Year of The Black Rainbow

Coheed & Cambria

Released: April 13, 2010
Label: Columbia Records
Produced By: Atticus Ross / Joe Barresi

AVERAGE GRADE: B

C-

While the newest release, Year of The Black Rainbow, still has remnants of the Coheed and Cambria fans have come to love, it gets a little messy from time to time, both with writing and production. Their overuse of sound effects, keyboards, synths, electronic drum sounds, and large reverbs and delays on both vocals and guitars often detracts from or masks the elements of the group that have helped define them. The guitars continue to be dynamic and the balanced dual guitars are certainly apparent at most times, but on this album, many of the guitar parts get overly progressive and way too busy. Claudio always delivers amazing vocal performances, but there's not much on this album to call a "hook" from a vocal perspective.

There are plenty of good parts on the album, but most of those are parts that sound like good-ole Coheed and Cambria, no big stretch from several previous albums. All the stuff that sounds like their idea of musical growth just doesn't work like the old stuff did. The album certainly isn't a stinker, but many Coheed and Cambria fans will be finding themselves very disappointed.

A+

Upon first listen to Year of the Black Rainbow I knew that Coheed and Cambria was still the same band. I was pleasantly surprised by the dark and semi-progressive take they threw into their already-creative writing process. The addition of Chris Pennie (formerly of Dillinger Escape Plan) on drums has provided a unique advantage to the busy-work that Claudio (vocals/guitars) and Travis (lead guitar) seem to do effortlessly. The last album lacked that presence and creativity. After listening to "Guns of Summer", I was sold on Year of The Black Rainbow.

This album is an ominous, moody, and angry album that dives off the emotional deep-end. The rhythmic chaos backing Claudio's outrageous vocal olympics compliment each other more than a fat kid with a Big Mac. This album may be too busy for some old school fans, but for me, it rocked.

Alice In Wonderland

(DVD/Blu-ray)

DVD Release: June 1, 2010 Studio: Walt Disney Pictures Starring: Johnny Depp, Mia Wasikowska, Helena Bonham Carter, Anne Hathaway, Crispin Glover, Matt Lucas, Stephen Fry, Alan Rickman, Michael Sheen

AVERAGE GRADE: A-

B+

As expected, this film delivers visually, while showcasing the current potential for CGI and live-action hybrids. There are parts where the CGI still shows its limits, however. For instance, the oddly-stretched body of Stayne (Crispin Glover) never looks real and the action sequences of him mounting and dismounting his horse are borderline cartoonish. Nevertheless, it is still Alice In Wonderland, so allowing certain "unbelievable" aspects is okay. Overall though, there are no doubts that this has to be one of Tim Burton's best visual productions to date.

I personally get a little tired of the ever-growing predictability of Tim Burton's cast from movie to movie (Johnny Depp anyone?) but the performances, as to be expected, are excellent and only add to the enjoyment of an already outstanding film. The ending was a bit disappointing for me and that's about the only reason I can't give this movie an A. Otherwise, it's a great movie I'll be watching again very soon.

A

In an era of constant movie remakes, Tim Burton has become the one filmmaker that has transcended the negativity and instead has people clamoring for his twist on such popular and legendary tales. Alice In Wonderland has only helped secure that statement as a truth.

For me, this movie is pretty easy to sum up: fantastic! I do not regret a single penny spent at the theater and will certainly own this movie for myself and kids to watch repeatedly. The graphics and imagery are stunning, the acting and cast are superb, and the storyline is true to the novels while still having that flair that only Tim Burton can tastefully inject. In short, it is the must-see movie of this year so far and is sure to please every viewer of any age or film taste. It's simply magical entertainment!

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	Year of The Black Rainbow Coheed & Cambria Released: April 13, 2010 Label: Columbia Records Produced By: Atticus Ross / Joe Barresi AVERAGE GRADE: B C- While the newest release, Year of The Black Rainbow, still has remnants of the Coheed and Cambria fans have come to love, it gets a little messy from time to time, both with writing and production. Their overuse of sound effects, keyboards, synths, electronic drum sounds, and large reverbs and delays on both vocals and guitars often detracts from or masks the elements of the group that have helped define them. The guitars continue to be dynamic and the balanced dual guitars are certainly apparent at most times, but on this album, many of the guitar parts get overly progressive and way too busy. Claudio always delivers amazing vocal performances, but there's not much on this album to call a "hook" from a vocal perspective. There are plenty of good parts on the album, but most of those are parts that sound like good-ole Coheed and Cambria, no big stretch from several previous albums. All the stuff that sounds like their idea of musical growth just doesn't work like the old stuff did. The album certainly isn't a stinker, but many Coheed and Cambria fans will be finding themselves very disappointed. A+ Upon first listen to Year of the Black Rainbow I knew that Coheed and Cambria was still the same band. I was pleasantly surprised by the dark and semi-progressive take they threw into their already-creative writing process. The addition of Chris Pennie (formerly of Dillinger Escape Plan) on drums has provided a unique advantage to the busy-work that Claudio (vocals/guitars) and Travis (lead guitar) seem to do effortlessly. The last album lacked that presence and creativity. After listening to "Guns of Summer", I was sold on Year of The Black Rainbow. This album is an ominous, moody, and angry album that dives off the emotional deep-end. The rhythmic chaos backing Claudio's outrageous vocal olympics compliment each other more than a fat kid with a Big Mac. This album may be too busy for some old school fans, but for me, it rocked. Alice In Wonderland (DVD/Blu-ray) DVD Release: June 1, 2010 Studio: Walt Disney Pictures Starring: Johnny Depp, Mia Wasikowska, Helena Bonham Carter, Anne Hathaway, Crispin Glover, Matt Lucas, Stephen Fry, Alan Rickman, Michael Sheen AVERAGE GRADE: A- B+ As expected, this film delivers visually, while showcasing the current potential for CGI and live-action hybrids. There are parts where the CGI still shows its limits, however. For instance, the oddly-stretched body of Stayne (Crispin Glover) never looks real and the action sequences of him mounting and dismounting his horse are borderline cartoonish. Nevertheless, it is still Alice In Wonderland, so allowing certain "unbelievable" aspects is okay. Overall though, there are no doubts that this has to be one of Tim Burton's best visual productions to date. I personally get a little tired of the ever-growing predictability of Tim Burton's cast from movie to movie (Johnny Depp anyone?) but the performances, as to be expected, are excellent and only add to the enjoyment of an already outstanding film. The ending was a bit disappointing for me and that's about the only reason I can't give this movie an A. Otherwise, it's a great movie I'll be watching again very soon. A In an era of constant movie remakes, Tim Burton has become the one filmmaker that has transcended the negativity and instead has people clamoring for his twist on such popular and legendary tales. Alice In Wonderland has only helped secure that statement as a truth. For me, this movie is pretty easy to sum up: fantastic! I do not regret a single penny spent at the theater and will certainly own this movie for myself and kids to watch repeatedly. The graphics and imagery are stunning, the acting and cast are superb, and the storyline is true to the novels while still having that flair that only Tim Burton can tastefully inject. In short, it is the must-see movie of this year so far and is sure to please every viewer of any age or film taste. It's simply magical entertainment! Advertise with Fliprag

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