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The Prize Fighter Inferno

My Brother's Blood Machine (2006)
Equal Vision Records

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Contributed by: Anchors
(others by this writer | submit your own)

Published on June 1st 2007

I think it’s time for somebody to put a leash on Claudio Sanchez. Through the three-album progression of Coheed and Cambria, Sanchez has gone from a skilled and focused songwriter to an individual not really in grips with what it takes to write a cohesive song -- let alone an album. Be it a case of trying too much, to simply trying too hard, many of the band's original fans have been alienated, and his solo project, the Prize Fighter Inferno, will do nothing to reel them back in.

Worse yet is the fact that My Brother’s Blood Machine is his most scattered and most disjointed effort to date.

He can no longer rely on his bandmates to reel him in when he becomes too outlandish (though that didn’t pan out so well on Coheed’s last effort anyhow), and thus tries to integrate songwriting elements that are just painfully misguided. Lots of electronic and ambient elements show up on the record that feel like an unfortunate mash-up between the last Coheed album and the Postal Service. “Accidents” is a first-hand example of Sanchez trying to integrate too many styles, as throughout the track’s five-minute course, there’s some industrial-like beats, some whimsical ambience, and a slow-groove techno beat in the second half of the song. The same style of vocals is continued no matter the background sounds, and this scatterbrained approach encapsulates everything else that goes wrong on the record.

The only time he truly sounds comfortable is when he’s using a much more traditional style of instrumentation.

“Run, Gunner Recall, Run! The Town Wants You Dead” sounds as if it could have been an In Keeping Secrets... B-side, with its bouncy, acoustic guitar-accompanied rhythm. Save for the thick, staggered, techno beat that lasts for about 25 seconds in the middle of the track, it’s normal. And that’s an accomplishment on this record, where so many other songs sound like the additional elements are integrated just for the sake of it. “The Margaretville Dance” sounds like Sanchez singing over a Telefon Tel Aviv beat, and it even turns into somewhat of a dance track in the chorus, as his voice becomes more high-pitched and more brought to the forefront as the volume of the beat is increased. As with many other tracks, it sounds horribly awkward.

More than anything, My Brother’s Blood Machine feels like Claudio Sanchez taking an opportunity to try out all the different styles that his Coheed bandmates probably would not let him put on their records. For a man who’s actively gone against uniformity, this effort shows his absolute need to embrace it.

This collection of songs is simply that, a collection of songs; there’s no album to speak of.

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keithybobeefy (May 30, 2010)

I never understood why people think that the band took a turn for the worse after In Keeping Secrets...

In fact, I would go as far as saying that No World For Tomorrow is the best Coheed record to date.

The_Crowing (October 25, 2007)

This album has a few serious flaws. But fuck it, I'm a fanboy, and this is a great addition to any Coheed fan's library. Just know that it definitely isn't as good as any of coheed's music.

cadaverminestwin (October 14, 2007)

Not as good as Coheed, but I still like it.

Anonymous (June 5, 2007)

depends on how you look at it. if you are looking for a typical coheed album, this isn't it. But if you take it at face value, which is just a series of songs, and enjoy those songs, then this is an excellent album. i cant imagine a coheed fan not enjoying this one. Also, like coca, this album tells a story, so the reviewers idea of a disjointed album is severely overstated.

OverDefined (June 4, 2007)

This thread has become yet more proof that anonymous posting should be banned.

Anonymous (June 4, 2007)

yeah man, all you poser math rock bands better step aside and let the real boys drop some quadratic equation on dat ass!

math rock is mathtacular!

Anonymous (June 4, 2007)

minus the bear is a fake math rock band. listen to the real stuff.

Anonymous (June 4, 2007)

The album is fantastic to listen to while you're high.

It's not as good as Coheed and Cambria but its highly enjoyable. And it was recorded over several years on the side. It doesn't sound like a cohesive record because its NOT SUPPOSED TO. Its just Claudio having fun and exploring new areas on the side.

Anonymous (June 4, 2007)

this album is incredible. seriously.

lostcausegiveup (June 3, 2007)

amen, fat tony, amen...

Anonymous (June 3, 2007)

the album is a collection of songs. he wrote these on the side of coheed and cambria. that's why this is a side project for him to put out stuff that he wouldn't do with coheed.

R3venge_Therapy (June 2, 2007)

you can tell the reviewer does not understand coheed. not my fav band but come on , bro. the new mtb is truley for the trendy fan boy fucks. shit band for sure. maybe if you all download it they will stop putting out fake math rock.

The fuck are you going on about? Trendy fan boy fucks? I guess that's an insult or something, but really it just sounds like you don't know what to say when someone puts down a shitty band you like and mentions a band that's 100000 times more talented.

Minus the Bear blow Claudio Sanchez out of the water in terms of songwriting capabilities, and I bet they could write a better comic book story than that two-bit hack. His shit is a fucking mess. But I guess it's cool if you like stories that are impossible to follow, because he seems to like shitting them out.

Shut it.

Anonymous (June 2, 2007)

lostcausegiveup (June 2, 2007)

not fantastic, by any means. a solid addition to the coheed saga, without the kind of coherency provided by the coheed albums. (not that enjoyable either) 3 or 4 songs truly worthwhile.

lostcausegiveup (June 2, 2007)

not fantastic, by any means. a solid addition to the coheed saga, without the kind of coherency provided by the coheed albums. (not that enjoyable either) 3 or 4 songs truly worthwhile.

nate_derby (June 1, 2007)

Fuck this noise. Coheed 's first record and demos ruled...but this shit is tired and worthless.

Score is also for MTB, because the new record rules so hard.

Holy_Balls (June 1, 2007)

This is better than Against Me!

schmittyk (June 1, 2007)

For the most part I'm down with this. yeah.

Anonymous (June 1, 2007)

the new minus the bear is hot. this, however, is not.

Anonymous (June 1, 2007)

2 or 3 of the songs suck but the sttory is pretty rad. plus tarot cards dude! FUCKIN TITS YO!

FatTony (June 1, 2007)

How the fuck can someone hate on MTB and love Coheed!? I guess there's no accounting for taste.

That fact aside, I hate when people reduce my disliking of a band to "not understanding" them. I wouldn't accuse that other kid of "not understanding" Minus The Bear. Then again, I'm not a pretentious fanboy douche.

Archangel (June 1, 2007)

"minus the bear is a joke. and this isnt that great but i love hearing someones opinion who never understood coheed."

I don't even know where to start. Score is for MTB.

Anonymous (June 1, 2007)

minus the bear is a joke. and this isnt that great but i love hearing someones opinion who never understood coheed. they usually come off sounding retarded and then makes the record sound like it might be good.

Anonymous (June 1, 2007)

Fuck this shit - new Minus the Bear leaked.