As a whole, I haven’t been a Coheed and Cambria since their first record “The Second Stage Turbine Blade” came out way back when. Since then, they have become a bunch of wusses, trying to play complicated metallic music with zero production value.

That is my major problem with all Coheed and Cambria cd’s after the first record came out in the underground.

I was semi-excited with this release, considering that this would be their third full length on a major record label, and when I picked up the disc, I was sorely disappointed.

The disc itself is packaged in a card stock sleeve. Not a jewel case, not a digipack, not an elaborate box, a cardstock sleeve. It has no major artwork or booklet that is limited edition or anything, it is in a sleeve! This might be a cut back at the record label to squeeze out more money when charging full price for this cd, or it could be that this cd is the worst cd ever produced.

Upon putting in the cd, I notice that the levels are spot on, for a smaller band. Had Coheed and Cambria been a three piece, I think this record would have been somewhat better. However, there is so much guitar work, and drum work, that the settings are muted and sound horrible. It sounds like the treble is way up, the bass is way down, and the songs are completely low quality. It’s hard to make something high quality sound so low quality on purpose, in my opinion.

If that is what they are going for, Coheed and Cambria have made the greatest record ever.

However, I hate this album, and I hated their last two records, because the sound quality is a piece of crap. In famous words from an internet messageboard, “I could take a dump in a bucket, and it would sound better than the last Coheed and Cambria cd’s”. It’s true.

Here’s a video for the track “Feathers”:

Creative, yes, sound quality? Not so good.

The difference between the quality of the recording from “The Second Stage Turbine Blade” to this current record is night and day. It’s funny how their first album was done by an independent label, and these last few records were done by Major Record Labels!

I don’t believe that file sharing and digital music is to blame for the low sales in records…it’s this poor quality recording that is a prime example of why the record labels are out of touch with the music consumers of the world.

Do not buy this record.

Buy their first record.

Unless you’re absolutely a die hard fan, if you are, pick it up here.

But before you launch insults, and hit me with tomatoes, I must tell you a bit more:

Coheed and Cambria are venturing forth on a tour and are coming through Seattle. My wife loves this band, and so naturally I bought two tickets. Tickets to this show are $25, a small investment. However, Ticketmaster and taxes jumped into the ticket price, causing them to soar to $75 for two tickets! That’s right, $75 for two tickets to see a band, which I hate on cd for 3 records now! Come on man, is there no love for the music fan?

I haven’t seen them live, so I won’t say that they suck live, but their records are so bad, I can’t even listen to them anymore.

On the other hand, if you want to listen to a superior version of this band, listen to RUSH. Rush was a superior rock band, and plays rock music with many layers and are better than Coheed and Cambria. Coheed’s vocals are similar to Rush’s, although Rush has ten times the ability and prowess of music writing by far. So buy A Rush album, instead of the this piece of crap record that Coheed put out.

For $75 Coheed better skateboard on stage, or give me a meal…man I’m upset about that.

However, seeing my wife smile and sing a long…priceless.