GOOD APOLLO, I'M BURNING STAR IV, VOLUME ONE - FROM FEAR THROUGH THE EYES OF MADNESS

One reviewer calls them a "bubble gum version of Mars Volta". Hah! That made me laugh, but it is actually close to the mark in many ways. I love about 75% of what Mars Volta does and it's about the same for Coheed & Cambria. This album, with the impossibly long title, is the best of the C & C albums I have. That is not to say it is perfect by any means, though. Despite the stronger tracks such as "Welcome Home", "Wake Up", "The Suffering", and the last 4 "Willing Well" opus tracks, the rest of the songs often leave me flat or just annoyed. Is it the voice? Is it the sometimes relentless guitar? I don't know, but I can't seem to find the perfect Coheed & Cambria CD. It is interesting to see rating for this group spread between 1 stars and 5 stars. Quite a devisive group! I'll split the middle somewhere and give this 3 stars (3 1/2 really). Wish I could bump it up to 4.