Island is solid, atlas great, rest is forgettable I’m the biggest fan of theirs, just expect more out of them
I would have absolutely no idea the album was recorded live if I hadn’t read that it was, nothing about the production or performances suggests that it was to me. But it’s not that uncommon of a concept, you’d be surprised how many albums are mostly cut live and you probably have no clue. Also I can guarantee you there were some overdubs added in later, otherwise it wouldn’t have taken a full two weeks for them to cut the record, and it was definitely edited like any other studio recording would be
Ha I had actually deleted my comment because I started second guessing myself that this album was recorded live. But yeah I think the drums always kinda bugged me on the album. I dont know much about production and how live recordings work, but it just sounds like the drums were recorded with an overhead mic instead of each drum mic'd. The snare also sounds much different than typical Coheed albums.
It was cut live but I guarantee you they used proper drum mic set ups to record the drums, you would know if it was just overheads it would sound way worse and way roomier and there wouldn’t be any kick whatsoever. Not to say the drum sound is perfect (it doesn’t bother me but I haven’t paid much attention to it) but I know it’s not just overheads. Listening a bit now it just sounds like it’s heavy on the cymbals which could leave that impression but I can still clearly make out the other parts of the kit enough to know it’s not just an overhead
Thanks to this conversation I just reminded myself how much I love Island and Atlas. Damnit, I'm gonna stay up till like 2am listening to Coheed aren't I?
I’ve always thought Eraser is one of their more underrated tracks. Love how Josh switches up from that herky jerky rhythm in the first half of the verses to the driving 4 on the floor thing in the second half. And then the chorus is just classic S tier Claudio melody writing
Colors and Ghost are the two underrated tracks on TCBTS for me, even though I feel like Queen of the Dark is a more realized version of what they were going for on Colors. RE: NWFT - I was also slightly let down when it first came out, and felt like TEC suite was trying to be as epic as the Willing Wells and just didn’t land for the most part aside from the track The End Complete. I like each song now though, and the whole album has grown on me a ton over time. It was also the last time it felt like a true collaboration in songwriting between Claudio and Travis. on that note, it bums me out that I have no idea what the 2nd guitar is doing in Shoulders, and if it’s even there. That’s been an on and off noticeable thing for me since Afterman, that Travis is either way in the back of the mix a lot of the times or just isn’t there at all.
I'm actually pretty close to this. I don't have SSTB or NWFT very high at all on my lists and definitely think YOTBR is tragically underrated.
I'm convinced that Year of the Black Rainbow is one of the most underrated albums in any band's discography. I'm holding onto the hope that one-day people will come around to it and realize what a gem it is.
I will forever by frustrated that TCBTS doesn't get more credit. I think it's a great example of a prog band writing something more streamlined and poppy and doing a fantastic job of it. I love that record. Island, Here To Mars and Atlas are wonderful.
I don't know about album as a whole, but Broken, Juggernaut, World of Lines, and Made out of Nothing are top tier Coheed tracks.
Does anyone have the "We Are Together, We Tour Together" doc saved or know where it is? It doesn't seem to be on YouTube anymore.