Coheed and Cambria - Year of the Black Rainbow

New York's finest Coheed and Cambria are back with their latest album, Year of the Black Rainbow. All of Coheed's previous efforts were concept albums embedded in a storyline called The Amory Wars. Their last album, 2007's No World For Tomorrow was the last chapter in that unfolding saga. This album is a prequel to that saga, showcasing Coheed and Cambria's tremendous and unique talent of telling a story through intricately crafted songs that describe a deeply enthralling storyline.

The album kicks off with one the disc's epic tracks, "The Broken" a hard edged, melodic rocker that features lead singer Claudio Sanchez's powerful and captivating vocals that pound through the speakers with great fury and intensity and captures the emotional essence of the song perfectly. "Guns of Summer" bumps it up a notch with furious guitar patterns and non-stop drums that make this song one of the standouts on a very rich and dynamic album. The album's first single, "Here We Are Juggernaut" is an epic and bombastic opus that makes dynamic use of the instrumentation at hand to create a standout piece that weaves the storyline into the song to create a unique and fulfilling listening experience that you just can't find anywhere else. "This Shattered Symphony" evokes the sounds of Led Zeppelin with Claudio's powerful vocals carrying the song to a whole new stratosphere and the epic guitars and pounding drums just add to the experience here on the album.

The album's second half starts off with my personal favorite track off the album, "World of Lines" a fast paced, melodic rocker that never stops until the very end with its resourceful guitars and blistering drums allowing the song to coast along with ease, "Made Out of Nothing (All That I Am)" is a slightly toned down effort with the guitars toned down a notch to give the listener a little variety along the way. "Pearl of the Stars" is an acoustic inspired tune that best showcases Claudio's beautiful and inspirational vocals that are revealed in its purest form right here. A totally unexpected surprise that might not be familiar territory for the prog-rockers, but they conquer it quite well on this track.

The album's last two tracks are "When Skeletons Live" a mid tempo, melodic rocker that teeters on the edge of becoming a fast paced tune but finds a comfortable balance to bring the best of both worlds together in one cohesive track. The album's title track does an excellent job of describing the whole storyline of the album through song and wraps up the whole album with a bevy of synthesized guitars and powerful drums, bringing everything together to create a synopsis of the album in one cohesive song. Coheed and Cambria have created a well constructed work of art here that bridges the gap between music and art. Some detractors out there might think they're trying to be Pink Floyd or The Mars Volta, but in my opinion they're light years apart from those bands and have created a universe all their own here with this epic saga. The deluxe edition of this album includes a 352 page novel penned by Claudio and author Peter David.

In retrospect, a well conceived and thought out effort that wraps up Coheed and Cambria's epic storyline with a prequel that shows their evolution from obscure little known band to prolific prog-rock pioneers and also shows that they aren't afraid to break the rules when it comes to combining music with a underlying narrative.

                                                                                                                         Album Score: 3.5/5

Track Listing:

1. One
2. The Broken
3. Guns of Summer
4. Here We Are Juggernaut
5. Far
6. This Shattered Symphony
7. World of Lines
8. Made Out of Nothing (All That I Am)
9. Pearl of the Stars
10. In the Flame of Error
11. When Skeletons Live
12. The Black Rainbow 

Where Are They Now?

This week I'm taking a break from reviewing albums and presenting to you a special feature entitled Where Are They Now?

Have you ever wondered what happened to your favorite artists from way back when? You know, the artist that had that one big hit you remember hearing on the radio over and over, then you never heard from them again? Well I'm going to give you the scoop of what happened to your favorite musical artists of yesterday and what they are up to right now! I've picked four artists from the 1990's who have dropped off the musical radar completely, some are still involved in music while others have gone off to do other projects! And now, here we go!

Who: Semisonic
Best known for: Closing Time

Semisonic formed in Minneapolis, MN in 1995. They released their full length debut Great Divide in 1996 to very little fanfare. Their mainstream breakthrough didn't come until 2 years later in 1998 when they released their sophomore effort, Feeling Strangely Fine. The album produced the monster hit, "Closing Time", which had a 5 week reign at #1 on the Modern Rock Tracks chart in the summer of 1998. They released their next album All About Chemistry in 2001 which produced the hit single, "Chemistry", but was only successful overseas. The album was met with very little enthusiasm upon its release in the U.S.

Where Are They Now?

After their last album, the band went on an indefinite hiatus. Lead singer Dan Wilson has said in interviews of making more music with Semisonic in the future, but he said that his busy day to day life keeps putting that on the back burner for now.

Who: Gin Blossoms
Best Known For: Hey Jealousy

Gin Blossoms formed in Tempe, AZ in 1987. Their name was taken from a photo of W.C. Fields which bore the caption, "W.C. Fields with gin blossoms" referring to what appeared to be the actor's nose that was affected by gin, but was actually a skin condition known as rosacea, where the name Gin Blossoms originated from. Gin Blossoms released their debut album, New Miserable Experience in 1992. The album produced the hit, "Hey Jealousy" which peaked at #25 on the Billboard Hot 100. Tragedy struck the band a year later when lead guitarist/songwriter Doug Hopkins committed suicide. A song that was written by him, "Found Out About You" also peaked at #25 on the Billboard Hot 100 and went to #1 on the Modern Rock Tracks chart. They released their next album, Congratulations, I'm Sorry in 1996 which produced the Top 10 hit, "Follow You Down". In the spring of 1997, the band decided to part ways.

Where Are They Now?

After their breakup, each band member decided to do other musical side projects to keep themselves occupied for the time being. The band reformed in 2002, performing a couple of one-off shows around the U.S. The band released their next album, Major Lodge Victory in 2006, their first album in 10 years. The album debuted at #159 on the Billboard 200 album chart and the band continues to tour various locations across the country today.

Who: Fiona Apple
Best Known For: Criminal

Fiona Apple burst onto the music scene in 1996 with her debut album, Tidal. The album produced the hit single, "Criminal" which peaked at #21 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and #4 on the Modern Rock Tracks chart. The album eventually went triple platinum subsequently after that. The video for the song featured a scantily clad Fiona cavorting with strangers, which generated a great deal of controversy with its provocative sexually charged imagery. Fiona again attracted controversy at the 1997 MTV Video Music Awards when Fiona went on a tangent after accepting the Best New Artist trophy, telling the audience about "how you shouldn't model your life on what we think is cool, what we're wearing, and what we're saying." The irony here is that her video for "Criminal" reinforced the same celebrity fixation with both weight and appearance that Fiona herself had publicly condemned.

Fiona released her next album, When The Pawn... in 1999 which produced the minor hit, "Fast As You Can" and pushed the album to platinum sales status. Her next album, Extraordinary Machine commenced production in 2002 and continued on for about a year. Tracks from that album were later leaked onto the Internet, and the album was repeatedly delayed due to the record label feeling dissatisfied with the finished product. A fan led campaign called Free Fiona was started in support of the album's release. The album was eventually released in October 2005, debuting at #7 on the Billboard 200 album charts and eventually went gold. However, none of the singles managed to appear on any of the Billboard charts.

Where Is She Now?

After her tour in support of Extraordinary Machine wrapped in 2006, Fiona has made a collaboration with comedian Zach Galifanakis on a comedy track entitled "Come Over and Get It" and has made occasional concert appearances. No word yet as to whether she plans to record another album.

Who: Eve 6
Best Known For: Inside Out

Eve 6 formed in 1995 in La Crescenta, California. The band's name is inspired by the TV show The X-Files from a character named Eve #6. The band released their self titled debut in 1998, producing the monster smash, "Inside Out" which spent 4 weeks at #1 on the Modern Rock Tracks chart. The album was propelled to platinum sales status shortly after that. The band released their follow up Horrorscope

Where Are They Now?

The members of the band moved on to other, short-lived side projects. Two-thirds of the band reunited in 2008 with a brand new guitarist, playing at a college show in Virginia. The band is planning to release a new album sometime in the near future, but a release date has not been confirmed as of yet.

So, there you have it folks! An update of some artists whose time in the spotlight has long since faded and have moved on to greener pastures. I'll be back next week with my regular album review and if you have any suggestions on what that album should be, leave a comment here on the blog or reach me on Facebook or Twitter and drop me a line!

MGMT - Congratulations

Brooklyn, NY's finest MGMT are back with their highly anticipated sophomore effort, Congratulations. The follow up to 2007's superb Oracular Spectacular finds the psychedelic duo of Ben Goldwasser and Andrew VanWyngarden completely abandoning the sound that was found on their predecessor for a more organic, raw effort that definitively captures the essence that is MGMT, and that makes for one of the best albums of 2010 so far.

The album kicks off with "It's Working", which has a distinct surf-rock feel to it which is largely depicted on the album's cover art, and that the album was recorded out in Malibu, CA which explains the ethereal, beachlike atmosphere on this track and totally defines their hippie-like persona that they seem to emulate both on the record and in person. "Song for Dan Treacy" is a melodic and musically diverse number that sounds like nothing they have done before with a variety of different instrumentation that is mind-boggling and is too much for me to list here. "Someone's Missing" is a total flashback track to the late 60's Woodstock era with its brilliant instrumentation and fun-loving vibes that are ever present on this track and all throughout the album. My favorite track on the album is "Flash Delirium", a electronic infused ditty that combines with the psychedelic rhythms to create a song that is nothing like any of their songs on their last album, most notably "Time To Pretend" and "Kids". It can best be described as an "anti-single".

As we continue on, we hear "Siberian Breaks", a mystical 12 minute opus that takes you on a trippy journey through calm, ethereal waves of electronic infused psychedelia and a bevy of instrumentation that will leave me rambling on for hours describing all the different sounds that are present on this track. "Brian Eno" is a fast paced, groovy rocker that offers up a little diversity on a predominantly psychedelic influenced album. Closing out the album, we hear "Lady Dada's Nightmare" a quiet, serene track that offers up a heavy dose of ambiance that allows the listener to take a break from all the heavy psychedelia heard so far and settle in a little with some similarly positive vibes. The album's title track closes out the disc on a high note with some surf-infused rhythms and pristine vocals from Andrew and Ben, who are at the top of their game on this one.

MGMT took a monumental risk on creating their second disc, as is with any band who are trying to recreate the same magic that made their debut album so successful. The band executed a very unique tactic for this album, as they released no singles to radio in advance of the album's release, although some radio stations have been spinning "Flash Delirium" in their daily rotation. It shows here that MGMT are not just that band who created the hit song "Kids", but a full fledged collective who are deviating from the norms of the music industry and creating an album that is representative of who they are and what they aspire to be, not some commodity of the record label that is only designed to recreate songs that are similar to their prior work.

All in all, a surprising and cohesive effort here from MGMT who have rewritten the formula for how a follow up album should be made, and have gone against the grain in terms for expectations from critics who thought that this album would be just like their last effort, but ultimately it's not. It'll be fascinating to see where MGMT is 5-10 years from now, possibly still evolving into a band that is constantly changing their sound with each album they make, but still retaining their distinct sound that has made them who they are today.

                                                                                                                             Album Score: 4/5

Track Listing:

1. It's Working
2. Song for Dan Treacy
3. Someone's Missing
4. Flash Delirium
5. I Found a Whistle
6. Siberian Breaks
7. Brian Eno
8. Lady Dada's Nightmare
9. Congratulations

As an added bonus, here is the video for "Flash Delirium"! Hope you like it!

Them Crooked Vultures - Them Crooked Vultures

The side project known as Them Crooked Vultures have released their much buzzed about debut album. You might recognize a few familiar names from this group based out of Los Angeles, CA. The super group is fronted by Josh Homme of Queens of The Stone Age with Foo Fighters frontman Dave Grohl and Led Zeppelin bassist and keyboardist John Paul Jones on board as well. Judging by the overall sound of the album, this is definitely a full fledged group effort and not just a one-off side project.

The album opens up with "No One Loves Me & Neither Do I", a gritty and melodic hard rock opus that features Josh's familiar and rhythmic vocals pouring through every crevice of the song. "Mind Eraser, No Chaser" features Josh's fantastic guitar work that is leaps and bounds ahead from the music he had created in Queens of The Stone Age. My favorite song off the album is the disc's first single "New Fang", an extremely melodic and gritty tune that highlights Dave's legendary drum skills that he perfected when he was a member of Nirvana. A solid tune all around and one that best encapsulates the spirit of the album as a whole.

As the album rolls along we hear "Elephants",  a fast paced, non-stop fury of guitars and drums that has slow, melodic interludes in between each hardcore breakdown to allow the listener to take notice of the musical characteristics that are present in this tune. "Scumbag Blues" features some intricate guitar riffs set amongst a backdrop of furious drums that all adds up to an exquisite listen. "Bandoliers" is a mid-tempo melodic blast that has a toned down edge to it that makes it different from all the other songs on the album.

As we near the home stretch, we discover "Warsaw or The First Breath You Take After You Give Up", a simple, straight-forward rocker that again features Josh's dazzling vocal harmonies and masterful drum work. John Paul Jones' keyboard skills are also a particular highlight of this track. "Gunman" is a fiercely melodic tune that sets the bar pretty high from the get-go and never lets up until the very end with its fiery guitar riffs and Josh's piercing vocals once again taking charge on this one. I'm always a bit skeptical about side projects because I don't know if the principal members of the band intend to return to their original bands after they complete an album or whether it's a permanent fixture. With Them Crooked Vultures, they have a distinct sound that is nothing like their counterparts have created and blends together the sounds of all three bands they were in prior to joining this group, and this shows that they are a full time band, not just a side project.

All in all, a splendid and well constructed effort that brings together three musicians you never thought you would see together in a band, and completely smashes the perception on rock supergroups and proves that this is a band we'll be hearing from a lot more in the future.

                                                                                                                               Album Score: 4/5

Track Listing:

1. No One Loves Me & Neither Do I
2. Mind Eraser, No Chaser
3. New Fang
4. Dead End Friends
5. Elephants
6. Scumbag Blues
7. Bandoliers
8. Reptiles
9. Interlude With Ludes
10. Warsaw or The First Breath You Take After You Give Up
11. Caligalove
12. Gunmen
13. Spinning In Daffodils

BREAKING NEWS!! Aaron Gillespie Leaves Underoath!!

Hey everyone!

This news just came in over the wire. Aaron Gillespie, drummer for the band Underoath, has announced on his Tumblr page that at the conclusion of their current European tour, he will part ways with the band. He says that there is no bad blood between him and the other members of the band, and that this was an agreed upon band decision that came about recently. Here is the official statement from his Tumblr page:

"I am more then aware the the news you have heard of seems rash, and probably hasty. I wanted to be able to write a few thing down here to maybe help you understand a bit, or at least clear up the rumor mill before it starts grind like a mo fo'.




1. Underoath and i have parted ways. Yes that is a true statement. There is no bad blood, there is no anger, i was in that band for eleven years, i love every person with my whole heart, i love the music we made together, the shows we played and the good times we had. People change, times change, and sometimes change just comes hunting for you.



2. Yes i will continue to play in the almost. I will also play acoustic, as well as speak and do other musical/ ministry type things.



3. Yes underoath will remain a band, yes without me.



4. I really still love you, alot.



5. I am still giving drum lessons, all your appointments will be honored and kept.



6. Everything you read here is true, regardless of what your friends or internet connection might tell you.



7. Its all good. listen to uo, listen to the almost if you want, times change, roll with the hurricane."

This is just another announcement of a lineup shuffle in a rock band in about a week. Just last week, I broke to you guys that longtime Taking Back Sunday members Matt Rubano and Matt Fazzi were out of the band and replaced with original members John Nolan and Shaun Cooper. What do you make of this sudden announcement from Aaron Gillespie and the Underoath camp? Feel free to post your comments here on the blog and tell me what you think!