Good Apollo, I'm Burning Star IV, Volume One: From Fear Through The Eyes of Madness is Coheed and Cambria’s follow-up to its gold selling album In Keeping Secrets Of Silent Earth: 3. Good Apollo is the first half of the band’s third installment of its prog-rock/sci-fi series of young Claudio Kilgannon and his exploits to avenge the death of his family. “The record continues in what will end up being a 5 album saga based around a doomed married couple who are convinced they must sacrifice their children in order to save the world from being infected by a virus that is embedded in their genes.” (Insert Scientology joke anywhere)
The band cites Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd and the Police as influence for Good Apollo. “Welcome Home” is the band’s Led Zeppelin-esque track, which I found more Metallica sounding than Led sounding. “Once Upon Your Dead Body” is C&C’s ode to The Cars. Although the inspiration isn’t explicit, what gives Coheed and Cambria its uniqueness is the band’s ability to reinvent sound as opposed to the more popular method of recycling it. Lead singer Claudio Sanchez’s vocals are very unique distinct and the band’s progressive sound differentiates the band from even the most obvious of odes.
C&C’s breakout single “A Favor House Atlantic” gained the band an emo label, which the band both distances from - with tracks like “Mother May I” and “The Lying Lies & Dirty Secrets of Miss Erica Court” - and embraces - with tracks like “Ten Speed (Of God's Blood & Burial)” and “Wake Up.” While C&C might resemble emo in the genre’s loosest sense, the band matures with every song. The album is direct and doesn’t digress, especially in the nonexistent gaps between each track. For concept albums, losing focus can be easy, but C&C somehow manages to construct Good Apollo as tightly as possible, while also maintaining room for its epic series of “Willing Well” songs. Any genre label might be premature for a band growing as fast as Coheed and Cambria and Good Apollo is a testament to the band’s potential.
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Article comments
1 - Matt Wheeler
I personally think that the album sounds a little over produced compared to their previous albums. This is somewhat inevitable as a band matures I guess. Just look at Dave Matthews Band albums Everywhere and later versus Before These Crowded Streets and everything that came before. Unlike DMB however, I think that they do a good job of keeping focus, like the review said and still maintaining a healthy tapestry of sound. All in all it's a great effort but I think I would place it as tied for second place with Second Stage Turbine blade in terms of albums from Coheed.
2 - Craig Lyndall
I loved this album. It probably isn't quite as solid as their previous album In Keeping Secrets, but it is a totally worthy follow-up. I totally loved the opening track. It is so stadium rock and roll and I love how they weren't afraid to let it be just a huge song.
3 - Ben
It isn't my favorite of their albums. This album loses some of the momentum that their previous albums drove through from beginning to end. Nonetheless I'm still impressed.
4 - charles chavez
good apollo is well worth buying,it gives the previous album a run 4 its money.I loved welcome home and the suffering is one of my favorite coheed songs yet. buy this album!!!!!!!!!!!
5 - senna the dutch kid
i think this album is amazing this album gives
the whole story a better meaning
this is a masterpiece definitly better then in keeping screts
this album is as good as the second stage turbine blade although second stage had better
a more interesting and catchy story behind it since he was actually killing his sons in that album the other albums they are still alive
peace out
6 - mrfudgeyhead
this was the first Coheed album i bought, and after i heard this i changed it litterally made me go through an epiphany. At first i hated his vocals but now they're my favorite band, and the crap i once thought was good is now the collection of bands i laugh at when people say they are their favorite. Any band could learn from Coheed they are just so awesome in every aspect.
7 - Meeeeeee
The music on this album is phenominal, brilliant production, amazing guitar work, good concept and lyrics, I love this album but for one thing, I just cant stand the whiney, emo vocals. It sounds like he's singing about his homework. grow up. it totally ruins the story and real emotion that is going on within the songs. But apart from that this album is definately worth a listening... I still love it and hate it!
8 - Nate
This is the first album that i purchased by them a long time ago and i still give it a listen. It had a few of my favorite songs and greatest guitar riffs. I really love Welcome Home and The Final Cut, i would spend the money on the cd just to listen to those songs