1. One
Wind sounds. A slow piano. This is how you know a Coheed album is beginning. Give me a sword.
2. The Broken
Heard this before as it has already been released. I like this track though. Good chorus. Gives me hope for the album having more balls than No World For Tomorrow. Another Coheed staple; the obligatory chant, though not much of it. Really like this song.
3. Guns of Summer
Hmm, there's Chris Pennie on drums. Not sure how to feel about this. I like when it opens up a bit. Yeah. The choruses are strong, but quick. This one might take more listens to get into. Some sounds in here that are new to Coheed. Jury is still out.
4. Here We Are Juggernaut
Another song that has already been released officially. Another song that I liked the first time I heard it. I suppose that either means they picked good songs to release first or I've become more familiar with these tracks. Juggernaut is such a perfect Coheed and Cambria song. Love the little bridge here. Really like the chorus. Its big, just the way I like my Coheed. This song manages to sound angry and somewhat bright all at the same time.
5. Far
Oh yes. I'm feeling this for real. Nice guitar / drums groove. I don't know that I've felt this from a Coheed song before, but I like it. A lot more noise on this album then on previous albums. Might be the fact that this is a leak and not the proper release, making for muddier production. I suppose we won't know 'till the real thing comes out. In any event, this song is great.
6. This Shattered Symphony
I don't really like the "it sounds like a miniature guitarist is playing far away" effect that starts this song. Its getting a bit better as it goes on. Good thing about Coheed is you always have 4 minutes at minimum to get into a song, but this isn't exactly grabbing me. Especially not after "Far."
7. World Of Lines
Yes please. Doubled guitar riffs are what I'm here for. What else am I here for? Some whoa ohs in the chorus. And now I have both. Sign me up. This album is very Verse-Chorus-Verse-Chorus-Bridge-Chorus oriented. Not necesarrily a bad thing, (I mean come on, most of you have heard my band), just a note. Really into "World of Lines."
8. Made Out Of Nothing (All That I Am)
Well this seems to be a catchy little ditty, in a Coheed sort of way. A chorus that is a bit on the bright side, but not too much as was sometimes the case on NWFT. And another bridge. This song isn't bad. A good one to move the album along. Not too memorable, but a good song nonetheless. A role player you might say. Also Tiger Woods is coming back at the Master's if you haven't heard.
9. Pearl Of The Stars
That is not Claudio...not sure how I feel about it. That is a xylophone. Well played. Claudio on Claudio harmonies. Add that to the list of reasons I'm here. I'm feeling this. There are always a few tracks like this with Coheed. Pretty slow at first and then....there it is, the guitar solo. And back to this other guy. I guess it could be Claudio. But. No. Can't be. Horns? Yes please. Really happy with that track.
10. In The Flames Of Error
Riffing guitar under soaring vocals. Did you forget who you were listening too? This song will remind you. More double vocals, rolling drums, lead guitars. I'm really interested to see if this noise is the production or the crappy leak. Not sure which I'm hoping for. I do like some of the noise though. Interesting to note that this is the longest song so far, coming in at 5:30. Looks like the last and title track is 7:35, but for Coheed to only have one track over 7 minutes is rare.
11. When Skeletons Live
This ones a bit poppy, try to keep up. When a chorus you've never heard before is familiar is that a good or bad thing? I suppose it can be either depending on the situation. Put this with "Made Out Of Nothing" in the role player category. Moves the album along well. Good song, catchy chorus but nothing special on first listen. I can see this getting stuck in my head though. The longer this song goes, the more I like it. Fun track.
12. The Black Rainbow
Here we go. Last track. A few seconds in and I'm pumped. If this song slowly grows for 7 minutes, its enough to please me. Ha. Well so much for slow, but I'm into it. This song is sort of hypnotic. Repetitive in the way I love. Even though this is techincally the first album of the concept, a prequel, its also the last. Sort of feels like listening to the last song of all. /nerd. And the end. Wind sounds. Ambient noise. Over and out captain.
Notable: YOTBR, like NWFT, lacks an epic song in the vein of "In Keeping Secrets" or "Welcome Home."
Also: IKSSE:3>GA1>SSTB>YOTBR>NWFT
