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http://twowaymonologues.blogspot.com
We specialize in reviewing non mainstream music, and cover all types of genres with four writers with distinctly different taste.
Feel free to leave any comments. Good or bad. And here is a review for Coheed and Cambria's latest album that was done a few days ago.
Coheed and Cambria: In Keeping Secrets of Silent Earth 3
It begins with a phone ringing, and inevitably everyone in the room is confused. You tell them don't worry its just the CD, and strange things like this continue to happen in the COheed and Cambria album. This album is in my opinion the strangest album I bought in 2004. These guys were on Warped Tour and generally people who like them enjoy punk rock. But it is really hard to honestly make an argument for them being punk. I read an article about this band not too long ago, and I found out that every album they release is based on an alternate dimension in an alternate universe that they create and write songs about. That might explain the complexity and bizarreness of the backgrounds, and vocal pacing and basically well everything about the album. But in an unique and somewhat confusing kinda way it works. The vocals are extremely whiney, and some people might be driven to hit stop after a few minutes of them. But I pride myself on being able to appreciate almost all vocals, and I don't like giving up on an album just because a singer has a tough to swallow voice. I did that once with Oasis, and it was a huge mistake. This album stretches almost 70 minutes (altho there is a secret song so its probably more like 60 minutes of actual music) and the best way to describe Coheed and Cambria is that they take you on a journey. And if you can get past the voice, its a pretty wicked journey. Let's begin.
"In Keeping Secrets of Silent Earth 3" is the first actual track, after a dramatic 1:30 second introduction. The aggressive power guitar cords, combined with the vocals emits a sound similar to AFI. But its all in the lyrics. This album is completely average without the lyrics. "For you i'd do anything just to make you happy, hear you tell that you're proud of me. I'd kill anything, cut the throats of babies for them break their hearts for they were them. Waiting for you to say..... I love you TOO". Immediately after this powerful and cryptic lyric, the band takes the song to a different level. Slowing down the pace, and adding an additional guitar track which is more low key, and more thoughtful. These songs... all of them seem like they would be almost impossible to duplicate the same every time live. The openess of the songs, allows every listener to choose their own focus. This song spans 8 minutes and 12 seconds, but it doesn't feel like it. It feels like the song transitions into two new songs without ever changing tracks. Kinda like what Green Day did on the most recent album, except without being so obvious about by listing it on the tracklist.
The gateway drug that got me and many others into Coheed & Cambria is "A Favor House Atlantic". This single didn't get an abundance of airplay, but if you have muchloud (like I do) it was in decent rotation. This is definitely the catchiest this band gets, so it makes sense to put it out as a single. On the other hand, the lead singer's voice cannot possibly annoy more people than it does in this song. But I love it. This is a triumphant song. After the entire album (which is really more or less a story), and all the while through the album the guy just can't seem to get the girl. He does everything he can, and has no luck. Talks about suicide, violence, depression, and all the while he keeps valiantly trying to somehow get the girl. But here is where he lets her go, "Bye bye beautiful, don't bother to write. Disturbed by your words, and they're calling all cars. Face step let down, face step .... step down." The song is also the only track under 4 minutes so if you want a dose of Coheed and Cambria but don't want the buffet. Grab this track.
"The Camper Velorium 1: Faint of Hearts" is part 1 of three songs in a row with similar titles. Of the three this is my favorite. This is like a love song on crack. With an eighties style electric guitar cock rock riff, and a background vocal track going "Coo-coo-ca-chew" (which should be lame, but it actually works.) The beauty of this album, and this track is that every time I listen to it, I find myself rocking a different part of the song. Or finding something neat in a new track. There are so many levels going on at once, that it is hard to really appreciate the complexity with just one listen. This song might have had some mild success as a single.
Not every song is a winner, and some of them aren't even close. "The Light & The Glass" which is the last actual track on the album. (Before all the crazy shit that happens in the secret tracks). Is as close as Coheed and Cambria get to being unplugged. After everything is said and done, this is kinda the "and they live happily ever-after" song. Being it as the album is supposed to play itself out as story. It doesn't work. The band has a really cool sound, and a really neat niche in the music industry. They should stick to it, because without it they kinda suck.
All in all I have to give this band credit for going for it. I mean, by releasing all their albums with this crazy idea of writing a story about an alternate dimension, and then turning it into songs and eventually an album is a trifle ambitious. But Coheed and Cambria throw caution to the wind and go for it. You have to love that kinda balls to the wall mentality. And you know what? It isn't perfect. In fact it is far from perfect, but its decent. This is a mood album for sure, you have to feel ambitious to listen to it. You need to be ready to open your mind to the music, and not doing something that is going to take a lot of your attention because the music is gripping and will distract you. I'd recommend this album, but I have come up with a litmus test that you should take before listening. Ask yourself these three questions, 1. Do I like complicated music?, 2. Can I stand fairly whiney dramatic vocals (like A.F.I. or Jimmy Eat World), 3. Are lyrics and concepts important to me with music? If you fit the bill, then get to the downloading. Silent Earth awaits.
Tracks you should download: This is more of an album. If you want to truly experience it you need to hear it as an album.
If you like this you should check out: AFI, Old Jimmy Eat World.
SCORE: 7.8 (in reviewing this album I heard it about four times this week, and that has been both a good thing and a bad thing. But this CD has lasting appeal, I know it will pop up again in my cd player for years to come.)
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