Good Apollo, I'm Burning Star IV, Volume One: From Fear Through the Eyes of Madness
Encyclopedia
Good Apollo, I'm Burning Star IV, Volume One: From Fear Through the Eyes of Madness is the third studio album
by prog
quartet Coheed and Cambria
. It was released on September 20, 2005. It is the first disc of the fourth section of a projected tetralogy
, as well as the final studio album to feature long-time drummer Josh Eppard
, who left the band for personal reasons and has since been replaced by Chris Pennie
. On the album In Keeping Secrets of Silent Earth: 3
, the phrase "My Dearest Apollo I'll Be Burning Star 4" is written after the lyrics for the song "The Light & the Glass."
The album begins to resolve the issues of Claudio's quest to protect the Keywork, and sheds more light on the demise of Coheed and his wife Cambria. Also, it expands on the issues of the Monstar virus and Jesse's involvement in the saga. A graphic novel based upon the entire story of the album was released on the same day. This album, unlike the others, tells the story through the eyes of the writer.
The official site once hosted the third track and first single from the album, entitled "Welcome Home". This song is featured in the music video game
Rock Band, and television spots for the CGI animated movie 9. The band's MySpace and Purevolume had the second single from the album, entitled "The Suffering". The third single was "Ten Speed (of God's Blood and Burial)", released only as a video and never to radio.
With:
EP.
b "The Telling Truth" contains at approximately 4:46, a reprise
of "Blood Red Summer" from the previous Coheed and Cambria
album, In Keeping Secrets of Silent Earth: 3
. After that, the line "Jesse, bad boy, just come look at what your brother did" is a reference to "Everything Evil" from the band's first album, The Second Stage Turbine Blade
.
c "The Final Cut" includes the hidden track "Bron-Y-Aur", at approximately 6:20 in, which is a tribute to Led Zeppelin
. It is not a cover of the Led Zeppelin
song "Bron-Yr-Aur".
The Japanese pressing of the album contained a bonus track, A Favor House Atlantic from Live at the Starland Ballroom
.
"Keeping the Blade" is the only track on the album to feature the time skip motif found on the previous two albums. It is played by string instruments.
magazine's list of the greatest 100 guitar albums of all time. An acoustic version of "Wake Up" was featured on the Snakes on a Plane
soundtrack.
This album is also Coheed and Cambria's first album to have a Parental Advisory
sticker. The edited version is known for being heavily censored, including cutting out words such as 'crush,' 'die,' 'hell,' and 'kill.'
The CD is Coheed & Cambria's greatest success to date selling over a million copies worldwide. It has also received mostly positive reviews, getting a Metacritic
score of 73%.
The album peaked at #7 on the Billboard 200
, selling over 500,000 copies, according to Nielsen Soundscan.
The new Amory Wars series, illustrated by Gus Vasquez, will re-tell the story of Good Apollo I'm Burning Star IV Volume One. Claudio stated that a lot was lost from the graphic novel because of financial constraints. He further explained that although Christopher Shy's art is beautiful, it was not the best medium for Good Apollo's story-telling. Claudio looks forward to releasing a new version in chronological order so that the story will make more sense.
Album
An album is a collection of recordings, released as a single package on gramophone record, cassette, compact disc, or via digital distribution. The word derives from the Latin word for list .Vinyl LP records have two sides, each comprising one half of the album...
by prog
Progressive rock
Progressive rock is a subgenre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s as part of a "mostly British attempt to elevate rock music to new levels of artistic credibility." John Covach, in Contemporary Music Review, says that many thought it would not just "succeed the pop of...
quartet Coheed and Cambria
Coheed and Cambria
Coheed and Cambria is an American progressive rock band from Nyack, New York. Formed in 1995, the group incorporates aspects of progressive rock, punk rock, metal and post-hardcore....
. It was released on September 20, 2005. It is the first disc of the fourth section of a projected tetralogy
The Amory Wars
The Amory Wars, originally entitled The Bag.On.Line Adventures, is an ongoing series of comic books written by Coheed and Cambria frontman Claudio Sanchez and published by Evil Ink Comics. The story of The Amory Wars is also the focus of the band's music...
, as well as the final studio album to feature long-time drummer Josh Eppard
Josh Eppard
Josh Eppard is an American musician from Kingston New York and the drummer for progressive rock band Coheed and Cambria. He has worked as a solo rapper under the name Weerd Science and was the drummer for supergroup rock band Terrible Things...
, who left the band for personal reasons and has since been replaced by Chris Pennie
Chris Pennie
Chris Pennie is the former drummer for the progressive rock band Coheed and Cambria and former drummer and co-founder of mathcore band The Dillinger Escape Plan.-Background:...
. On the album In Keeping Secrets of Silent Earth: 3
In Keeping Secrets of Silent Earth: 3
Notes: It is debated whether tracks 7-9 are titled "The Camper Velourium" or "The Velourium Camper." The original CD and most websites list the tracks as "Velourium Camper," but the re-released CD case and the official website both say "Camper Velourium." Claudio referred to the ship that the...
, the phrase "My Dearest Apollo I'll Be Burning Star 4" is written after the lyrics for the song "The Light & the Glass."
The album begins to resolve the issues of Claudio's quest to protect the Keywork, and sheds more light on the demise of Coheed and his wife Cambria. Also, it expands on the issues of the Monstar virus and Jesse's involvement in the saga. A graphic novel based upon the entire story of the album was released on the same day. This album, unlike the others, tells the story through the eyes of the writer.
The official site once hosted the third track and first single from the album, entitled "Welcome Home". This song is featured in the music video game
Music video game
A music video game, also commonly known as a music game, is a video game where the gameplay is meaningfully and often almost entirely oriented around the player's interactions with a musical score or individual songs...
Rock Band, and television spots for the CGI animated movie 9. The band's MySpace and Purevolume had the second single from the album, entitled "The Suffering". The third single was "Ten Speed (of God's Blood and Burial)", released only as a video and never to radio.
Personnel
- Claudio SanchezClaudio SanchezClaudio Paul Sanchez is an American writer and musician best known for being the lead singer and guitarist for the alternative/progressive rock group Coheed and Cambria. He is also the creator of the comic book series, The Amory Wars and Kill Audio, co-written with wife Chondra Echert...
- Lead/Backing Vocals; Lead/Rhythm Guitars - Travis SteverTravis SteverTravis Stever is the lead/rhythm guitarist for Coheed and Cambria, a progressive rock band from New York.-Shabűtie:Travis joined the band Shabűtie in 1995 along with vocalist/guitarist Claudio Sanchez, bassist Jon Carleo, and drummer Nate Kelley. After an argument over gas money the band split up,...
- Lead/Rhythm Guitars; Lap Steel; Backing Vocals - Michael ToddMichael Todd (musician)Michael Todd or Mic Todd was the bassist for progressive rock band Coheed and Cambria. Todd left the band in August 2006 because of personal issues, but officially rejoined the group on April 25, 2007. Upon the time of his initial departure, he had been with the band for ten years. He officially...
- Bass Guitars; Backing Vocals - Josh EppardJosh EppardJosh Eppard is an American musician from Kingston New York and the drummer for progressive rock band Coheed and Cambria. He has worked as a solo rapper under the name Weerd Science and was the drummer for supergroup rock band Terrible Things...
- Drums; Keyboards; Percussion; Backing Vocals
With:
- Produced by Michael Birnbaum and Chris Bittner
- Mixed by David Bottrill
- Also track 9 "The Suffering" mixed by Andy Wallace
- Danny Louis - Keyboards (Tracks 5,6,7,8,9,10 & 15)
- Kara Bullock and Nick Gardner - Ukulele
- Chester Brockwell - Didgeridoo
- Daniel Sadownick - Percussion (6 & 8)
- Sarah Kathryn Jacobs - Backing Vocals (9 &15)
- Janiris Sanchez (Claudio Sanchez's niece) - Child's Voice (2 & 15)
- Kurtis Jungersen - Sound Effects
Track listing
a "Wake Up" is not to be confused with the Shabutie song "Wake Up" from Plan to Take Over the WorldPlan to Take Over the World
Plan to Take Over the World was the first EP released by the band Shabütie in 1999. It features the extra songs that were on the pre-release track listing for the The Penelope EP.-Track listing:...
EP.
b "The Telling Truth" contains at approximately 4:46, a reprise
Reprise
Reprise is a fundamental device in the history of art. In literature, a reprise consists of the rewriting of another work; in music, a reprise is the repetition or reiteration of the opening material later in a composition as occurs in the recapitulation of sonata form, though—originally in the...
of "Blood Red Summer" from the previous Coheed and Cambria
Coheed and Cambria
Coheed and Cambria is an American progressive rock band from Nyack, New York. Formed in 1995, the group incorporates aspects of progressive rock, punk rock, metal and post-hardcore....
album, In Keeping Secrets of Silent Earth: 3
In Keeping Secrets of Silent Earth: 3
Notes: It is debated whether tracks 7-9 are titled "The Camper Velourium" or "The Velourium Camper." The original CD and most websites list the tracks as "Velourium Camper," but the re-released CD case and the official website both say "Camper Velourium." Claudio referred to the ship that the...
. After that, the line "Jesse, bad boy, just come look at what your brother did" is a reference to "Everything Evil" from the band's first album, The Second Stage Turbine Blade
The Second Stage Turbine Blade
The Second Stage Turbine Blade is the first studio album released by rock band Coheed and Cambria. It was originally released on February 5, 2002 through Equal Vision Records. It is the second part of a five-part pentalogy, telling the story of The Amory Wars...
.
c "The Final Cut" includes the hidden track "Bron-Y-Aur", at approximately 6:20 in, which is a tribute to Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin were an English rock band, active in the late 1960s and throughout the 1970s. Formed in 1968, they consisted of guitarist Jimmy Page, singer Robert Plant, bassist/keyboardist John Paul Jones, and drummer John Bonham...
. It is not a cover of the Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin were an English rock band, active in the late 1960s and throughout the 1970s. Formed in 1968, they consisted of guitarist Jimmy Page, singer Robert Plant, bassist/keyboardist John Paul Jones, and drummer John Bonham...
song "Bron-Yr-Aur".
The Japanese pressing of the album contained a bonus track, A Favor House Atlantic from Live at the Starland Ballroom
Live at the Starland Ballroom
Live at The Starland Ballroom is a double DVD/CD from rock quartet Coheed and Cambria, released on March 22, 2005. The concert was filmed August 20, 2004 at the Starland Ballroom in Sayreville, New Jersey. The New York City radio station, 92.3 K-Rock put on the show and sold tickets for 92 cents...
.
"Keeping the Blade" is the only track on the album to feature the time skip motif found on the previous two albums. It is played by string instruments.
Reception
The album was ranked number 69 in the October 2006 issue of Guitar WorldGuitar World
Guitar World is a monthly music magazine devoted to guitarists. It contains original interviews, album and gear reviews and guitar and bass tablature of approximately five songs each month. The magazine is published 13 times per year...
magazine's list of the greatest 100 guitar albums of all time. An acoustic version of "Wake Up" was featured on the Snakes on a Plane
Snakes on a Plane
Snakes on a Plane is a 2006 American horror-action-thriller film directed by David R. Ellis and starring Samuel L. Jackson. It was released by New Line Cinema on August 18, 2006 in North America...
soundtrack.
This album is also Coheed and Cambria's first album to have a Parental Advisory
Parental Advisory
Parental Advisory is a message affixed by the Recording Industry Association of America to audio and recordings in the United States containing excessive use of profane language and/or sexual references. Albums began to be labeled for "explicit lyrics" in 1985, after pressure from the Parents...
sticker. The edited version is known for being heavily censored, including cutting out words such as 'crush,' 'die,' 'hell,' and 'kill.'
The CD is Coheed & Cambria's greatest success to date selling over a million copies worldwide. It has also received mostly positive reviews, getting a Metacritic
Metacritic
Metacritic.com is a website that collates reviews of music albums, games, movies, TV shows and DVDs. For each product, a numerical score from each review is obtained and the total is averaged. An excerpt of each review is provided along with a hyperlink to the source. Three colour codes of Green,...
score of 73%.
The album peaked at #7 on the Billboard 200
Billboard 200
The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists...
, selling over 500,000 copies, according to Nielsen Soundscan.
Bonus edition DVD
A special edition of the CD was released, with an alternate cover, and a bonus DVD consisting of "The Suffering" and "Welcome Home" videos, short animated vignettes which describe part of the story of the Amory Wars, Coheed and Cambria in the studio, The Favor House Atlantic movie, and Favor House Atlantic bloopers.- "The Suffering" music video
- "Welcome Home" music video
- A Favor House Atlantic movie
- A Favor House Atlantic bloopers
- In The Studio Footage
- 6 short vignettes
Graphic novel
A graphic novel entitled Good Apollo, I'm Burning Star IV, Volume One: From Fear Through the Eyes of Madness, illustrated by Christopher Shy, was released in September 2005 along with the album of the same name. The story of Good Apollo takes a step outside the science fiction narrative of the first three chapters and examines the life of The Writer, a character who is crafting the lives of the protagonist Claudio and his companions in the form of a fictional story. Through a series of delusional conversations with his ten speed bicycle about an unfaithful former lover, The Writer decides he must kill the Prise Ambellina to properly end his story. The events in the narrative itself build up to a final confrontation between Jesse's rebel forces and the Red Army of Supreme Tri-Mage Wilhelm Ryan under the command of General Mayo Deftinwolf, as well as a literal meeting of the Writer and Claudio culminating in the death of Ambellina and Claudio's emergence as the Crowing.The new Amory Wars series, illustrated by Gus Vasquez, will re-tell the story of Good Apollo I'm Burning Star IV Volume One. Claudio stated that a lot was lost from the graphic novel because of financial constraints. He further explained that although Christopher Shy's art is beautiful, it was not the best medium for Good Apollo's story-telling. Claudio looks forward to releasing a new version in chronological order so that the story will make more sense.