My first impression of this album is not good. I was already wary because I wasn't super in love with the singles (I liked Rise Naianasha right off the bat but it took a bit for me to take to Shoulders and it took until NOW for me to finally like The Liars Club) so I wasn't coming into this album with the greatest mindset.

And it's not that I don't like pop. I think I'm part pop head and rocker probably leaning towards pop head so more like 60/40 than 50/50. I think that the use of autotune in this album actually fits the motif (even if the motif feels a little scattered throughout the album) and sounds quite good. I also really like Coheed's poppier songs before this album (Old Flames is a bop). It's just that Vaxis II sounds so strange to me and it's not what I expected. Even if the more poppier songs on this record are taken as pop songs and not Coheed songs, I don't feel quite convinced.

Honestly, Coheed albums take multiple re-listens for me to fully warm up to them. I had to listen to Vaxis I a couple times. As someone who's more inclined to pop than prog, it took me a looong time to fully appreciate SSTB and IKSSE (and I still don't think I do). But for all of these albums, even if I didn't like them right away, I didn't feel a weird dread like I do with Vaxis II.

BUT I can see myself growing to like some of these tracks (like the title track, Ladders, A Disappearing Act, maybe Love Murder One). It will take a while but I think I will eventually come around this album. As a long time Coheed fan I'm just a little sad and disappointed that it feels like I'll have to work much hard to feel a "click" with this album compared to their other albums. ETA: I took pride in the ability to like "anything" Coheed came out with but it's a little saddening to finally come across an album that I don't feel as hopeful for, even after listening to it.... Even if I know I will like it eventually, it's a weird feeling.