First Impressions
From what I've managed to gather of the public opinion of Coheed's albums, is that they have two black sheep in their discography. One is Year Of The Black Rainbow, which I honestly had a soft spot for. And the other one is this one. I have to say, if THIS is the worst that Coheed has to offer... this band is just incredible.
While this is a very noticeable step down from from every other album I've heard from them, it's still not bad at all. But let's go by parts.
The most noticeable aspect of the album on a quick glance is that this is the only album they've ever put out that is not part of the Amory Wars. This is just a regular soft rock album with light themes of Claudio's life and his experience with fatherhood.
On one hand, I suppose it makes sense that some point they'd try something different. But on the other... they went right back to the Amory Wars after this, so it just leaves this album completely singled out.
You might've noticed something I said as well. This is a soft rock album, maybe with a little bit of pop punk in there. But all in all this feels like the least ambitious album I have heard from them. It's really short, and maybe has two songs that brush 6 minutes. But even then, it feels very subdued.
Now, this isn't a bad thing actually. I think this manages to have a unique identity because of how subdued it is. Everything about it, even down to the cover art, feels very chill. You know what you're getting into. It's just a sweet little album, maybe one I could hear as a movie soundtrack.
The first half, as usual, is the best part of the record. The run from Island to Ghost actually has some really cool moments.
Island is the closest thing we get to a classic Coheed bop here. It's a great way to open op the album. It's got a surprising amount of energy and the chorus is extremely catchy. I have to give the rhythm section credit here. The drums and bass are really what drives the songs here from average to pretty good.
The best song of the album for me is Eraser. This one honestly sounds like it could be in quite a few of their other albums. It's got their usual upbeat energy, but it has just a little bit of aggression and darkness underneath it.
The chorus once again being the best part. The way it functions rhythmically is so interesting. It makes you feel like time is slowing down. This, added to the super tasty bassline in the verses and the little quirky moments like the clock sound at the bridge and the dissonant guitar notes at the end? Yeah, this song hooked me.
Colors is a lovely little ballad. Honestly, it's pretty crazy how they don't do ballads too often, but when they do they just nail it. The melodies are everything in this one.
Ghost is one of two songs here that absolutely blew me away in how much I liked it. Coheed do not do these songs at all. It's a super mellow and almost ethereal acoustic song. It's too chill to be even considered a ballad. It's so short too. A perfectly little pallet cleanser in my opinion.
Unfortunately, this is where I think the album falls off pretty hard. The second half of the album just feels so unmemorable to me.
They try to do more ambitious and progressive ideas in Atlas and The Audience, but it feels meandering and a little generic to me. I cannot remember these songs for the life of me. And even the more poppy ones like Young Love and You Got Spirit, Kid just feel not as good as the ones at the start of the album.
However, I will say, the album brings it back with it's last song. Peace To The Mountain. Once again, I have no idea why the super mellow and slow acoustic songs just hit for me. But there is just something about them.
The funny thing is that I actually dismissed this song HARD in my first couple listens. But just last night I was listening to it, writing with my partner, and GOD it just hit perfectly. There is something so peaceful and pretty about it.
Let me return to my initial statement about this album and Coheed as a whole. If this is the worst that Coheed has to offer... this might be one of my favorite bands of all time.
Because yes, this is pretty unequivocally their worst album, at least so far for me. And the fact that I still had so much to say and that so much of it spoke to me is insane. Super solid, mellow, I might return to it from time to time when I'm in that mood.
Ranking
Eraser
Peace To The Mountain
Colors
Island
Ghost
Here To Mars
You Got Spirit, Kid
The Audience
Atlas
Young Love
Score