Good Apollo, I'm Burning Star IV, Volume One: From Fear Through The Eyes Of Madness
by Coheed and Cambria
  • Record Label: Sony
  • Release Date: Sep 20, 2005
User Score
8.4

Universal acclaim- based on 114 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 98 out of 114
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 114
  3. Negative: 14 out of 114

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  1. imthenoob
    Oct 5, 2018
    8
    It's the kind of album that just gets better with age. I remember when I first listened to it back in 05, It was good but listening to it now, I love it. It's an album I always come back to.
  2. Cloud73
    Aug 16, 2013
    9
    Summary: Not perfect, and some songs are forgettable. Despite that, this album has some of my favorite music ever written or performed, and these are excellent musicians.

    --------- I love Coheed & Cambria. That's an important disclosure to make, because I have yet to meet someone who thinks moderately of the band. It's always either great appreciation, or borderline vicious disdain.    Summary: Not perfect, and some songs are forgettable. Despite that, this album has some of my favorite music ever written or performed, and these are excellent musicians.

    ---------

    I love Coheed & Cambria. That's an important disclosure to make, because I have yet to meet someone who thinks moderately of the band. It's always either great appreciation, or borderline vicious disdain. I think that the album warrants a song by song review, because I would honestly say that some songs on this album are almost certainly better than others.

    Unfortunately, 5000 characters is not enough to give each song their appropriate review, so I will hit some highlights.

    The first two songs on the album are entirely forgettable in my opinion, but are fitting for the album. Welcome Home is thematic and powerful; it easily sits as one of the band's best songs. Ten Speed (Of God's Blood & Burial) is catchy and well written, but the vocals aren't sung as neatly as they are on the rest of the album. Apollo I: The Writing Writer is where the progressive rock leanings of this band begin to bear their teeth. Wake Up has strange, well written lyrics, but is largely boring music compared even with the rest of the album. The Suffering is more of the same catchy stuff that carries Ten Speed, and is one of my favorites because of how fun it sounds despite its lyrics. Its only downside is that it is notably a four chord song.

    I feel that after The Suffering is when the album really begins diving into progressive rock territory, which I believe is very appropriate considering the storyline that the album was supposed to be contextualized in. After this song, just imagine the singer started going magnificently insane, and the rest will probably make sense. Sort of. The drum work becomes vastly more interesting, to say the least...

    The Lying Lies... is a great part of the album. It's guitar parts are neat, being carried from underneath by the bass and drums and being largely composed of melodic solo lines. Mother May I is more of the same stuff, but a little thicker sounding and more dispersed melody lines. Eppard is a great drummer in both of these.

    After those two songs comes The Willing Well collection of songs. The Willing Well is one of my favorite set of songs that Coheed has released. Each of its songs has musical divergences from their beginning verses, shifting in theme and emotion from simple pop-rock choruses into complex progressive fills and hooks that immediately change the song's mood or focus. The only thing about the set that bugs me is that there is no song for the album's climax... in the album's story, an important character and part of the context for the entirety of the lyrics is killed off during The Willing Well. Where's the song about the murderous act itself? No where.

    The song that comes the closest to describing the scene is the last one on the album, called The Willing Well IV: The Final Cut. It's a heavy, bluesy, and operatic conclusion that most people remember for the well played guitar solo that comprises half of it. Still, that song doesn't sound as malicious as its lyrics would have you believe. "If I had my way, I'd slam your face in the door" is pretty vicious, but cut short by the band's music and chorus trying to be dramatic, even operatic in scope.

    Don't get me wrong; the song itself is amazing, but not what I was looking for as a climax to the action. It works perfectly as an epilogue, but not as the moment of greatest tension.

    This is perhaps the biggest flaw of the album. Thematically, it is supposed to be a story, but it doesn't have the pacing of a story. The songs are all quite good on their own merits, and the ending set of songs in particular are a joy to listen to, but the album didn't do what I thought it really could have done. Perhaps that is because I'm reading too far into it, but it's my best assessment.

    This is one of my favorite albums, though, and that says something. Even though they didn't make the movie of music that I feel they wanted me to hear, it was certainly an excellent listen, and a worthwhile sequel to their previous two albums. I dock two points because some songs are not on par with the rest, and for that slight disappointment of their potential. I add one more point back in, because
    "Tonight, goodnight, goodbye."    … Expand
  3. everlastall
    Mar 19, 2012
    8
    A bit of weak drum parts, but enough great tunes and guitar chords and riffs that are different enough to pick out yet fit within the same style that accompanies the album.
  4. asylumspadez
    Nov 17, 2011
    8
    Pretty good album. I liked most of the tracks on it but like all albums it does have its bad ones. I would say its one of their best albums. Though it could have done with that lame bonus track added onto the last song.
  5. sierram
    Mar 18, 2009
    10
    First thing is first. coheed and cambria has all my respect. they are def my favorite band and i get so sick of people saying they are not prog enough or too much prog! get over it!
  6. ZachP
    Dec 21, 2008
    9
    By far, their best work. Coheed has created an album listenable from beginning to end. It's addicting.
  7. jakeb
    Jul 24, 2008
    10
    This is THE coheed and cambria album to end all their albums. This album sounds if Rush and Led Zeppelin had a baby it would be this band. The band departs from their older prg styles and take up more of a neo-classical style of rock and they do great thing with it.
  8. DaleK.
    Jun 17, 2008
    8
    A little long compared to what I like, but also delivers as far as musical integrity and creativity. You know you've created a hit when one song [Welcome Home] is a set on its own at a show. If your opinion of this is "Pop-Punk" then you probably don't deserve this album, or this band. "This is the album that 1985 failed to produce." This is Prog. Rock at it's finest.
  9. CalvinP
    Jun 3, 2008
    10
    The Best Band i have Heard in a long time amazing on cd and amazing live.
  10. MichaelB
    May 27, 2008
    10
    This album is a tough listen at first attempt. However, once you grow accustomed to lead singer and rhythm guitarist Claudio Sanchez' spiraling vocals, you'll grow to love them. The music reeks of musicianship and variety. "Welcome Home" is a sonic attack, that I can't help but head-bang to. It, and its proteges "Ten Speed (Of God's Blood & Burial,) and "Willing Well This album is a tough listen at first attempt. However, once you grow accustomed to lead singer and rhythm guitarist Claudio Sanchez' spiraling vocals, you'll grow to love them. The music reeks of musicianship and variety. "Welcome Home" is a sonic attack, that I can't help but head-bang to. It, and its proteges "Ten Speed (Of God's Blood & Burial,) and "Willing Well I: Fuel for the Feeding End" make for stunning examples of pure rock. Stunning, because I have not witnessed craftsmanship like this since I last obsessed over Pink Floyd and Rush. "Wake Up," a soft-spoken crooner, is proof that Claudio and his crew know how to cut a soft (and rather touching) track. "Always and Never" reminds me of Simon & Garfunkel, which is always a plus. The lyrics directly reflect Claudio's fantasy Sci-Fi universe, whose story is told in his graphic novel series, "The Amory Wars." The lyrics might get confusing when you encounter names (Newo, Apollo, etc.,) but strangely, the references don't get in the way of the music. The series is worth diving into, if you love good Sci-Fi. The band does something that many mainstream rock acts seem to be afraid of- they make music, not genres. Coheed simply cannot be crammed into a label- they are too diverse. Each listening brings more- a subtlety of the guitar, or a synth run that I didn't quite catch the first time around. Not to mention, the tunes are downright catchy. Give it a chance, and "Welcome Home" will have you screaming, "You stormed off, to scar the armada," and chanting "One, last, kiss for you" before you realize that Co & Ca are talented, dedicated, and powerful musicians. Definitely an album you'll not regret giving a chance.… Expand
  11. ReggieV.
    Apr 10, 2008
    0
    Cheesy, lame pop-punk bullshit. This is NOT prog.
  12. Zaxian
    Mar 5, 2008
    10
    An album with epic scope - prog rock at it's very best.
  13. DavidF.
    Jan 11, 2008
    7
    A little over the top for me, but still good.
  14. HexumS
    May 2, 2007
    10
    Their first album was pretty good. Their second album is the best CD I've ever heard in my life. This new one is absolutely killer. 10/10
  15. XiaoJ
    Apr 14, 2007
    10
    These past few years I have been jerked from the commercial pop and rock sound into the progressive music by the wonderfully classical prog Dream Theater, from there its a slow descent into prog mental, prog rock, and then power/epic/speed metal, and then found that I got too deep into metal for my liking (never did get any enjoyment out of Metallica - no offense), and got back into the These past few years I have been jerked from the commercial pop and rock sound into the progressive music by the wonderfully classical prog Dream Theater, from there its a slow descent into prog mental, prog rock, and then power/epic/speed metal, and then found that I got too deep into metal for my liking (never did get any enjoyment out of Metallica - no offense), and got back into the prog zone, and enjoying it. Where as bands like the recently famous Pain of Salvation (awesome band IMO) edges to the explorer of sound that no one else does, Coheed and Cambria hid its genius in what first appear to be a commercial, overlaiden sound. But once I've listened to this album, man what a rush, good beats, awesome melodies, only thing is I couldn't quite follow what they were singing about in the more intense sound (too entranced by the melody and beats). Where as the equally greatmOperation Mindcrime excel in delivering clear, clean and crisp sound that let the story carry you as much as their music, the intricacy and musicmanship here threatens to drown out the storyline at times. It is actually not neccessarily a bad thing, as some of the lyrics are a bit too cheesy (never enough to turn me off though, I like the singer's voice fine after Geedy Lee's tuning forks), and the lyrics you DO hear delivers the punchlines. This music is delivering a soundscape like no other, and damn its prog man! Their other albums are quite good, but this one delivers the most kickass sounds in one package. I can't wait for their new release.… Expand
  16. NathanD
    Feb 21, 2007
    10
    One of the best albums I have ever heard in my life. It's original, it's everything that as a musicsian wants to hear in rock n' roll music. Coheed is argurably the best band ot there today, alot better than most of the stuff out know and even up and coming. I highly recomend this album to any one
  17. TaylorM
    Jan 9, 2007
    10
    Outstanding, original, and addictive - the greatest reason to keep listening to music.
  18. shannonl
    Dec 4, 2006
    10
    Coheed and Cambria is the Greatest Rock Band today if not ever. This is the kind of music and sound you want to hear from a Rock group.
  19. BillS
    Sep 13, 2006
    10
    One of my favorites, by far. Perfect mix of concept (something The Mars Volta cant get right for the life of them after Deloused) and catchy rock. The crying baby almost drops it a point though. Cheesy.
  20. KristoferM
    Aug 13, 2006
    10
    I first got this CD during Christmas of '05. 8 months later and I'm still going back and listening to it for days on end. The songs are catchier than any pop song you'll ever hear. Combined with Claudio Sanchez's excellent guitar riffs and Geddy Lee-type vocals, and this is a CD that you'll listen to for ages.
  21. AlexD
    Jun 24, 2006
    9
    Incredible..the first time i heard this band was when "A Favor House Atlantic" came out...i just enjoyed the song and then didn't exactly take them seriously;however, a year or so later the track "Welcome Home" was released and it rocked my socks off...it was insane...i imediatly bought a copy of Good Apollo...i was blown away by the very unique sound of the album...i then bought Incredible..the first time i heard this band was when "A Favor House Atlantic" came out...i just enjoyed the song and then didn't exactly take them seriously;however, a year or so later the track "Welcome Home" was released and it rocked my socks off...it was insane...i imediatly bought a copy of Good Apollo...i was blown away by the very unique sound of the album...i then bought their previous 2 cds and have been a HUGE Coheed fan ever since… Expand
  22. DP
    Apr 29, 2006
    9
    Very good, I enjoyed it a lot but I think I like In Keeping Secrets a little more, but this overall has a different feel
  23. DrewC
    Mar 16, 2006
    10
    This is the best CD I've heard in a while. Coheed and Cambria are probably the best modern rock band out. If you haven't heard this album yet, get off your butt and go buy it!
  24. OwenW
    Mar 1, 2006
    3
    A terrible mix of terrible genres. If you like this kind of music, there is a good chance you are a pretentions internet dork who thinks dragons are really cool.
  25. JRiddy
    Feb 17, 2006
    10
    I have to admit I didn't like these guys when i first heard them. However, one of my friends was completely obsessed with them so I was exposed to their music. I was completely shocked when I head "Welcome Home" for the first time. It reminded me not only of Rush and prog-rock, but also of Zeppelin and Queen. It just rocked in a way that no songs put out in my relatively short I have to admit I didn't like these guys when i first heard them. However, one of my friends was completely obsessed with them so I was exposed to their music. I was completely shocked when I head "Welcome Home" for the first time. It reminded me not only of Rush and prog-rock, but also of Zeppelin and Queen. It just rocked in a way that no songs put out in my relatively short lifetime did. What sets this album apart from other Coheed albums and from other modern "prog-rock" bands (like the Mars Volta) is the taste and thougtfulness in the album production. The overall flow of the album is SUPERB, with each song leading clearly into the next. What had turned me off previously from this band was the thin sound their earlier albums had. But Apollo sounds lush and full without ever being too produced. As a guitarist, I also have to appreciate the soloing and overall guitar work of the album. You just don't here this level of virtuosity in rock music much anymore. Also, this is my brother's favorite drumming album, and I think he tries to incorporate a lot of the chops from this work into his playing. All in all, anyone who is a fan of truly great, epic rock should get this album.… Expand
  26. EricB
    Jan 19, 2006
    4
    I used to love Coheed and Cambria but this album leaves much to be desired. They could use more song writing ability, less guitar wankery. All of these songs just get boring long before they're over and with no interesting hooks, vocally or from the guitars, there's nothing to grasp on to. Overall disappointing album from a once promising band.
  27. CoryS
    Jan 17, 2006
    10
    Great album. Must have.
  28. BreeanaR
    Jan 6, 2006
    10
    This was the first time in my life I've ever bought tow cd's from the same band in one day.
  29. Lou
    Dec 25, 2005
    10
    Love it. Rolling stone's comment says "could do with less prog and more rock." Well the music industry could do with less Rolling Stone, more music. Coheed fans will enjoy it and I'm glad they kept the faith rather than sell out like so many others in music today, like Rolling Stone
  30. StephenW
    Dec 18, 2005
    9
    Grows on me with every listen, and live its even better. But unless you're really into them, please dont spoil it for the rest of us with your half-arsed support.
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Awards & Rankings

59
#59 Most Discussed Album of 2005
69
#69 Most Shared Album of 2005

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
73

Generally favorable reviews - based on 10 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 5 out of 10
  2. Mixed: 5 out of 10
  3. Negative: 0 out of 10
  1. Billboard
    60
    While the overlong album sometimes threatens to bury C&C with its own excess, the craftsmanship suggests the band is more than capable of breaking into the mainstream. [24 Sep 2005]
  2. Blender
    80
    [A] dense, inventive disc. [Oct 2005, p.134]
  3. E! Online
    83
    C&C's music factory comes across as a unique, modern perspective of both rock's past and present.
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