer created Claudio Kilgannon, the story's protagonist. They all have similar characteristics, and are essentially the same person. All of their lives seem to intertwine, and it shows on Good Apollo. Similar lyrics and musical elements reappear on The Writer's segment as well as on Claudio's, and even the songs from In Keeping Secrets, to symbolize how events going on in The Writer's life parallel and affect what happens in Claudio's story. I usually don't care much about song lyrics, but the depth of these is staggering. Now as for the music itself, as I mentioned earlier, this is for the fans. After an orchestrated verison of the usual Coheed intro, the first song is actually a light accoustic piece. Then you're thrusted into the explosive guitar of "Welcome Home", an epic metal song with guitars remeniscent of Led Zeppelin's "Kashmir". The next few songs are difficult to describe, as they are the usual Coheed fare, but much more carefully crafted than before. It might take a few listens to pick up on the intricacy of some of them. Two especially noteworthy tracks are "Apollo I: The Writing Writer" and "The Suffering". Even if you're not an avid Coheed fan, you've got to love these songs. Finally, we return to the story of Claudio and dive into the final four tracks, which make up the half hour long finale, "The Willing Well". Each movement is... as corny as this sounds... a rollercoaster ride of emotions, shifting from one style to another. "III: Apollo II: The Telling Truth" is the second half of "The Writing Writer", which revives the song with a heavier feel and angrier, more brutal lyrics. And just when you think you've reached the height of this rock opera (as some have called it), the song abruptly ends, and we enter the last part, "IV: The Final Cut". This is one heavy song, in the original sense of the word. You'd swear you were listening to Pink Floyd. This goes beyond anything I could have ever imagined Coheed achieving. It's simply amazing. And when that finally ends, you're treated to a little hidden bluegrass song, a nice and unexpected finishing touch. As awesome as this all sounds, you'll appreciate it more if you hear the band's previous two albums The Second Stage Turbine Blade and In Keeping Secrets Of Silent Earth: 3 first. In fact, if you haven't heard them, half of what I said about the storyline probably didn't make sense to you anyway. But all in all, this is a magnificent album, and perfect for the next step of the journey. I can only imagine what the series' conclusion will be...

If you like the sound of Coheed and Cambria in general, you'll more than likely enjoy this CD. However, many of the early tracks such as 'Welcome Home' have a very unique and excellent sound. I think that the band in general demonstrates an amazing amount of variation in their rock sound, they style of rock, and the instrumentals. The lead vocalist has in my opinion one of the best voices in modern rock because of how unique it is. The album itself is a continuing installment in the story that the band chronicles. Though all of the tracks are pretty good, with some excellent ones, there aren't as many exceptional tracks as there were in 'In Keeping Secrets of Silent Earth 3'. As a musical work, Coheed and Cambria have done some amazing things in terms of originality. This is a very good and unique musical sound that most rock fans should enjoy, and most C&C fans will likely appreciate.

When I first saw Coheed and Cambria's Second Stage Turbine on the listening station at my local record store, I couldn't help to listen...and I was impressed. Then came along Keeping Secrets...and this is when I became a huge fan of the band. A lot of people like to throw the "emo" label at them. I, for one, am an avid hater of emo music and style trend. I'm not one for whining and whatnot, but Coheed is different. They are a concept band focused around the visions of Lead Singer Claudio Sanchez.

I think what sets this album apart from the other two studio outings is that Travis (Lead Guitar) and Mike (Bass) seem to have put more effort into it then Claudio did. Some of the bass lines are really groovin, and Travis incorporates his own signature lead style. While Claudio is not the worst guitarist in the world, I think his forte lies in vocals and lyrical work rather then guitar and song writing, instead of trying to forge a copy of David Gilmour's (Pink Floyd) tone and even using a name of one of Floyd's albums for a song title (The Final Cut). The reason I enjoyed In Keeping Sectrets as much as I did is that I had never heard anything like it, and that originality is a little lacking in Good Apollo.

The album as a whole is a decent outing that I enjoy listening to, I just happen to be a bigger fan of In Keeping Secrets. This is not an album I can see being in heavy rotation on my iPod, while In Keeping Secrets has found its way back to my ears consistently since I purchased it. For me, it just seems like a weaker outing, though not weak in the least.

I can't believe this is the first Coheed & Cambria album I've ever listened to some one should punish me for this. Good Apollo is a welcome surprise and is exactly the kind of music I've been starving for lately. If you have been dissapointed with most of todays mainstream Rock this album will make you feel better. I think Claudios' voice is a little weird, but that's cool I'll get used to it and one day love it. Just like I did with The Mars Volta. This CD makes me feel that maybe their is now a light at the end of the tunnel for Rock music. If only more of todays bands could be as talented and original. I am also very impressed with the production of this album the whole CD is extremly tight and crisp. Never before have I been so quick to throw a band new to me to the top of my favorites list.

Here are my two cents on this Emo debate im reading in other reviews.

1. Emo is worse than Country and tarnishes the music industry.

2. This is absolutely not Emo for crying out loud, its Great Prog Rock!

I've been listening to Good Apollo at least a couple of times a week, straight through, ever since I purchased it on its release date back in September, and can say with much confidence that it is probably a better album than In Keeping Secrets..., though I can't bring myself to believe that just yet.

That aside, Good Apollo is a much more challenging listen than the band's previous two efforts, especially once you get into the half-hour-plus "Willing Well" section. Claudio has made an interesting move here with the concept as well, choosing to write a good part of the album from the point of view of the Writer, and not of the characters, effectively writing himself, and not just his namesake, into the story, bringing up some interesting questions in the process: is the Writer the GOD spoken of in the story? Which songs, in particular, are from the point of view of the Writer, and which are not? Some of these are obvious, but some take a little more doing.

Musically, this is the most ambitious thing that C and C have done yet. From the Zeppelin (sic)-esque "Welcome Home," to the Police-influenced riff of "Ten Speed," and the "Jesus Christ Superstar" verses of "From Fear Through the Eyes of Madness," all maintain a vice-like grip on the listener.

Don't be put off by either the band's "emo" or "prog-rock" labels...and they NEVER meant to be punk (by the way, "M. Saylor," do your research...the Sex Pistols were an artificially assembled boy band, brought together by the same guy who did the Backstreet Boys.). This is a ROCK AND ROLL band, albeit more clever than average, at the pinnacle of their existence. Get this album.