Review Summary: I appologize for the monstrosity that is this review but I tried to cover as much as I could in as short a space as possible, but alas there is enough in here to write a book about.
Even though this has already been reviewed I wanted to give a review from the perspective of someone who meticulously follows the story of Coheed & Cambria. I will try to somewhat describe the story of the songs before I actually go into detail about them. So before I begin let me say that if you don't follow the story you may want to skip over some parts of the review. Also, ill try to keep this as short as possible but this will deffinitely be a novel of a review since there is so much to cover.
Before one pops
My Brother's Blood Machine into the stereo, one must first take a brief moment to do away with the notion that this will sound like a Coheed album. Gone are the distorted power chords, replaced by an almagamation of acoustic work, electronica and dance beats, hand claps, and industrial noises. The vocals range from layered, to well... unlayered, and from a normal volume to hushed wispers, depending on what fits the mood of the song. As far as tempos go, they change to fit the type of story the song is telling, like slow and somber for
The Fight Of Moses Early & Sir Arthur McCloud to upbeat and bouncy for
Run Gunner Recall Run, The Town Wants You Dead. Now with that out of the way, on to the album itself.
The story of the album centers around the town of Margretville, which has more disturbing subplots than an entire season of Days Of Our Lives. From what I can gather the story centers around brothers Long Arm & Butchie Bleam and follows them as they become absorbed in some sort of cult witch I believe is named the Blood Machine, (this is also used as the name for a human heart and a type of execution machine). And now the track by track portion.
The Going Price For Home - In my interpretation the song is about a crazed individual who kills his significant other with the plan to do the same to himself soon from the lyric "I've lost the only thing that matters to my life" and "I'm on my way home now to you". The song is slow with some interesting electronics taking the foreground and a simple dance beat to back up the layered vocals. The vocal performance is not particularly impressive by Claudio standards but it gets the job done.
The Fight Of Moses Early & Sir Arthur McCloud - The song is about exactly what you would think, a fight between the two characters in the title. There appears to be a confrontation. It's not clear to me yet who the winner is but from the lyric "Push the living off the edge" I'd guess somebody gets it. The music is straight up acoustic and its some of the best acoustic work I've heard in a while. Theres no precussion and claudio's vocals are hushed the entire way through. Even though they are quiet it is in my mind one of the most impressive performances here.
Our Darling Daughter You Are, Little Cecilia Marie - This appears to be about a dysfunctional family. It follows the character mentioned in the story as she kills a family member in the shower after what appears to be a heated dispute. Another person I believe sees the events from the line "Out from the woods a light burns in shadow unnoticed to girl with a gun". A single acoustic guitar plays some fairly standard acoustic riffs while two vocal tracks relate the tale in a pseudo menacing snarl.
A Death In The Family - I believe Cecilia Marie takes refuge with a friend "Hide me in a hole stowed away from nightmares" or maybe she just hides in the woods. The second part of the song seems to be about her missing a loved one or vice versa. This song is much like the first in terms of music as it is entirely electronic with a dance beat to back it up only slightly more upbeat. The vocals are again a standard affair for Claudio with a few "Ba da doo da da da" lines in the background here and there. Not one of my favorites on the album but a decent listen.
The Margretville Dance - My personal favorite of the album. I believe in this song Long Arm & Butchie enter the scene at the town dance accompanied by a few cult members. They then proceed to remove a girl from the dance where the song takes quite the sinister turn, relating the rape and torture of the girl as the brothers watch her die at the conclusion. Though I believe one of them has regrets due to the line "I don't want your love before you rot" Again the song is completely electronic and provides some extremely catchy beats. The vocals are layered and fit the song perfectly with a few "Doo doo doo's" at the ending.
Accidents - I believe in this song Butchie confesses what they have done to a local priest. I can't exactly figure out the events in the song other than that other than he has an argument with Long Arm. The song is industrial driven with a guitar solo running through part of it. The vocals are a bit different from the rest of the album as they sound like claudio sang them from the other side of the room in the studio. The vocals also have an eerie quality to them due to the echo.
Run Gunner Recall. Run! The Town Wants You Dead! - The character Gunner Recall has obviously commited a grave offense as he is running from the towns folk who wish him hanged. I believe Gunner hears voices form the line "they dont hear the serpent that burns your ear". The music returns to acoustic guitar lines with a few odd noises now and then. The vocals fit the song well and Claudio's voice is joined by the deep menacing voice as heard in The Velourium Camper III on IKSSE:3, and I believe this voice is used to conotate that the character in the song is insane.
Who Watches The Watchmen? - I believe this is a sort of Part II to
The Margretville Dance as it follows either the brothers or the other cult members as they run from what they've done. It recounts what they did to the girl at the dance and what they believe that should happen to them "through this door you deserve a beating through the machine". The machine is the Blood Machine which is the execution machine mentioned before. The music is upbeat which is surprising since the lyrics are anything but. The song opens with a simple piano line and a looped electronic line. Then a lone acoustic guitar enters the mix with a drum machine holding down the rhytm. Claudio's perfomance is one of the most impressive on the album as it is one of the few without layered vocals (though there are some in the chorus and background occasionally). The ending can seem a bit dragged out sometimes which is the songs only drawback.
Wayne Andrews, The Old Bee Keeper - This song is a personal monologue from the character in the title of his dissatisfaction with the world around him. I believe he knows his time is nigh as he believe nobody notices him anymore as he is only a forgoten memory alone in his house. THe song is very down tempo with the acoustic guitar's playing mournful melodies joined by a string chorus. The vocals resemble those of The Fight Of Moses... Not one of my favorites but a good song nontheless.
The Missing McCloud Boys - I believe Long Arm and Butchie have killed Arthur McCloud's sons and this song is Arthur's lament and outrage at the situation. The song is heavily delayed clean guitar work with almost childlike layered vocals from Claudio. One of the least interesting tracks on the album and the vocals are somewhat high even by Claudio's standards.
Easter - The song goes back to Cecilia's family and the love interest that is seeking her. It's easter sunday obviously but other than that I can't figure out whtas going on for most of the song. The song is once again acoustic with Claudio's vocals whispered the entire way through. Again its one of the least interesting on the album but nontheless its listen worthy.
78 - After 67 tracks of pure silence 78 finally kicks in. I believe Long Arm & Butchie are trying to escape the cult they've been drawn into. This song provides the sole appearance of a distorted guitar and opens up with some industrial sounds. There's also a rockin' solo at the close of the song which lets the album go out with quite a bang. Claudio's vocals are once again layered and while not spectacular, they serve their purpose.
So over all the album provides an interesting listen and proves Claudio's musical versatility. It's not as accesible as some of Coheed's stuff but if you're looking for something different than the norm I'd say go out and pick up this album, pop it in the stereo, and enjoy.
Final Rating for casual listeners
3.8
Final Rating for followers of the story
4 as I believe the story provides a whole new aspect of the music to enjoy.
