Was just looking for a thread where I could mention that I'm just now going back and giving Illuminaudio a proper listen and that I actually thoroughly enjoy it. I think I tried listening to a few of the songs when it was first released but so much other music was out that I never gave it much time. Anyhow, the new lineup and new vocalist is a nice change of pace. Even though the vocal style and delivery is very similar, I think these tracks are a lot catchier and really the most consistent Chiodos album from start to finish. I'd probably rank it second behind Bone Palace Ballet if I had rank them.
As time has passed, I’ve found that Illuminaudio is the album of theirs I go back to the most, especially on summer nights. It’s really underrated in my opinion. “Notes in Constellations” is a perfect song. This band’s discography is so interesting, though. You could probably talk me into any of the first three albums as being their best.
Illuminaudio is the only record I actually back by these guys. Bolmer sounded fantastic and Tanner Wayne is a beast behind the kit. Unfortunately, between Bolmer lacking the charisma on stage that CO has and CO stans refusing to accept Bolmer - the record just didn’t work as well as everyone hoped for. It’s such a shame and I would pay stupid money to hear another record from that line up… Oh well.
Bone Palace > All's Well > Devil >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Illuminaudio still have no idea why anyone likes Illuminadio, just feels so lifeless to me. Bone Palace is a whole other level, few albums took risks like that in the scene and it really paid off. Doesn't get the credit it deserves.
I love Illuminaudio, but it's got nothing on Bone Palace or All's Well. I pretty much always just thought of it as a different band that happened to be mostly people from Chiodos. I definitely don't think it's their most consistent. There are some real clunkers on it. But also some real gems. The last song they released though (New Thought Movement) was so awesome, and I wish we could've seen where they might've taken it. Bone Palace Ballet, on the other hand, very literally changed my life. Still love popping it on once in a while and just losing my shit for 40 minutes or so. There's nothing like Chiodos with Craig Owens. If I'm ranking: Bone Palace>All's Well>Illuminaudio>=Devil I prob like Illuminaudio just a smidge more than Devil because of where I was at in life when the two came out, but I was listening to Devil just last week and was really enjoying it.
I used to love them all, slightly preferred All’s Well and Bone Palace. But I haven’t listened to them in years.
I'd prefer to not taint my memory of CO led Chiodos, because I am guessing it does not hold up well at all.
I got in a weird mood last week and threw on Bone Palace Deluxe for the first time since forever and Devil since it came out. I hated most of Bone Palace when it came out being a big Alls Well fan when I was 16 I hoped that the follow up would be as “urgent”. but now after last weeks listen I think Bone Palace is actually easily the best music they wrote, not that its great, but it has its moments where they are seemingly reaching beyond their own capabilities. it is the most diverse and musical even if Im left often saying “so what” or wincing at any of the cringe moments or otherwise failed moments of songwriting that rear their heads. there was plenty of moments that impressed me outright and especially within the context of the time - and also they were on an indie label. it is apparent that the budget for that album was large considering that fact. i had actually misremembered that they were maybe on a major for that era and it was an easy mistake to make when listening to the albums extra instrumentation. theres alot of session musicians that were part pf this album. Devil was impressively bad. the songs often dont make any sense. its certainly not memorable in a good way. and alot of Craigs voice shenanigans have not aged well haha
Really wish Teeth The Size of Piano Keys was going to be on the new Bone Palace Ballet vinyl reissue. But I understand they have had some copyright issues either the song and the Charles Bukowski estate. I still think the original BPB is better and more complete than Grand Coda.
An entire song is going to be missing from the vinyl? That's pretty rough. And yeah, I only ever listen to the 10-song album instead of the Coda
i forgot about that song! just listened on youtube. sidenote: why was craig so bad at screaming on Bone Palace? he was good at it on Alls Well
BPB is not an album I can separate nostalgia from, so in my head it holds up, but I have no way to know whether that's true on an objective level Grand Coda gave us Two Birds Stoned At Once and Smitten for the Mitten (other two were pretty meh), so I'm glad it was released, but I have the bonus songs as a separate album in my library and usually just listen to the regular 10 track album
All’s Well just sounds so dated and Craig’s voice does not hold up that well IMO. At least with Bone Palace - everything from Production to Craig’s voice to the actual songs themselves sound a lot better.. However, Illuminaudio is still superior to me in all the aspects above. Machine did an AWESOME job with the record. It sounds massive. Plus I think Brandon is a FARRRRRRRR more superior vocalist than Craig. Like, it’s not even a comparison. It’s a honestly just damn shame he doesn’t really do anything vocal anymore.
I really don't care for anything about Brandon's voice, it's so faceless and boring, could be anyone's voice from that era
oh a Chiodos thread, for a second I thought I may have missed something was going on with them getting back together maybe lol I'll throw my hat in the ring and also say Illuminaudio is their best album, and I actually think Bone Palace Ballet is a bit overrated! I kind of miss All's Well's rawness from it, while Illuminaudio does its own thing enough and pushes all the right buttons for me. And I'm actually enough of a Devil fan Illuminaudio > Devil > All's Well > Bone Palace Ballet, but Devil and All's Well are pretty close In a ranking that I'm sure would get me kicked off the site lol