Coheed and Cambria v. Second Stage

[Lonk]

Awesome picture

[Deathless]

I was going to try and hit an MCR show but with a young kid it didn't work scheduling-wise. Now if Coheed was opening for them the entire tour I may have gone... Great pic chknptpie and glad you enjoyed the show!

[twosuitsluke]

This thread on Reddit perfectly sums up Coheed and why I love them...

https://www.reddit.com/r/TheFence/comments/10p7iz1/which_other_lyrics_make_you_guys_feel_like_this/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=android_app&utm_name=androidcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button

[twosuitsluke]

Listening to Vaxis II and I think enough time has passed for a full album ranking, let’s do it…


1. Good Apollo I’m Burning Star IV, Volume One: From Fear Through the Eyes of Madness
2. Good Apollo I’m Burning Star IV, Volume Two: No World for Tomorrow
3. Vaxis II: A Window of the Waking Mind
4. Afterman: Descension
5. In Keeping Secrets of Silent Earth: 3
6. Year of the Black Rainbow
7. Second Stage Turbine Blade
8. Vaxis I: The Unheavenly Creatures
9. The Colour Before the Sun
10. Afterman: Ascension

Tough calls all around. The top two are solid and probably won’t ever change. 3-5 are pretty interchangeable and basically too close to call, I love them all dearly. Maybe a hot take with YotBR at 6, and above everything of than CBtS, but I think it’s great. It’s sad to say but as much as SSTB had some great songs, there are also quite a few I just rate lower. Vaxis I had some of my all time favourite Coheed songs, but it’s way too long, too much filler. Colour Before the Sun is solid and it sits above Ascension because that album just falls short.

Every album is still gonna be one I’ll listen to for the rest of my life though.

[DTA]

Solid ranking, though NWFT being that high is pretty shocking. I always felt that was clearly the least good out of the first 4.

If I was to do one:

1. In Keeping Secrets of Silent Earth: 3 (possibly my favorite album of all time on any given day)
2. Good Apollo I’m Burning Star IV, Volume One: From Fear Through the Eyes of Madness
3. Second Stage Turbine Blade
4. Vaxis II: A Window of the Waking Mind
5. Vaxis I: The Unheavenly Creatures
6. Afterman: Descension
7. Year of the Black Rainbow
8. Good Apollo I’m Burning Star IV, Volume Two: No World for Tomorrow
9. The Colour Before the Sun
10. Afterman: Ascension

It's weird seeing Ascension in the last position as I think it's a great album, but it's a bit too short and Holly Wood is one of my least favorite Coheed songs.

[King Puppies and the Acid Guppies]

Wait.....Ascension in last from both of you? Am I in some sort of bizarro universe all of a sudden?

My Ranking:

In Keeping Secrets of Silent Earth: 3
Good Apollo I'm Burning Star IV: Volume Two: No World for Tomorrow
The Afterman: Descension
Second Stage Turbine Blade
Good Apollo I'm Burning Star IV: Volume One: From Fear Through the Eyes of Madness
The Afterman: Ascension
.
.
.
Vaxis II: A Window of the Waking Mind
.
Vaxis – Act I: The Unheavenly Creatures
Year of the Black Rainbow
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
The Color Before the Sun

[Metro]

1. Good Apollo Vol.1
2. The Afterman (lumping them both together, sue me)
3. In Keeping Secrets of Silent Earth: 3
4. The Second Stage Turbine Blade
5. A Window of the Waking Mind
6. The Unheavenly Creatures
7. Good Apollo Vol.2
8. The Color Before the Sun
9. Year of the Black Rainbow

[twosuitsluke]

Wait.....Ascension in last from both of you? Am I in some sort of bizarro universe all of a sudden?

Yea, I just think it’s severely lacking. I’ve been vocal about my thoughts on Domino previously (overrated imo) and it probably says a lot when my favourite songs on the album are Afterman and Subtraction.

As much as CBtS gets ranked at the bottom for most generally, it has songs like Island, Atlas and Here to Mars, which I just love.

[Metro]

Those songs are great, but it also has Eraser, Colors, and Young Love, which are among the worst songs in their catalog.

The album as a whole is just OK for me. I put it above YOTBR because it has better production. I don’t know what they were thinking making YOTBR sound like that, but it’s awful.

[Lonk]

Coheed is in a similar level as DT to me, that is that even their worse albums are still pretty good.

[twosuitsluke]

Coheed is in a similar level as DT to me, that is that even their worse albums are still pretty good.

100%, except way better than Dream Theater.

[ZKX-2099]

3>GA>NWFT>V1>Afterman>V2>2nd>Rainbow>Color

I think it's silly to split double albums.

[King Puppies and the Acid Guppies]

3>GA>NWFT>V1>Afterman>V2>2nd>Rainbow>Color

I think it's silly to split double albums.

3 (the band)>Georgia (the state)>No Work For Tomorrow>Van Halen I>Afterman>Van Halen II>The 2nd Law>Rainbow (the band)>BtBaM Colors

This is the weirdest ranking I've ever seen.

[ZKX-2099]

3>GA>NWFT>V1>Afterman>V2>2nd>Rainbow>Color

I think it's silly to split double albums.

3 (the band)>Georgia (the state)>No Work For Tomorrow>Van Halen I>Afterman>Van Halen II>The 2nd Law>Rainbow (the band)>BtBaM Colors

This is the weirdest ranking I've ever seen.

Especially considering Colors is the best of all of those.

[King Puppies and the Acid Guppies]

3>GA>NWFT>V1>Afterman>V2>2nd>Rainbow>Color

I think it's silly to split double albums.

3 (the band)>Georgia (the state)>No Work For Tomorrow>Van Halen I>Afterman>Van Halen II>The 2nd Law>Rainbow (the band)>BtBaM Colors

This is the weirdest ranking I've ever seen.

Especially considering Colors is the best of all of those.

Agreed! 

[SoundscapeMN]

bump.

shameless plug.

A YouTuber named Death By Unicorn and I did a Tiermaker collaboration video for the Coheed catalog (+ there's another band coming tomorrow), for anyone curious:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ISH10cEKdWc

[twosuitsluke]

bump.

shameless plug.

A YouTuber named Death By Unicorn and I did a Tiermaker collaboration video for the Coheed catalog (+ there's another band coming tomorrow), for anyone curious:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ISH10cEKdWc

OK, I'll definitely give this a watch later, see how our Coheed tastes line up (or not).

I was actually planning to post in here this evening to gush over Vaxis II again. I was listening to on this evening on the drive home from work, and the lyrics in the title track are just so personal to where I am right now and they come into my head a lot.

I posted here not long after the album came out about how the album helped put into words how I feel about my son and the struggles he has (and subsequently I have as a parent). Here are the full lyrics...

Time has a funny way of playing jokes on you
While you're waiting for what you think you know
Will happen next is never what you could've come to expect
And so it goes
Ooh, and so it goes

Deep inside his eyes I see myself
As I wonder who he'll turn out to be
Is that a question that needs answering
Right now?

And so concludes this chapter
As my parents unravel the entangled threads of my reality
Not of design, but by accident
My perception in question
As I leave the infinite for the present
And rise a Window of the Waking Mind

Here's a simple story
And I hope I tell it well
Of a boy locked in a place
His mind, the very cell
Imprisoned with his wild visions
Of every time in space
There's no one in this world quite like him

The thing that complicates it
Is his parents and who they are
The law they're made to run from
Beyond the House of the Stars
The birth must be in secret
So no prying eyes can see
There's no one of this world quite like him

Our pride and joy
Are you there?
Are you in there, safe and sound?
Tell us what you need, so we can help you
We don't know what to do
We don't know what to do

Patronizing doctors
With their diagnostic leads
Carry on your query
It's blood, the boy, he bleeds
But you can't see him like you
So a monster he must be
There's no one in this world quite like him

Vaxis, son
Do you hear us?
Do you feel us?
Son

Vaxis?
Vaxis?
Vaxis?
Vaxis, can you see us with your eyes?
Vaxis, can you hear us with your ears?
Is this right to calculate his moments?
To find what's normal
Is being normal what's right?
What's right?
Can you feel it?
No!
Can you hear it?
No!

Time

I'll take you home
This child of ours
I'll take you home
With all my love
I'll give you the world
And keep no secrets from you
So life gets tough
But it's no excuse or your fault
My brightest star
Shine your light on us all
Am I wrong or did he save me?
Shine your love on all this crazy

Who says you got to rush to get old?
Figure it all out or you'll be left in the cold (who says you got to rush?)
Little one, let them, don't follow, just set them free
You can do it on your time, so you know
I'll be watching you, armed to the teeth
Don't you go poking while the lion, he sleeps (the lion, he sleeps)
My boy, it's okay to cry

I'm telling you, time
(Who says you got to rush to get old?)
(Figure it all out or you'll be left in the cold)
I'm telling you, time (little one, let them, don't follow, just set them free)
(You can do it on your time, so you know)
I'm telling you, time (I'll be watching you)
(Armed to the teeth)
(Don't you go poking while the lion, he sleeps)
I'm telling you boy, it's okay to cry
Time



It's powerful stuff and the lyrics that I come back to are the ones I've bolded. The whole finale reminds me that I need to let him be him, not rush him or worry about hitting "milestones". I said it before but I hope that one day I can tell Claudio how important thos album has been to me, and how it's helped me to try and be a better parent.

[twosuitsluke]

OK, I just watched. I definitely disagree with most of the rankings, but that's hardly surprising with it comes to ranking albums.

I did pick up on some bits of info that was incorrect, which got me all like "Well, actually...". On the whole a good watch though. Here's my tierlist just because.



Oh, I was also shouting at the screen when you couldn't remember which song the "MAN YOUR OWN JACKHAMMER!" lyric comes from.

[SoundscapeMN]

lol..it's 1 of those things that you'd think you would remember, but then when on the spot, you forget, lol.

I'm not sure what we got highly wrong, although I must confess while I have listened to all of their albums, I don't have a ton of mileage with many of them. We decided to do a Collaboration for Coheed (and Muse, I'm putting up tomorrow) in that both bands we enjoy, but don't have a massive fanboy bias. Also we've both ranked many of our favorite bands/artists already.

[twosuitsluke]

lol..it's 1 of those things that you'd think you would remember, but then when on the spot, you forget, lol.

I'm not sure what we got highly wrong, although I must confess while I have listened to all of their albums, I don't have a ton of mileage with many of them. We decided to do a Collaboration for Coheed (and Muse, I'm putting up tomorrow) in that both bands we enjoy, but don't have a massive fanboy bias. Also we've both ranked many of our favorite bands/artists already.

Yea, nothing major other than you said Taylor Hawkins played on Good Apollo I, when it was II he played drums. There were a few other bits but just me nitpicking. Fair play though, I'd kinda like to do one of these but would probably ramble on incoherently. Really good job dude. What other bands have you done?

[James Mypetgiress]

Oh I will definitely bite on a Coheed album ranking!

1. IKSSE3
2. NWFT (Was lower... until I saw the Neverender earlier this year. That changed my outlook on this album)
3. SSTB
4. GA1
5. Descension
6. YOTBR
7. Ascension
8. Vaxis 1 (I loved this SO much when it came out but it hasn't aged well for me)
9. TCBTS
10. Vaxis 2 (I am sorry, I really wish I enjoyed this album... but I just cannot for the life of me, find any enjoyment in it)

[twosuitsluke]

Oh I will definitely bite on a Coheed album ranking!

1. IKSSE3
2. NWFT (Was lower... until I saw the Neverender earlier this year. That changed my outlook on this album)
3. SSTB
4. GA1
5. Descension
6. YOTBR
7. Ascension
8. Vaxis 1 (I loved this SO much when it came out but it hasn't aged well for me)
9. TCBTS
10. Vaxis 2 (I am sorry, I really wish I enjoyed this album... but I just cannot for the life of me, find any enjoyment in it)

I can get on board with this fir the most part, however I have two issues. Good Apollo I anywhere other than the top 2 does not compute to me. Secondly, Vaxis II in last. Each to their own but I can't see how you aren't able to find something to enjoy. Tastes and all but wow.

I will say, it's really nice to see Good Apollo II ranked so highly though!

[Lonk]

To me, GAI, GAII and IKS are their top 3 albums, in no particular order. Anything else can be shuffled around. I think I might be the only one who thinks Vaxis 1 belong in their top 5.

[ZKX-2099]

I think I might be the only one who thinks Vaxis 1 belong in their top 5.

You missed my list.

[Lonk]

I think I might be the only one who thinks Vaxis 1 belong in their top 5.

You missed my list.

aahh, and so it seems.
You list looks like what my ranking would be as well

[chknptpie]

I honestly can't rank, its whatever I'm listening to at the moment probably lol

We got to hear Deranged on the boat y'all! DERANGED!

[Lonk]

I honestly can't rank, its whatever I'm listening to at the moment probably lol

We got to hear Deranged on the boat y'all! DERANGED!

Right, you went to the cruise right? How was that?

[twosuitsluke]

I honestly can't rank, its whatever I'm listening to at the moment probably lol

We got to hear Deranged on the boat y'all! DERANGED!

Holy shit! I'm jealous once for the cruise, and once for Deranged!

[chknptpie]

I will 100% do the cruise again - SS Neverender#3. WHICH WILL BE HAPPENING, based on all the hints on the boat. The community is amazing, ran into the C&C boys and several of the other performing artists all over the ship, always something to do. Actually, one of my negatives is that there was TOO much to do lol At one point I wanted to be in 3 places at once! I highly recommend checking out Animals as Leaders and Psychedelic Porn Crumpets - they put on awesome shows. Proper. was also pretty cool. HTS was alright. Joey Eppard was the surprise award of the boat though - DUDE IS AMAZING. Lemme see if any of these FB photos will show up here. Our last night on the boat was "Prom" Halloween. Claudio and Zach loved our costumes. Zach didn't put together the space/cruise ship connection until I told him. Travis was major drunk the entire time.




We even found time to play a one shot while there was a MTG tournament going on. WE BE NERDS

[twosuitsluke]

I will 100% do the cruise again - SS Neverender#3. WHICH WILL BE HAPPENING, based on all the hints on the boat. The community is amazing, ran into the C&C boys and several of the other performing artists all over the ship, always something to do. Actually, one of my negatives is that there was TOO much to do lol At one point I wanted to be in 3 places at once! I highly recommend checking out Animals as Leaders and Psychedelic Porn Crumpets - they put on awesome shows. Proper. was also pretty cool. HTS was alright. Joey Eppard was the surprise award of the boat though - DUDE IS AMAZING. Lemme see if any of these FB photos will show up here. Our last night on the boat was "Prom" Halloween. Claudio and Zach loved our costumes. Zach didn't put together the space/cruise ship connection until I told him. Travis was major drunk the entire time.




We even found time to play a one shot while there was a MTG tournament going on. WE BE NERDS

That is so cool. Great pics, and great costumes. I wish they could do this cruise setting sail from somewhere in the UK! I didn't know the Psychedelic Porn Crumpets were playing as well. Great band, I was actually listening to them earlier and they have a lot of crossover fans with King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard.

[ZKX-2099]

Lelu Dallas multipass.

[James Mypetgiress]

Oh I will definitely bite on a Coheed album ranking!

1. IKSSE3
2. NWFT (Was lower... until I saw the Neverender earlier this year. That changed my outlook on this album)
3. SSTB
4. GA1
5. Descension
6. YOTBR
7. Ascension
8. Vaxis 1 (I loved this SO much when it came out but it hasn't aged well for me)
9. TCBTS
10. Vaxis 2 (I am sorry, I really wish I enjoyed this album... but I just cannot for the life of me, find any enjoyment in it)

I can get on board with this fir the most part, however I have two issues. Good Apollo I anywhere other than the top 2 does not compute to me. Secondly, Vaxis II in last. Each to their own but I can't see how you aren't able to find something to enjoy. Tastes and all but wow.

I will say, it's really nice to see Good Apollo II ranked so highly though!

My reasoning for SSTB just beating GA1 for me... is a solid 70% nostalgia. There is absolutely no doubt in my mind that it's an all time classic album. It's just that Turbine Blade itches something that no other album does hahaha

I think a lot of my dislike for Vaxis II is the production. I can't put my finger on it, but it just doesn't sound right to me. Overproduced, maybe?

[twosuitsluke]

Oh I will definitely bite on a Coheed album ranking!

1. IKSSE3
2. NWFT (Was lower... until I saw the Neverender earlier this year. That changed my outlook on this album)
3. SSTB
4. GA1
5. Descension
6. YOTBR
7. Ascension
8. Vaxis 1 (I loved this SO much when it came out but it hasn't aged well for me)
9. TCBTS
10. Vaxis 2 (I am sorry, I really wish I enjoyed this album... but I just cannot for the life of me, find any enjoyment in it)

I can get on board with this fir the most part, however I have two issues. Good Apollo I anywhere other than the top 2 does not compute to me. Secondly, Vaxis II in last. Each to their own but I can't see how you aren't able to find something to enjoy. Tastes and all but wow.

I will say, it's really nice to see Good Apollo II ranked so highly though!

My reasoning for SSTB just beating GA1 for me... is a solid 70% nostalgia. There is absolutely no doubt in my mind that it's an all time classic album. It's just that Turbine Blade itches something that no other album does hahaha

I think a lot of my dislike for Vaxis II is the production. I can't put my finger on it, but it just doesn't sound right to me. Overproduced, maybe?

I can't argue with any of that. There are definitely bands where the first album I heard is my favourite, even though it may not objectively be the 'best'. The nostalgia plays such a huge part.

I actually agree about the production on Vaxis II. One of my first posts about the album stated the same, that something just sounds 'off'. It doesn't hinder my enjoyment personally because I think the songwriting, Josh's drumming and lyrics that speak to me on a very personal level, overcome any production issues.

[skydivingninja]

I think cruises are dumb (I am too tall for the beds, they are a cesspool of disease, and cost too much money) but if i ever went on one, it would be the SS Neverender.

Obligatory DTF rank/tier list

S tier: Afterman, IKS
A tier: SSTB, Good Apollo I
B tier: NWFT, Vaxis II
C tier: Color Before the Sun
D tier: Black Rainbow, Vaxis I

[Lonk]

The NWFT Armory Wars starter was funded in about 2 minutes, and 1 hour in it has reached 12 times what the goal was 

Coheed fans are some dedicated people, I tell ya