| Good Apollo, I'm Burning Star IV, Volume Two: No World for Tomorrow | |
| Type: | studio |
| Artist: | Coheed and Cambria |
| Cover: | NWFTreal.jpg |
| Caption: | Cover art by Ken Kelly |
| Released: | October 23, 2007[1] |
| Recorded: | April–June 2007 |
| Genre: | |
| Length: | 59:54 |
| Label: | Columbia |
| Producer: |
|
| Prev Year: | 2005 |
| Next Title: | Year of the Black Rainbow |
| Next Year: | 2010 |
Good Apollo, I'm Burning Star IV, Volume Two: No World for Tomorrow (often shortened to No World for Tomorrow), is the fourth studio album by American progressive rock band Coheed and Cambria, released on October 23, 2007. The album is a direct sequel to their previous album, . The album comprises part four of band's Amory Wars narrative. It is the only album to feature Taylor Hawkins on drums, following the departure of Josh Eppard.
The album is often marketed by the shortened title No World for Tomorrow. Neither the disc itself nor its outer packaging suggest the Good Apollo title, though it is found printed on the cover of the accompanying lyrics booklet, as well as the rim of the fourth side of the vinyl release. Frontman Claudio Sanchez has stated that the full name of the album is in fact Good Apollo, I'm Burning Star IV, Volume Two: No World for Tomorrow.[3]
The album debuted on the Billboard 200 album chart at No. 6, selling about 62,000 copies in its first week. It sold over 100,000 copies in its first month.[4] As of January 2008, the record has sold over 350,000 copies, with 153,979 being sold in the US.
Leading up to the album's release, the songs "Mother Superior" and "The Running Free" were performed live on the band's tours. A July 2007MTV article described the album as more experimental in comparison to the band's previous efforts. Sanchez detailed that for some tracks he had experimented with unfamiliar instrumentation including organs and pianos, creating a sound he described as "Ray Charles on Quaaludes." Some parts initially written on piano were later converted into intricate guitar segments.[5]
In late July 2007 "The Running Free" was announced as the album's first single, and it was released to radio on August 20.[6] The song was streamed on the band's MySpace profile and was made available through digital distribution on August 14.
Also in July 2007 an official website was launched for the album. The site featured weekly updates including a competition, video segments, album artwork and announcements regarding "The Running Free" single and its accompanying music video. A viral marketing video series entitled "The Willing Well" was released in five installments continuing until October 22.
In January 2008 a promotional website for the next single "Feathers" was created.[7]
A guerilla marketing campaign took place in various locations across the country, including an incident[8] on the University of Kansas campus in which someone spray painted the "Keywork" logo and the release date in several locations, resulting in a small panic related to a previous shooting on campus.
There are three formats of the album; a 'Deluxe Edition' which includes a bonus 24 minute documentary feature on "The Making of NWFT" with interviews, footage from the studio, three never before heard acoustic demos (the other two from In Keeping Secrets of Silent Earth: 3 had previously leaked), a booklet with scenes from The Amory Wars, and over 50 photos from recent tours; a 'stripped' version, containing just the CD and a slip sleeve cover; and a 'double gatefold vinyl' version, in which the album comes on 2 LPs, featuring artwork by Ken Kelly. If pre-ordered, they would come with an autographed booklet but stock ran out the day after the prerelease was announced. Another promotional item, the No World for Tomorrow magnet, is still in stock.[9]
The album received mostly positive reviews, with a Metacritic score of 69% based on 16 reviews.[10] Entertainment Weekly noted that the band "infuse their expansive music with enough grit and melody that you don't give a hoot what, say 'The Hound (of Blood & Rank)' is 'about.'" Q gave it a score of four stars out of five and remarked that the album was "accessible" and "hugely appealing" because of how the album is immersed in Claudio Sanchez's personal life.[10] Mojo also gave it four stars and hailed "Feathers" as "unabashed radio-rock"[10] while Rolling Stone connected it to Uriah Heep's "Easy Livin'".[11] AllMusic remarked that "listeners will find a number of enjoyable would-be singles", as well as stating that "the album is simple ear candy for those who haven't studied the band's previous releases".[12] Blender voiced that "Coheed have found their sweet spot" and that they indulge "in grandiose, classic-rock, flaunting chops that could shame the showoffs in Rush".[13] Virgin Media gave it four stars out of five, calling the album "an appealing addition to the prog canon".[14] Melodic gave it all five stars and said, "The band delivers the best album to date and shows their growth and maturity to the fullest."
On the other hand, The A.V. Club claimed the album could "have been more inspired".[15] Alternative Press gave it three stars out of five and reported that the record "simply doesn't deliver on all the suspense that's been loaded into it and built up to."[10] Now also gave it three stars out of five as one of "Perlich's Picks" and said, "The aggression is still there, now tempered with lighter numbers like 'Feathers', but the whole thing still reeks of comic nerd sci-fi awesomeness."[16] Others noted that the album sticks to a reliable formula that does not always help the progression of the album, especially with the outro of the last song "On the Brink" where they scream the word [Hail] 57 times. The Village Voice lamented that Coheed "slipped up" on this album.[17] Spin gave the album a score of four out of ten and said it "should ensure that 21-year-old dudes in women's jeans will gobble up reissues of 2112 for years to come."[18]
No World for Tomorrow was also released on 180 gram double LP vinyl, pressed at Nashville's United Record Pressing. The first three sides feature the same songs as the CD version but the fourth side features etched artwork incorporating the band's logo. It is packaged in a double gatefold jacket.
Coheed and Cambria[19]
(Chris Pennie wrote the original drum parts but was unable to record due to contract issues)[21]
With:
| Year | Single | Chart | Peak position | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | "The Running Free" | US Modern Rock Tracks[22] | 19 | |
| 2007 | "The Running Free" | US Mainstream Rock Tracks[23] | 31 |