The Mars Volta - Francis the Mute

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5 songs 75 minutes. lacks direction but has alot of feeling. its not a big "statement" like the first but the songs are strong! lots of ambient wankage. the best songs are the slow ones? hey no one else was guna make this thread.

― chaki in charge (chaki), Sunday, 16 January 2005 21:30 (twenty years ago)

blatent mooricone ripoffs on the best track. also best drummer eva.

― chaki in charge (chaki), Sunday, 16 January 2005 21:34 (twenty years ago)

I just this week sold my copy of De-Loused at the Unlistenably Pretentiousoreum to Second Spin.Com. I heard they were out of coasters.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Sunday, 16 January 2005 21:35 (twenty years ago)

is there an actual good quality rip out there? all the ones I've seen are crap.

― bill neil (inabillity), Sunday, 16 January 2005 21:35 (twenty years ago)

no. only the leaked bad quality. i should say that i dont even know if this is the final mix yet. why do long songs = pretention to some people? (alexinnyc) some of us like to jam out brah.

― chaki in charge (chaki), Sunday, 16 January 2005 21:40 (twenty years ago)

I don't find song length to be the basis of pretentiousness (hell, I'm a Rush/Crimson/Yes fan). I just find Mars Volta's lyrics and jams to be simply bad and unlistenable.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Sunday, 16 January 2005 21:41 (twenty years ago)

― chaki in charge (chaki), Sunday, 16 January 2005 21:49 (twenty years ago)

the lyrics are just nonsensical which is cool with my cuz i care about HEAVY RIFFAGE

― chaki in charge (chaki), Sunday, 16 January 2005 21:50 (twenty years ago)

Heh, a couple of months ago I met a musician at a party who was the touring keyboardist for the Mars Volta for a while before the first album came out. While agreeing the music was grand, apparently they're just impossibly stoned mofos to work coherently with. I'm not surprised...

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Sunday, 16 January 2005 21:54 (twenty years ago)

Is it salsa?

― RS £aRue (rockist_scientist), Sunday, 16 January 2005 21:55 (twenty years ago)

cuz i care about HEAVY RIFFAGE

Fair enough, but I didn't find the riffage to be heavy nor consistent enough on the first one. Haven't heard the new one, so I'll defer to you on that.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Sunday, 16 January 2005 21:58 (twenty years ago)

its def more straight ahead blues rock/led zep ish at time so i think you'd like it a LITTLEBIT more, alex. there are some latin rythyms but they're not like stand out dope or anything.

― chaki in charge (chaki), Sunday, 16 January 2005 23:43 (twenty years ago)

Curiosity peaked (piqued?) I'll check it out with an open a mind as I can muster, Chaki.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Monday, 17 January 2005 00:16 (twenty years ago)

yah i dont think you'll like it. just check out the 2nd and 3rd songs and get back to me!!!

― chaki in charge (chaki), Monday, 17 January 2005 00:31 (twenty years ago)

It sounds like a lot more like their live show in that in-between the big written sections there are more drum/bass grooves with wanky guitar solos on top and ambient breakdowns. However, the super-tight HOT RIFFING ACTION in the fast songs makes it all worth if for me.

also best drummer eva.

So OTM.

― Jordan (Jordan), Monday, 17 January 2005 00:34 (twenty years ago)

This is going to sound dorky but at their best moments I think they're everything I want out of a rock band.

― Jordan (Jordan), Monday, 17 January 2005 00:35 (twenty years ago)

They're an interestingly divisive band, I've seen them just the once and people are either completely mesmerized or hate their guts. I was impressed but since I really wanted A Perfect Circle to come on was still a bit impatient, but I am intrigued to hear what the new album will sound like.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Monday, 17 January 2005 00:43 (twenty years ago)

is the cover art as atrocious for this one?

― derrick (derrick), Monday, 17 January 2005 02:47 (twenty years ago)

Aw don't hate on Hipgnosis.

― Tracer Hand (tracerhand), Monday, 17 January 2005 03:17 (twenty years ago)

This album is awful.

― a. begrand (a begrand), Monday, 17 January 2005 03:28 (twenty years ago)

Why?

― Tracer Hand (tracerhand), Monday, 17 January 2005 03:31 (twenty years ago)

i love "the widow"!!! also its #1 on kroq's furious 5 at 9!!!

― chaki in charge (chaki), Monday, 17 January 2005 10:37 (twenty years ago)

Are you being sarcastic? I really do love The Widow.

― Mickey, Monday, 17 January 2005 15:41 (twenty years ago)

im being serious.

― chaki in charge (chaki), Monday, 17 January 2005 22:41 (twenty years ago)

New album title: Smash Your Head On The Prog Rock

― Broken Hipster (Broken Hipster), Monday, 17 January 2005 22:59 (twenty years ago)

i like this. i liked the EP a lot, didn't really like the last album much, but this is really, erm, obtuse, in a good, Blueberry Boat kinda way. It'll take some car listenin' to fully appreciate but I'm certainly impressed by it on first listen.

― Roger Fidelity (Roger Fidelity), Monday, 17 January 2005 23:01 (twenty years ago)

Mars Volta are the worst band ever. They are a more offensive version of Rush. Someone help them out of their misery, now.

― Star Cauliflower (Star Cauliflower), Monday, 17 January 2005 23:37 (twenty years ago)

A really appalling band. They make music that is unforgiveable.

― Carel Fabritius (Fabritius), Monday, 17 January 2005 23:40 (twenty years ago)

Wow, worst band *ever*? You sure you don't wanna save that for the future? Who knows how many bad bands are being born at this very minute...

― Broken Hipster (Broken Hipster), Monday, 17 January 2005 23:43 (twenty years ago)

Aw don't hate on Hipgnosis.

Vintage Hipgnosis (Pink Floyd/10cc/Black Sabbath/Peter Gabriel) was, as the hip hop kids say, "the shit!"

Current Hipgnosis (Audioslave/Cranberries/Mars Volta/Muse) is DIRE and cliched.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Monday, 17 January 2005 23:44 (twenty years ago)

Horrible album art and title aside, *De-loused in the Comatorium* was one of my favorite records of 2003. "Intertiatic E.S.P.", "Roulette Dares (The Haunt Of)", and "Televators" are standout tracks. Of course if your tastes are not prog-friendly then this is probably not the band for you...

― Broken Hipster (Broken Hipster), Monday, 17 January 2005 23:49 (twenty years ago)

They are a more offensive version of Rush

what the fuck ever....Rush were great pop songwriters....

― M@tt He1geson (Matt Helgeson), Monday, 17 January 2005 23:55 (twenty years ago)

ok, I'm beginning to re-evaluate my hatred for Rush. But if you were to forced to listen to "Classic Rock Radio" in Canada, you would probably hate them too. I don't think will be able to get past Geddy Lee's voice, though.

Mars Volta still sucks. :)

― Star Cauliflower (Star Cauliflower), Tuesday, 18 January 2005 00:21 (twenty years ago)

This allbum is prog rock by and for people with ADD. They're trying way too hard, and aside from the first three minutes of "The Widow", the entire album is completely forgettable.

The best progressive rock bands a) showed a surprising amount of restraint while playing, and b) knew how to write a catchy melody. Frances the Mute has none of those. When they try to ape Santana circa 1969 on that brutally long half hour track, the album went from pretentious to just plain horrendous.

This doesn't hold a candle to De-Loused.

― a. begrand (a begrand), Tuesday, 18 January 2005 05:14 (twenty years ago)

So, for anybody who has heard the album, how's the rest of it sound in comparison to "The Widow" since that's all I've heard? Will I be let down?

― Mickey (modestmickey), Tuesday, 18 January 2005 05:15 (twenty years ago)

well...sorta. I really, really like this album, in fact, it's on right now. But "The Widow" is easily the standout track, IMO.

This album makes me wish I was in a rock band. I may ACTUALLY buy this one.

― Roger Fidelity (Roger Fidelity), Tuesday, 18 January 2005 05:30 (twenty years ago)

After "The Widow", and the first track (which, despite the Primus rip-off, isn't that bad), the entire album flies completely out of control. To my ears, anyway.

― a. begrand (a begrand), Tuesday, 18 January 2005 08:39 (twenty years ago)

PRIMUS RIPOFF?! rofffffllle!

― chaki in charge (chaki), Tuesday, 18 January 2005 09:23 (twenty years ago)

PRIMUS RIPOFF?!

That's right. The rhythm section.

― a. begrand (a begrand), Tuesday, 18 January 2005 10:09 (twenty years ago)

i hated Blueberry Boat too. I think I'm just not cut out for this stuff, which is ok. have fun!

― derrick (derrick), Tuesday, 18 January 2005 19:20 (twenty years ago)

his allbum is prog rock by and for people with ADD

Best description of The Mars Volta yet!

Also...who would knowlingly, consciously emulate Primus?

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Tuesday, 18 January 2005 19:25 (twenty years ago)

Also...who would knowlingly, consciously emulate Primus?

The band that practices in the room next to us....Primus and Mr. Bungle

― M@tt He1geson (Matt Helgeson), Tuesday, 18 January 2005 19:31 (twenty years ago)

I weep for them.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Tuesday, 18 January 2005 19:32 (twenty years ago)

his allbum is prog rock by and for people with ADD

This sounds great! But they're doing it over the course of a 30 min track?

― Jordan (Jordan), Tuesday, 18 January 2005 19:34 (twenty years ago)

(I haven't listened to that one yet, only to the shorter tracks. Possibly because I have ADD.)

― Jordan (Jordan), Tuesday, 18 January 2005 19:35 (twenty years ago)

My friend, who loved the first and dragged me along to see them live with him, heard the new one leaked and said

A) Giant unfocused mess

(then 2 weeks later)

B) His favorite Mars Volta eva!

Personally, I can never find the door to walk into their music. It's like I'm looking at it, I know it's there, but I don't feel anything. No desire to hum along or tap my foot or anything. I see it though.

― David Allen (David Allen), Tuesday, 18 January 2005 19:47 (twenty years ago)

i like it more every time i listen, though the fourth track BLATANTLY steals a John Frusciante melody, note for note. I guess they're friends or whatever so I'll chalk it up to osmosis.

Third track = the shit

― Roger Fidelity (Roger Fidelity), Wednesday, 19 January 2005 04:15 (twenty years ago)

yah

― chaki in charge (chaki), Wednesday, 19 January 2005 04:25 (twenty years ago)

Chaki are you on this hub thing? Sign up and let us investigate this album thing.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Wednesday, 19 January 2005 04:27 (twenty years ago)

http://rateyourmusic.com/album_images/o174551.jpg

this could be the coolest album cover in a while

― Aerodynamic (Aerodynamic), Saturday, 22 January 2005 02:33 (twenty years ago)

Yeah, all white gets me off too.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Saturday, 22 January 2005 02:38 (twenty years ago)

you can't see it?

― Aerodynamic (Aerodynamic), Saturday, 22 January 2005 02:41 (twenty years ago)

None whiter.

― briania (briania), Saturday, 22 January 2005 02:45 (twenty years ago)

four weeks pass...

ok the japanese version was leaked. very good quality. with bonus noise too yay!

― charleston charge (chaki), Saturday, 19 February 2005 03:52 (twenty years ago)

Bonus noise? I like it...

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Saturday, 19 February 2005 04:00 (twenty years ago)

its called the "decoder" track its on slsk now its 14 mintues of starless like quiet to loud grooves

― charleston charge (chaki), Saturday, 19 February 2005 21:38 (twenty years ago)

Hm! V. good...

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Saturday, 19 February 2005 21:52 (twenty years ago)

Got my copy of Frances yesterday now its out in the UK. The sparse sections mean its going to take time to get into, but when its good, its amazing.

John Frusciantes guitar solos are blistering, and Cygnus... Vismund Cygnus is like nothing i've ever heard before. Despite what most people have said about it i think The Widow is great, and obviously the only single.

The tracklisting makes no sense and its tough to work out when the different suites start and end, but after about 20 noodling minutes it finishes strongly with the Sarcophagi reprise.

Omar said with every bit of improvisation they lose another At the Drive-in fan, and that is why they improvise so much. I doubt they'll have many ATD-I fans after this, but i think its pretty mind blowing.

― dmun, Tuesday, 22 February 2005 17:12 (twenty years ago)

I doubt I'll listen to it very much because of the epic-length tracks, but I'm looking forward to hearing it all the same.

― Jordan (Jordan), Tuesday, 22 February 2005 17:17 (twenty years ago)

out today.....who bought the damn thing?....should i click add to cart on amazon?.....only 10 bucks.......i fucking hated at the drive in.....the widow is just ok......kinda sounds like shitty radiohead but it might grow on me...uhhh

― Don't Ever Antagonize The Horn (AaronHz), Tuesday, 1 March 2005 15:06 (twenty years ago)

I couldnt recommend it highly enough. Had it just over a week and listened to it about 20 times already, and its a long album.

It does lose focus slightly with the last track, i'd say track 9 could have been cut and track 10 could have been halved, but the rest of the album is gold.

Cedric has matured a hell of a lot since At the Drive-in. He doesnt shout so much anymore and the production of the album is a huge improvement with Omar is charge, (though some of my friends think its a little over produced).

10 bucks, buy it man.

― dmun, Tuesday, 1 March 2005 16:17 (twenty years ago)

it's at best buy for 6.99$. i just got deloused a few days ago for really cheap. i'm definitely picking up Frances on the way home today.

― JaXoN Hole (JasonD), Tuesday, 1 March 2005 17:59 (twenty years ago)

Pitcfork's diss review got me excited. I just bought the $7 special and put it in. That shit's like "Sound Chaser." If this shit lasts the whole album this might be the best heavy hypercomplex rock album since The Ladder.

― A hurtling cone of blue Cherenkov light, Tuesday, 1 March 2005 23:32 (twenty years ago)

http://pitchforkmedia.com/record-reviews/m/mars-volta/frances-the-mute.shtml

they kick about a third as much ass as a Dream Theater side project.

ouch!

― Don't Ever Antagonize The Horny (AaronHz), Tuesday, 1 March 2005 23:55 (twenty years ago)

-oh yah hurts so good! btw the spelling in the thread title is wrong its FRANCES

― charleston charge (chaki), Wednesday, 2 March 2005 00:00 (twenty years ago)

Frances the Mute - 5 or 12 tracks?
_______________________
Everyone's reporting that the album is five tracks long, including every review, so I picked it up today, only to find that my copy is 12 tracks. Now I know that it's a bunch of "suites", but everything has been said that the final track clocks in at 31 minutes, while it's all split up on mine.
-- Chris Roberts (silveras...), March 1st, 2005 1:54 PM. (link)
Answers
_________________________
I heard that the reason they couldnt make it a 5 track album was because legally they'd still owe the record company another album, as a 5 track cd would be an EP. Still i dont know why they chose 12 tracks. If they had split it into all the suites it would have been 18 tracks, but as it stands the tracklisting looks like this.
1. Cygnus...Vismund Cygnus
2. The Widow
3. L'Via L'Viaquez
4. Miranda that ghost just isn't holy anymore
5-12 Cassandra Gemini
It is very difficult to see where the suites change over especially on Cassandra Gemini, and i think its just a rushed poorly thought out final tracklist.

-- dmun (a_s_fishe...), March 1st, 2005 3:00 PM. (link)

That's fucking retarded if it's true. "Close to the Edge" has three tracks on the CD, though you could split it into suites if you went by the liner notes. "Thick As A Brick" has 2 (technically would be one track if that was possible back in '72). Is Universal gonna tell us that those are EPs?

― Don't Ever Antagonize The Horny (AaronHz), Wednesday, 2 March 2005 00:10 (twenty years ago)

If you liked De-Loused (or thought so, at least) but often found yourself biting your tongue in the company of others, you were probably in the majority.

wtf? writers be stupid!

― charleston charge (chaki), Wednesday, 2 March 2005 00:12 (twenty years ago)

I loved that Pitchfork review. I could imagine that kid not waiting to go put on real music like The Arcade Fire.

― A hurtling cone of blue Cherenkov light, Wednesday, 2 March 2005 00:13 (twenty years ago)

By the way that's totally gonna fuck up that last track when you rip it to mp3, maybe that was Universal's intention? If so, you can get the full 30 min. as one track off itunes if you buy the full album there last I checked.

― Don't Ever Antagonize The Horny (AaronHz), Wednesday, 2 March 2005 00:13 (twenty years ago)

I have a feeling this album's gonna be lots of fun for stoned 14 year olds playing Halo 2 after school. I mean that in the nicest way possible.

― from the scarp, Wednesday, 2 March 2005 00:20 (twenty years ago)

I wasn't going to buy this album but then i read the Pdork review.

Anything they hate this much HAS to be good.

― Hari A$hur$t (Toaster), Wednesday, 2 March 2005 00:27 (twenty years ago)

kinda funny that they're making fun of The Mars Volta's lyrics when they just gave Bright Eyes an 8.7...

― Don't Ever Antagonize The Horny (AaronHz), Wednesday, 2 March 2005 00:29 (twenty years ago)

Did Storm Thorgerson change his name to Storm:Thorgerson or is that just a typo? If not, I like it!

― skin pocked like cantaloupe rind, Wednesday, 2 March 2005 00:32 (twenty years ago)

first song like whoa! 'eavy shit

― JaXoN Hole (JasonD), Wednesday, 2 March 2005 02:48 (twenty years ago)

and to answer Rockist Scientist's question way upthread: Is it salsa?

yes, L'Via L'Viaquez has a few latin/salsa/psych/prog moments.

― JaXoN Hole (JasonD), Wednesday, 2 March 2005 02:57 (twenty years ago)

the vocals are too high in the mix

― green uno skip card (ex machina), Wednesday, 2 March 2005 09:07 (twenty years ago)

"the vocals are too high in the mix"

I'm guessing thats deliberate, Cedrics lyrics on Deloused were pretty much nonsensical gibberish, whereas on Frances hes trying to tell a story and Omar overcompensates by sticking the vocals real high in the mix.

― dmun, Wednesday, 2 March 2005 09:12 (twenty years ago)

I certainly wouldn't want completely submurged vocals either...

― green uno skip card (ex machina), Wednesday, 2 March 2005 09:19 (twenty years ago)

btw the spelling in the thread title is wrong its FRANCES

Also, the last song is called "Cassandra Geminni", not "...Gemini". Don't ask me about the conceptual significance of that particular spelling.

― JoB (JoB), Wednesday, 2 March 2005 12:42 (twenty years ago)

Pretty much everything is too high in the mix. Just like on De-Loused they just said "This thing is way too complicated to mix. Fuck this! Let's just put every track at '9'."

― blawa (blawa), Wednesday, 2 March 2005 12:50 (twenty years ago)

Stylus gets it

http://www.stylusmagazine.com/review.php?ID=2789

― A hurtling cone of blue Cherenkov light, Wednesday, 2 March 2005 17:50 (twenty years ago)

Well, I just bought this today. You know what pisses me off more than CD's that have the huge FBI Anti-Piracy warning on the back? CD's that have a huge fucking Anti-Piracy warning written across the CD itself. Thanks, responsible people!

― Mickey (modestmickey), Wednesday, 2 March 2005 19:59 (twenty years ago)

I hate reviews that pay more attention to hype and how the reviewer feels about "haterz"....that stylus review contains one paragraph (out of 5) that actually discusses the album...weak!

― Space Is the Place (Space Is the Place), Wednesday, 2 March 2005 20:18 (twenty years ago)

agreed, but I do think all this bitching about the lyrics is bogus...I mean - IT'S PROG! If you start getting snooty about lyrics you're never going to be able to stomach the genre as a whole....

― M@tt He1geson (Matt Helgeson), Wednesday, 2 March 2005 20:29 (twenty years ago)

To be fair, the Stylus review is defending an extremely dissable album, I don't mind the posture.

― Jordan (Jordan), Wednesday, 2 March 2005 20:49 (twenty years ago)

How does this one compare to the "Tremulant" EP? Never heard De-Loused, was put off, but am intrigued now with all the negative (well at least bitchdork) press.

― Theotormon, Thursday, 3 March 2005 03:18 (twenty years ago)

its the same shit except cedric is a better singer now

― charleston charge (chaki), Thursday, 3 March 2005 03:46 (twenty years ago)

IT'S PROG! If you start getting snooty about lyrics you're never going to be able to stomach the genre as a whole....

OTM! All the best prog bands have WORST fucking lyrics.
*cough* crimson *cough*

― Don't Ever Antagonize The Horny (AaronHz), Thursday, 3 March 2005 04:03 (twenty years ago)

Uh, I just noticed that this is the #3 album download on iTunes right now. I'm wondering what it's gonna do on Billboard...
I usually wouldn't care but I'm kind of rooting for this to be a huge hit for some reason (still haven't heard it yet).

― Don't Ever Antagonize The Horny (AaronHz), Saturday, 5 March 2005 00:55 (twenty years ago)

I really like a lot of parts of this. It's interesting to hear some sections that were inserted into older songs on the Live ep. I'm relieved that they split it into reasonable sized tracks too, it makes it much more approachable (and iPod-able) for me.

Drumming = classic
Swirly soundscapes = dud(e)

― deathlike technical blasting death metal with a soul of suicidal rationalis (Jor, Tuesday, 8 March 2005 18:33 (twenty years ago)

Just saw that this album is #4 on the Billboard 200 this week.

Who's buying this thing? I don't get it.

― Keith C (kcraw916), Tuesday, 15 March 2005 01:57 (twenty years ago)

I just saw that (it's placement on Billboard) today too, and was a bit shocked, not that I've heard their music, but just based on my impressions of where they fit in the scheme of things.

― RS £aRue (rockist_scientist), Tuesday, 15 March 2005 02:00 (twenty years ago)

I bought one. Just came in the mail. I'll let you know what I think after I listen to it a few times.

― I got the job because I was so mean, while somehow appearing so kind. (AaronHz), Tuesday, 15 March 2005 02:03 (twenty years ago)

This allbum is prog rock by and for people with ADD.

I thought that was Faust. (ducking)

― Joe (Joe), Tuesday, 15 March 2005 02:08 (twenty years ago)

and to answer Rockist Scientist's question way upthread: Is it salsa?

I was just trying to sound like the most annoying possible version of myself.

― RS £aRue (rockist_scientist), Tuesday, 15 March 2005 02:13 (twenty years ago)

Here's what the Mars Volta's new bass player was doing when Rites of Spring were still around:

ihttp://www.racerxband.com/pictures/80pix/images/racerx15.jpg

― Sordid Past, Tuesday, 15 March 2005 02:26 (twenty years ago)

Aaron H it is an out and out prog befuddler of the Van Der Graf stripe. It might take more than a few listens. I'm just getting into the FIRST one now after all this time.

― jazz-weary of years and drums and hawaiian guitars, Tuesday, 15 March 2005 02:33 (twenty years ago)

That's fucking retarded if it's true. "Close to the Edge" has three tracks on the CD, though you could split it into suites if you went by the liner notes.

"Tales From Topographic Oceans" is a double album with 4 tracks on it. EP? I think not.

But I guess that, legally, those might count as EPs too then.

― Geir Hongro (GeirHong), Tuesday, 15 March 2005 02:34 (twenty years ago)

Just saw that this album is #4 on the Billboard 200 this week.
Who's buying this thing? I don't get it.

i think it might be due to the fact that when it first came out, it was super cheap, and the that the lead single is super catchy. i bet any normal MTV viewer is tricked into getting it after hearing The Widow

― The JaXoN 5 (JasonD), Tuesday, 15 March 2005 03:24 (twenty years ago)

They play it on MTV? I haven't seen it yet but I don't really watch that much...

― I got the job because I was so mean, while somehow appearing so kind. (AaronHz), Tuesday, 15 March 2005 03:52 (twenty years ago)

I saw "The Widow" on MTVEspanol! RAWK!

― The Obligatory Sourpuss (Begs2Differ), Tuesday, 15 March 2005 05:25 (twenty years ago)

Listening now.

Track 1 some heavy Crimson shit. I just watched a Crimson concert from '84 on DVD and this could have been one of the songs they were playing.
These guys are for real! I'm really excited that this is #4 on Billboard.

― I got the job because I was so mean, while somehow appearing so kind. (AaronHz), Tuesday, 15 March 2005 05:37 (twenty years ago)

ok I'm on track three, this fucking rules.
Fuck off Sam Ubl, seriously.
I even like "the widow" now that I hear it in the context of how intense the two songs it's sandwiched in between are (and that fucking weird keyboard shit at the end that wasn't in the single edit).

― I got the job because I was so mean, while somehow appearing so kind. (AaronHz), Tuesday, 15 March 2005 06:02 (twenty years ago)

The 30 min "Cassandra Geminni" was my favorite. "Miranda..." was the only song that didn't make an immediate impression, I'm sure it will grow on me.

Taking into account the very ugly and obnoxious FBI warning on the CD itself, I'm sure the splitting CG into 8 parts thing is just a fuck you to file traders on behalf of Universal. The tracks don't even correspond to the suites, it's just random sabotage as far as I can tell.
First impression : My favorite record of the year, so far.

― I got the job because I was so mean, while somehow appearing so kind. (AaronHz), Tuesday, 15 March 2005 06:59 (twenty years ago)

cedric's screaming, whiney voice is something i can't really get into.. it sounds very nu-metalish or something. but i like him on slower songs, especially the one in spanish. there's lots of cool stuff going on in the instrumentation of this album. i can tell i'll be saying, "whoa.. i didn't hear that before.. bad ass," each time i listen to it. i like what they're doing and am happy something like this has gained mainstream popularity. it helps prove my theory that people aren't stupid, and definitely do know what's good if you give it to them.

― tzatziki n pita (steph jam), Tuesday, 15 March 2005 08:25 (twenty years ago)

They are basically Rush or Yes with better haircuts and fewer tunes. Basically, for people who wouldn't buy those kinds of records or wouldn't remember those bands.

― Sara Sherr, Tuesday, 15 March 2005 11:00 (twenty years ago)

I never heard Rush or Yes make anything as good as Cassandra Geminni. Theres a huge, rose tinted spectacles mentality going on here.

― dmun, Tuesday, 15 March 2005 11:28 (twenty years ago)

I'm not sure I love this record yet, but I'm definitely gonna listen to it a few more times this week (and to answer a point above about its chart position, I bought it because it was $6.99 at Best Buy). I liked the first album for quite a while, but sorta got over it and eventually sold it (though it's still in my iPod). Also, I've got tickets to see them on May 5.

― pdf (Phil Freeman), Tuesday, 15 March 2005 12:03 (twenty years ago)

so does anyone else's copy have very slight popping sounds in the last third of the "Cassandra Geminni" track? i thought it was my headphones acting up on first listen, but i've since noticed them while in the car and at work. they are very subtle, but they don't sound like they were intentional. just wondered. and yes, its a store bought legal copy.

― jonviachicago, Tuesday, 15 March 2005 14:51 (twenty years ago)

the video for "The Widow" is just godawful

― Aerodynamic (Aerodynamic), Tuesday, 15 March 2005 15:27 (twenty years ago)

They are basically Rush or Yes with better haircuts and fewer tunes. Basically, for people who wouldn't buy those kinds of records or wouldn't remember those bands.

Seriously, fuck you. Rush and Yes are two of my favorite bands, and I love this record. Have fun with your stupid indie bullshit.

― I got the job because I was so mean, while somehow appearing so kind. (AaronHz), Tuesday, 15 March 2005 19:10 (twenty years ago)

I doubt The Mars Volta will ever make anything as good as "Close To The Edge".

Plus to me they sound more like a cross-in-between Led Zeppelin and Santana.

― Geir Hongro (GeirHong), Tuesday, 15 March 2005 20:02 (twenty years ago)

Geir OTM, but throw in a little herky jerky mid period King Crimson rhythms and it's a hell of a lot closer than Rush(!?!?!?) or Yes.
Also yeah, "Close to the Edge" (along with Selling England by Genesis) are pretty much untouchable for prog hopefuls, one could only ever hope to equal them.

― I got the job because I was so mean, while somehow appearing so kind. (AaronHz), Tuesday, 15 March 2005 20:06 (twenty years ago)

Rush I can understand, as they were in turn heavily influenced by Led Zep as well.

― Geir Hongro (GeirHong), Tuesday, 15 March 2005 20:07 (twenty years ago)

Yeah but the end result is pretty un-Rush-like. I think Sara was using "Rush or Yes" as a lazy shorthand for progressive music.

― I got the job because I was so mean, while somehow appearing so kind. (AaronHz), Tuesday, 15 March 2005 20:10 (twenty years ago)

Rush were always a lot more melodic, but I can hear similarities in the vocals.

― Geir Hongro (GeirHong), Tuesday, 15 March 2005 20:11 (twenty years ago)

Well yeah , Cedric's voice is pretty high up there like Geddy's and Jon Anderson's, and while I prefer JA's vocals to Cedric's there is one little harmony bit in track one that sounds vaguely Yes-like. Not a good overall comparison, because the melodic/rhythmic sensibilities really are closer to Led Zep or Santana or Crimson.

― I got the job because I was so mean, while somehow appearing so kind. (AaronHz), Tuesday, 15 March 2005 20:15 (twenty years ago)

Mentioning Santana maybe for the Mex elements, although "Caravanserai" was quite out there too.

― Geir Hongro (GeirHong), Tuesday, 15 March 2005 20:16 (twenty years ago)

It's a Puerto Rican salsa thing, mostly. Omar was a salsa bassist as a kid, playing in his father's band.

― I got the job because I was so mean, while somehow appearing so kind. (AaronHz), Tuesday, 15 March 2005 20:20 (twenty years ago)

so does anyone else's copy have very slight popping sounds in the last third of the "Cassandra Geminni" track?

Yeah man, I hear it too. Sounds like a little mastering fuck-up.

― I got the job because I was so mean, while somehow appearing so kind. (AaronHz), Tuesday, 15 March 2005 20:44 (twenty years ago)

"Never heard Rush or Yes make anything as good as Cassandra Geminni."
I can only guess you've only ever heard "Tom Sawyer" and "Owner of a Lonely Heart" then because fuck. . . .

― Grimal Scream Therapy, Tuesday, 15 March 2005 22:00 (twenty years ago)

I heard the popping staticky noises too. I thought it was some kind of anti-piracy technology that was fucking the tracks up after I imported them into my iPod. Glad I'm not alone.

― pdf (Phil Freeman), Tuesday, 15 March 2005 22:55 (twenty years ago)

Uh, well for starters, by implying that Le Tigre fans are a (mostly) buncha airheaded Barbies who can't worry their pretty little heads over the complexities of Wolf Eyes. Or something like that.

Getting involved with ILM threads is kind of like Daria sitting between Beavis and Butthead. Eventually, you have to tell them to oscillate their weiners and get up off the couch.

But what do I know? I'm just a Le Tigre fan who couldn't possibly like Wolf Eyes too. That never happens.

I really did like the art though. The images would have cracked me up if not for the captions. Are they more like Le Tigre's or Wolf Eyes' music?

Nevermind, I'm gonna go watch VH-1 now and wait for my head to explode.

-- Sara Sherr (sar...), June 24th, 2004.

― green uno skip card (ex machina), Tuesday, 15 March 2005 23:05 (twenty years ago)

Hey, you know what? The June 24th version of myself actually makes the most sense. Thanks Jonathan.

Aaron, I've listened to more prog and indie rock than any healthy person should. And I've seen math rock fans turn around and sneer at Yes and Rush, which is ridiculous.

But seriously, I wasn't exactly the first person to rain on the Mars Volta parade here, so why all the hostility directed towards little old me?

All I know is, that I heard that record for the first time at a record store where I work and it made my teeth hurt. But hey, to each his own.

Sorry, if I hurt your prog feelings, since prog is a pretty easy target for ridicule, as is most indie rock.

― Sara Sherr, Wednesday, 16 March 2005 02:29 (twenty years ago)

Jon "The Rectifier" Williams strikes again!

― The Obligatory Sourpuss (Begs2Differ), Wednesday, 16 March 2005 02:32 (twenty years ago)

Because you're a huge fucking asshole, Sara?

― Dr. Eldon Tyrell (ex machina), Wednesday, 16 March 2005 02:34 (twenty years ago)

Sara, do you like Frank Zappa?

― I got the job because I was so mean, while somehow appearing so kind. (AaronHz), Wednesday, 16 March 2005 02:58 (twenty years ago)

I guess that would be Jon "The Rectum-caller" Williams

― The Obligatory Sourpuss (Begs2Differ), Wednesday, 16 March 2005 02:59 (twenty years ago)

three months pass...

It's quite a shame this album is so terrible. Their debut (and the Tremulant EP) it is a classic in my opinion, on this release they disappeared up their collective asses. Pity... squandered so much potential.

― The Brainwasher (Twilight), Saturday, 18 June 2005 01:31 (twenty years ago)

this sounds exactly like the first one to me

― kyle (akmonday), Saturday, 18 June 2005 01:49 (twenty years ago)

three months pass...

I'm listening to it right now, and it's certainly interesting, but I wish the guitarist would have at least tried to make some of the solos better. There was one solo where if I played if for an unsuspecting music fan they would think some power house band got a 13 year old to guest on a track for some strange reason.

― James Morris (HorrayJames), Monday, 19 September 2005 01:02 (nineteen years ago)

seven months pass...

Finally getting around to this. On first listen, Cedric's voice is slightly less annoying this time around, but I wish someone would write these guys a fucking melody so he didn't fall back on that fake bluesy/soulful vocal noodling all the time. If they had songs, they'd be the best band in the world.

― Abbadavid Berman (Hurting), Sunday, 7 May 2006 01:51 (nineteen years ago)

Ok fuck it, this album is really really horrible. I wanted so much to like it, but it's terrible, in spite of great drumming.

― Abbadavid Berman (Hurting), Sunday, 7 May 2006 14:43 (nineteen years ago)

soft soft soft soft louder louder LOUDER LOUDER LOUDER! LOUD! LOUD! LOUD! FUCKING LOUD! ASSFUCKING LOUD! LOUD! LOUD! LOUD SOFTER SOFTER SOFTER softer softer soft soft soft soft soft louder louder LOUDER loud softer softer soft zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

― Abbadavid Berman (Hurting), Sunday, 7 May 2006 14:56 (nineteen years ago)

haha

― billstevejim (billstevejim), Sunday, 7 May 2006 15:21 (nineteen years ago)

I still maintain that "L'Via L'Viaquez" is among the very best tracks of 2005 (probably top 3). The rest of this record is not quite as easy for me to listen to.

― billstevejim (billstevejim), Sunday, 7 May 2006 15:37 (nineteen years ago)

I haven't listened to this in awhile, but I saw them a year ago (5/5/05) and they were one of the best live acts I've ever seen. As close as I'm ever gonna get to having been there the night Agharta was recorded.

― pdf (Phil Freeman), Sunday, 7 May 2006 22:52 (nineteen years ago)

What does anyone make of "Scab Dates"? I haven't been able to get into it.

― AaronHz (AaronHz), Sunday, 7 May 2006 22:57 (nineteen years ago)

I would still go see them live if it wasn't outrageously expensive.

― Abbadavid Berman (Hurting), Monday, 8 May 2006 01:51 (nineteen years ago)

As close as I'm ever gonna get to having been there the night Agharta was recorded.

OTM. as such, scab dates really dissapoints - it sounds horrible.

― i am not a nugget (stevie), Monday, 8 May 2006 13:18 (nineteen years ago)

Agreed, ScabDates is not an accurate reflection of the live experience at all. For one thing, it's not three hours long.

― pdf (Phil Freeman), Monday, 8 May 2006 13:45 (nineteen years ago)

yeah, its single-disc status set alarm bells ringing.

they should really release a live DVD, because you need to *see them. there's, like, 5 minutes of a song off the first album in that crappy Coachella movie.

― i am not a nugget (stevie), Monday, 8 May 2006 14:04 (nineteen years ago)

theres a good mtv2 concert available out there

― city of gyros (chaki), Monday, 8 May 2006 15:31 (nineteen years ago)

Saw them open for System of A Down last year and it was outstanding ... this album is great too

― Stormy Davis (diamond), Monday, 8 May 2006 15:59 (nineteen years ago)

They have a live EP that I've listened to a whole lot more than FtM.

― Jordan (Jordan), Monday, 8 May 2006 16:07 (nineteen years ago)

The first time I ever saw/heard/heard of them was a performance on the MTV Latin America Video Awards (broadcast on MTV2). No idea what song they played, but the performance reminded me of a combination of the MC5 and Fela. Totally over-the-top berserk. When I saw them live, they were that and more.

― pdf (Phil Freeman), Monday, 8 May 2006 17:50 (nineteen years ago)

ten years pass...

Listened to this album from beginning to end last night and felt totally exhausted by the end of it in the best way possible. Surely there can't be just me that considers this their finest work?

― the hair - it's lost its energy (Turrican), Monday, 29 August 2016 21:52 (nine years ago)

yeah I think this is their best album

― who is extremely unqualified to review this pop album (BradNelson), Monday, 29 August 2016 21:59 (nine years ago)

rare me and turrican convergence

― who is extremely unqualified to review this pop album (BradNelson), Monday, 29 August 2016 21:59 (nine years ago)

turrican, brad and me!

correct the album title tho pls already

― imago, Monday, 29 August 2016 22:30 (nine years ago)

I think it's their best, too. Love everything about this record. Saw them open for System of a Down 11 years ago this month, they played four songs in an hour, it was so great. Setlist was Cygnus / L'Via / The Widow / Drunkship. Really bummed that Cedric and Omar, of all people, got on the reunion train full-time with ATDI this year. Booooooring!

― flappy bird, Monday, 29 August 2016 22:56 (nine years ago)

The way that 'Cassandra Gemini' is split up on the CD is absolutely batshit, isn't it? I understand that they divided it up that way simply for publishing/payment reasons, but if they were going to do that, surely it would have made more sense to divide it up into 5 rather than 8!

― the hair - it's lost its energy (Turrican), Monday, 29 August 2016 23:03 (nine years ago)

Yeah, that always drove me nuts. I actually bought the thing again on iTunes because their version had Cassandra as one 32-minute track.

― flappy bird, Monday, 29 August 2016 23:25 (nine years ago)

My god, the drumming on this record and on De-loused in the Comatorium is just amazing. So relentless and punishing, but at the same time so incredibly intricate. Jon Theodore was as irreplaceable in this band as Omar and Cedric were, IMO. Ikey Owens, too.

― the hair - it's lost its energy (Turrican), Wednesday, 7 September 2016 19:48 (eight years ago)

Agreed, love Jon Theodore to death. Was so excited to hear that QotSA picked him up, but he's only on one track of the latest record, and it's a slow one. He sounds fine live, but I wish Homme would could give this guy something to do already. Why pick him up at all if you weren't fixing to make a heavy psych-freak-out rock n roll record?

― erudite beach boys fan (sheesh), Wednesday, 7 September 2016 19:58 (eight years ago)

When The Mars Volta split up and Omar was doing his Bosnian Rainbows thing, I think Cedric said he had hoped to get to the point where Jon Theodore and Ikey Owens returned to The Mars Volta, which would have been great. Sadly, Ikey Owens is no longer with us and I can't really forsee Theodore working with Omar and Cedric again - apparently The Mars Volta's music wasn't really Theodore's thing, as much as he did a sterling job and gave his all.

I really do hope Homme makes good use of Theodore, though... I'm hoping for drum fills galore!

― the hair - it's lost its energy (Turrican), Wednesday, 7 September 2016 20:05 (eight years ago)

I remember the story around the time that Theodore was fired (jeez, 10 years ago...) was that he was smoking too much pot and didn't have his heart in it anymore. Not necessarily that the music wasn't his thing, he was just sick of Omar's dictatorial recording style & not being able to play with the band while tracking.

Also, dunno if it was posted here but either Cedric or Omar said earlier this year that they want to get back together w Jon and Eva Gardner (!!)

― flappy bird, Wednesday, 7 September 2016 20:19 (eight years ago)

― erudite beach boys fan (sheesh), Wednesday, September 7, 2016 3:58 PM (twenty-eight minutes ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

Something to look forward to in 2017, probably.

― how's life, Wednesday, 7 September 2016 20:28 (eight years ago)

xpost:

It was Ikey Owens that hated the way that Omar wanted to track the songs up, particularly on Frances The Mute. Theodore and Alderete enjoyed working that way, but it's possible it wore Theodore down over time. I've heard numerous things - Theodore didn't like the music, he didn't like playing live etc. etc.

― the hair - it's lost its energy (Turrican), Wednesday, 7 September 2016 20:40 (eight years ago)

six months pass...

Listening to this again, and it's still a masterpiece.

― Coolio Iglesias (Turrican), Friday, 17 March 2017 23:04 (eight years ago)

yes

can someone correct the thread-title already

― an uptempo Pop/Hip Hop mentality (imago), Friday, 17 March 2017 23:40 (eight years ago)

eight years pass...

why did the mars volta used to make people THIS fucking angry back in the day, i don't understand? no one was forcing any of these people to listen to their records or go to their concerts, wild that so many actually wanted them...dead? wtf?

― Milica Bogdanović, Wednesday, 20 August 2025 00:28 (two weeks ago)

It's old ilxor, Jake

― Hmmmmm (jamiesummerz), Wednesday, 20 August 2025 12:37 (two weeks ago)

I don't miss the snark, but I do occasionally miss some of the passion

― Paul Ponzi, Wednesday, 20 August 2025 12:46 (two weeks ago)

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