Yesterday was like any other day. I was visiting multiple sites that were related to Coheed and Cambria, including Cobalt and Calcium. On the front page of the site I ran across a little article that Coheed has an acoustic titled “Kerrang! / XFM UK Acoustic Sessions – EP” out exclusively on iTunes. Being the utterly addicted fanboy I am I immediately started downloading the four-track album. Going in I knew there was no way in hell that I’d be disappointed and I was of course right.
“Welcome Home” is as daunting as it’s electric version and opens things up here. The beginning part is really cool with the tremolo picking giving off a slight ‘frap’ noise. The drums and bass correspond well alongside the guitars and during the verses produce a lovely marching beat. After a full minute Claudio finally comes in and with the quality of a produced recording agitatedly sings the verses to the song. In the story the writer has opened his refrigerator to find his ex-love, Erica Court, and a mysterious, cloaked man. The man is torturing her and shoves her in the ground. “You could have been all I wanted, but you weren’t honest, now get back in the ground.” Even though it doesn’t do anything to be different from the original version the tension is raised to a whole new level, which is why it stands out so much. If one of the four acoustic songs has changed a lot it’s
“A Favor House Atlantic”, the only song on this EP not originally on “Good Apollo I’m Burning Star IV: Volume 1”. On “In Keeping Secrets of Silent Earth: 3” the song is one of the more upbeat tracks, but here it is found at a slower pace with Claudio at a bare whisper most of the time. During the chorus Claudio makes it seem like he’s taking his last breathes by giving the feeling of exasperation at the end of each line.
Having an acoustic version of
“Wake Up” though is almost pointless. Other than the actual acoustic song,
“Always and Never”, on “Good Apollo” it’s the slowest song there and here too. It was useful on the original album because it set up the climax, but putting it here implies that it may eventually be used as a single, which would be a terrible choice. It’s still a great song, but mainly for Claudio’s voice and not the music.
“The Willing Well IV: The Final Cut” was amazing before, but now it’s just jaw dropping beautiful. The bass and drums are here and loom over Claudio’s voice while the acoustic guitars cover the background. Claudio’s statement of “You’re a selfish little whore, I’m the selfish little whore. If I had my way I’d crush your face in the door” is spine chilling. The long solo isn’t as enjoyable as its electric version, but is still relaxing enough to catch some Z’s to.
This acoustic EP has revealed a lot for me. Two main things are that Coheed is as great an acoustic band as they are electric and that they have deep roots in Spanish guitar styles. For only having four acoustic songs this EP still manages to cover many moods, anger, depression, excitement, ruefulness, appreciation, and relaxation. The acoustics
“A Favor House Atlantic” and
“The Willing Well IV: The Final Cut” make it necessary for any Coheed & Cambria fan to download this immediately.
Pros:
+The new version of
“A Favor House Atlantic” is breathtaking
+Cover art is amazing to look at
+The emotion of the songs is increased ten fold as acoustics
+Something new to tide rapid Coheed fans (such as myself) over until the next masterpiece is released (which will be a long time)
Cons:
-
“Wake Up” isn’t really necessary here