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Year of the Black Rainbow

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Year of the Black Rainbow is the fifth studio album by American progressive rock band Coheed and Cambria, released on April 13, 2010 on Columbia. The album is a prequel to the band's previous four concept albums, which comprise The Amory Wars narrative. Year of the Black Rainbow marks drummer Chris Pennie's studio album debut with the band.

Background and recording

The band began recording the album in summer 2009 and finished up later that year in November. Vocalist, guitarist and lyricist Claudio Sanchez noted that the album is very melodic.[1]

The album is produced by Atticus Ross (Nine Inch Nails, Jane's Addiction) and Joe Barresi (Queens of the Stone Age, Tool). According to Sanchez, "they have helped us evolve our sound to be more powerful and dynamic than ever and we think it's definitely our best work to date." Sanchez also states that, "musically, there's a very cinematic tone. There is a lot of atmosphere on this record, and that's something I've always wanted to incorporate on the other records, but just never could attain it as we have on this one."[2]

The album also marks drummer Chris Pennie's studio debut with the band, who has been playing alongside Sanchez, lead guitarist Travis Stever and bassist Michael Todd since 2007. Sanchez states that: "[Pennie] really kicked ass on this record. There are a lot of tunes on this album that I'm not so sure we would've been able to execute had we not have had him."[2]

Year of the Black Rainbow also completes the main tetralogy of The Amory Wars:[3]

When I created the idea of the Amory Wars and the first record being The Second Stage Turbine Blade and that being the second part of the story, I always knew at the end I would revisit the beginning. I think for those fans that are truly invested in the concept, its really a necessity. I don't know if it was necessary to make prequels for Star Wars, [but] this is where Coheed and Cambria came from. The origins of who they are.

Release

Year of the Black Rainbow's release was preceded by a series of eight intimate club gigs on the northeastern United States, all of which sold out.[4] The band announced a U.S. tour featuring 36 dates (including the eight in March).[5]

The first song released from the album, "The Broken," premiered at midnight on February 9, 2010.[6] On March 10, 2010, a music video for "The Broken" premiered on Myspace.[7]

The first official single from the album, "Here We Are Juggernaut", was uploaded onto the band's Myspace site on March 4, 2010[8] and went on sale March 9, 2010.[9]

A special vinyl edition of "Guns of Summer" will be released exclusively at Vintage Vinyl for Record Store Day.[10]

The album began streaming on the band's MySpace on April 7, 2010. Also in Purevolume the entire album can be listened to. On April 20, 2010, "Here We Are Juggernaut", "The Broken" and "Guns of Summer" were released as downloadable content for the Rock Band 2 music store.[11]

The album was released by Columbia Records in both a standard format and a deluxe edition, which included a 352-page Year of the Black Rainbow novel, penned by the lead singer Claudio Sanchez and New York Times bestselling author Peter David. In Europe the album was released by Roadrunner Records.

Regarding the album's novelization, Sanchez states that: "It was kind of tough juggling both of them; recording an album and writing a novel. That was a little strenuous but, for the most part, it was a lot of fun."[12]

Critical reception and sales

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic [13]
Altsounds[14]
Kerrang![citation needed]
The AV ClubB+ [15]
The Guardian [16]
Time Out New York [17]
Sputnikmusic [18]
BBCSlightly unfavorable [19]
Mind Equals Blown[20]
Rock Sound[21]
Spin[22]
NME[23]
Music Emissions[24]
Rolling Stone[25]
Slant Magazine[26]

So far the album has received generally positive reviews, garnering a 72% on Metacritic out of 17 reviews.[27] Rocksound gave the record a 9 out of 10 and said the album, "is possibly their best record to date."[28] The A.V. Club, who praised the album highly, remarked, "Reconciling its post-hardcore roots with the progressive-rock flourishes that have been eclipsing the band’s sound over the past couple albums, tracks like “Here We Are Juggernaut” and “World Of Lines” far outshine the recent output of Coheed’s closest peer, The Mars Volta..."[29] Allmusic, who gave the record a 4 out of 5, concluded that "any fan of heavy progressive rock music may find this music to be of compelling interest, whether one buys into the conceptual nature of the Amory Wars or not."[30] The NewReview rated the album a 4 out of 5 and said "A big portion of the songs on this album are slower in tempo and that makes the listener really analyze the music and appreciate the subtle nuances that this album has to offer."[31]

On the other hand, BBC Music reports that the album "suffers just a little too much from its own grand, sprawling ambition."[19] Slant Magazine laments, "There's no trace of Coheed's oddball eclecticism here, or of their dynamic pop sensibilities; instead the emotionally and tonally monochrome Black Rainbow gives the impression of a typically humorless metal act." Slant also criticizes the album for featuring an "oppressive production job by Atticus Ross and Joe Barressi" that creates "gloomy atmospherics that shroud each and every track". [32]

The album debuted at #5 on the Billboard 200, and sold 51,000 copies in its first week.[33] In addition, it was #2 on the Rock Album charts and the third most digitally downloaded album.[34] In its second week, Year of the Black Rainbow charted at #42 on the Billboard 200.[35] The record charted at #73 during its third week on the Billboard 200.[36]

Track listing

All lyrics are written by Claudio Sanchez; all music is composed by Coheed and Cambria except "One" and "Pearl of the Stars" music by Claudio Sanchez and Atticus Ross

Year of the Black Rainbow[37]
No.TitleLength
1."One"1:54
2."The Broken"3:53
3."Guns of Summer"4:47
4."Here We Are Juggernaut"3:44
5."Far"4:54
6."This Shattered Symphony"4:26
7."World of Lines"3:18
8."Made Out of Nothing (All That I Am)"4:38
9."Pearl of the Stars"5:05
10."In the Flame of Error"5:29
11."When Skeletons Live"4:18
12."The Black Rainbow"7:33

Deluxe Edition Only

No.TitleLength
13."Chamberlain (Demo)" (Previously Unreleased Bonus Track)4:20
14."The Lost Shepherd (Demo)" (Previously Unreleased Bonus Track)4:11

iTunes Exclusive[38]

No.TitleLength
13."Hush"4:18

Deluxe edition

The deluxe edition includes:[39]

  • 352-page Year of the Black Rainbow novel, penned by Claudio Sanchez and author Peter David.
  • "Every End Has A Beginning" DVD featuring studio and interview footage.
  • Coheed and Cambria "Black Card", available only from the band's official website. Black Card Cardholders will be eligible for early entrance to selected shows, discounts on band merchandise and exclusive downloads and offers.
  • Previously-unreleased bonus tracks

Singles

Year Single Chart Peak
position[40]
2010 "Here We Are Juggernaut" Alternative Songs 29

Personnel

The following people contributed to Year of the Black Rainbow:[41]

Coheed & Cambria

Additional musicians

  • Wes Styles - additional keyboards
  • Brian Dembow - viola ("Pearl of the Stars")
  • Claudia Sarne - additional keyboards, orchestration ("Pearl of the Stars")

Recording personnel

  • Atticus Ross - producer, recording, mixing
  • Joe Barresi - producer, recording, mixing
  • Jun Murakawa - assistant engineer
  • Dustin Moseley - additional assistant
  • Catherine Marks - mixing assistant ("Here We Are Juggernaut")
  • Mike Fasano - drum tech
  • Dan Druff - guitar tech
  • Brian Gardner - mastering

Artwork

  • Bill Scoville - album art, layout, design

References

  1. ^ Natalie Zfat (Feb 10, 2009). "Coheed and Cambria's Creator Character Returns for "Very Melodic" Fifth Concept Album". Rolling Stone. Wenner Media. Retrieved May 10, 2010. Another cut, "When Skeletons Live," is more uptempo and melodic.
  2. ^ a b Rick Florino (Sat, 20 Mar 2010). "Coheed and Cambria — "Quentin Tarantino could direct Black Rainbow because he's never done a sci-fi film"". Artist Direct. Rouge Network. Retrieved May 10, 2010. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  3. ^ Claudio Sanchez of Coheed and Cambria Interview: 'No Iron Maiden Tour'
  4. ^ "Coheed and Cambria: All March dates are now officially sold out". Twitter. March 15th 2010. Retrieved August 11, 2010. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  5. ^ "Tour Dates". The Official Coheed & Cambria Site. Sony Music Entertainment. Retrieved August 11, 2010.
  6. ^ ShockHound - MP3s Coheed And Cambira MP3 Music Downloads
  7. ^ [1]
  8. ^ Facebook | Coheed and Cambria RT @Coheed: #herewearejuggernaut unleashed today at 7pm EST www.coheedandcambria.com
  9. ^ Amazon.com: Here We Are Juggernaut: Coheed And Cambria: MP3 Downloads
  10. ^ http://www.vvinyl.com/v/coheed-and-cambria-guns-of-summer-7-picture-disc/450
  11. ^ http://www.rockband.com/zine/coheed-pack-and-singles
  12. ^ http://www.artistdirect.com/nad/news/article/0,,6518724,00.html
  13. ^ http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:kzfrxzrsldte
  14. ^ http://hangout.altsounds.com/reviews/116625-coheed-and-cambria-year-of-the-black-rainbow-album.html
  15. ^ http://www.avclub.com/articles/coheed-and-cambria-year-of-the-black-rainbow,40028/
  16. ^ http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2010/apr/08/coheed-cambria-black-rainbow-review
  17. ^ http://newyork.timeout.com/articles/music/84003/coheed-and-cambria-year-of-the-black-rainbow-album-review/
  18. ^ http://www.sputnikmusic.com/album.php?reviewid=35924
  19. ^ a b http://www.bbc.co.uk/music/reviews/3jd3
  20. ^ "Mind Equals Blown review".
  21. ^ http://www.rocksound.tv/reviews/article/coheed-and-cambria-year-of-the-black-rainbow
  22. ^ "Spin review".
  23. ^ "NME review".
  24. ^ [2]
  25. ^ [3]
  26. ^ [4]
  27. ^ http://www.metacritic.com/music/artists/coheedandcambria/yearoftheblackrainbow
  28. ^ http://www.rocksound.tv/reviews/article/coheed-and-cambria-year-of-the-black-rainbow
  29. ^ http://www.avclub.com/articles/coheed-and-cambria-year-of-the-black-rainbow,40028/
  30. ^ http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:kzfrxzrsldte~T1
  31. ^ http://thenewreview.net/reviews/coheed-and-cambria-year-of-the-black-rainbow
  32. ^ http://www.slantmagazine.com/music/review/coheed-and-cambria-year-of-the-black-rainbow/2072
  33. ^ Keith Caulfield (April 21, 2010). "MGMT's Top Debut on Billboard 200; Bieber Holds at No. 1". Billboard. Retrieved May 10, 2010. The Billboard 200's second-highest debut comes from Coheed and Cambria's "Year of the Black Rainbow," as it starts with 51,000 copies sold at a career-high rank of No. 5 with 51,000. The rock act's last album, 2007's "No World For Tomorrow," bowed at No. 6 but with a bigger opening sales figure -- 62,000.
  34. ^ http://www.billboard.com/#/album/coheed-and-cambria/year-of-the-black-rainbow/1324314
  35. ^ http://www.billboard.com/#/album/coheed-and-cambria/year-of-the-black-rainbow/1324314
  36. ^ http://www.billboard.com/#/album/coheed-and-cambria/year-of-the-black-rainbow/1324314
  37. ^ http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:kzfrxzrsldte
  38. ^ Pre-Order "Year Of The Black Rainbow" (Deluxe Version) by Coheed And Cambria on iTunes
  39. ^ Our First US Headline Tour In Over 2 Years
  40. ^ "Coheed & Cambria Here We Are Juggernaut". billboard.com. 2010-4-25. Retrieved 2010-4-25. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= and |date= (help)
  41. ^ Year of the Black Rainbow liner notes
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