View Full Version : Omar A Rodriguez Lopez-Love him or hate him?
comptonasseddy
10-25-2005, 05:58 PM
I personally really like his guitar style, quite weird and unique. I hear not many people like him as his solos are too similar/repetitive and his heavy use of the delay pedal. I really likes his solo album also. What does everyone else think?
Totally indifferent to him.
I like him, I'm a TM fanboy though so anything I say after this is meaningless.
I think alot of people moan about his reliance on effects, but it's doesn't really matter as he gets some of the coolest sounds I have heard through his experimentation. I'd also consider him a really sloppy player but this just adds to his unpredictability, which I quite like in a way. My favorite guitar work of his is on Take the Veil Cerpin Taxt and on Eriatarka.
I haven't listened to him enough to comment, but from what I've seen it looks like he should get a rack unit. More manageable.
Unless....he has all those pedals for asthetics.... No. Never.
Hep Kat
10-25-2005, 06:37 PM
i think he's brilliant
Jawaharal
10-25-2005, 06:41 PM
His playting is so sloppy.
halfdeadhippo
10-25-2005, 06:44 PM
His playing sounds good enough on the Mars Volta cd's, but the live videos I've seen were a tad sloppy. However, what he lacks in technique, he makes up for in creativity, thus making him an average guitarist in my book.
Scott Herren
10-25-2005, 07:00 PM
who?
Jawaharal
10-25-2005, 07:24 PM
who?
just a nobody from a band no one knows about.
Scott Herren
10-25-2005, 07:53 PM
good
BlindWriting
10-25-2005, 07:56 PM
I think he's great. I've heard some live stuff and he sounds rather sloppy, but it doesn't change the fact that what he has done in the studio has been rather brilliant. Aside from just being a guitarist, he's also damn good at putting together some great songs.
anotherlamenobody
10-25-2005, 08:00 PM
I wouldn't call it love, but it's certainly something similiar to a schoolgirl crush.
YDload
10-25-2005, 08:12 PM
he's undoubtedly shown the greatest growth of any rock guitarist musically in such a short span of time, going from incompetent punk/indie rocker to a shredder who's a little TOO good to rein himself in. It's as if Mark Hoppus could suddenly play "Tommy the Cat" or Meg White tackling "YYZ." It's a very noticeable change in playing from Acrobatic Tenement to Frances the Mute.
el doctor
10-25-2005, 09:14 PM
I definitely agree that he's had an incredible amount of growth. (I believe he actually started as a bassist.) Anyway, I think with the Mars Volta, he's picked up quite a bit of style, while sacrificing some of the straightforward, catchy intensity that I liked about him in ATD-I.
I'll Take The Veil
10-25-2005, 09:16 PM
He was never the most technical guitar player, Omar is more about the emotion and improvisation of the moment. The songs rarely sound the same and that is what is so great about it. But I do miss some of the really good lead parts off relationship of command that seem to be missing on the mars volta stuff. Well actually that was a stupid statement. Those are two completely different bands so I shouldn't even be saying that. I love all that he does and am a complete fanboy so please disregard all that I have said.
Electrocution
10-25-2005, 09:29 PM
My love for TMV has dimished over the past few months, but reading this thread makes me want to listen to them again.
Big-Bird
10-25-2005, 09:33 PM
Sloppy but Good
CSD & the Soul Machines
10-25-2005, 11:51 PM
I like me some Omar.
xhaereticusx
10-26-2005, 12:41 AM
You have to hand it to the fact that he writes all the songs for TMV. I dig his solo album.
Meh.
I like his chemistry and style in Atdi but not tmv.
comptonasseddy
10-26-2005, 06:22 AM
I think he's great. I've heard some live stuff and he sounds rather sloppy, but it doesn't change the fact that what he has done in the studio has been rather brilliant. Aside from just being a guitarist, he's also damn good at putting together some great songs.
You just gonna remeber that most of his live stuff is improvised, i wonder when a manual dexterity pt 2 will come...
I liked him way better in ATDI.
Knifeboy
10-26-2005, 09:33 AM
I like his songwriting
Bukowski
10-26-2005, 10:16 AM
I used to think The Mars Volta were an average, but tolerable band. Then I actually listened to their albums in full.
Awful.
I like ATDI though.
andy is dead
10-26-2005, 11:40 AM
He's a master.
Tomahawk
10-26-2005, 12:59 PM
Totally indifferent to him.
That's the ticket.
sweboy
10-26-2005, 02:25 PM
I want to have his children. Come on, he is the man. The fro', the skinny arms, the glasses. And his solos are pretty sweet too.
something vague
10-26-2005, 02:49 PM
He has one of the most thin, and sometimes annoying tones that I have ever heard, but somehow it's a very pleasing thing to hear. I think his arrangements, especially on Frances the Mute, are far better then his guitar playing, which can become a little hard to digest sometimes. I admire his overall understanding of music and his own roots, and even his philisophical views concerning his band and their music. Actually, he's very good in just about every aspect that I can think of, though it varies from song to song.
italic zero
10-26-2005, 03:51 PM
Who doesn't love this man? (http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b396/andrewsnow/omar1.jpg)
Aeaon
10-26-2005, 04:17 PM
Great musician.
Happymeal
10-26-2005, 04:44 PM
I like having a little ATDI and TMV every now and then. If I listen to them too much I probably won't give them a spin ever again.
TojesDolan
10-26-2005, 04:50 PM
What can I say without bias...
hmmm...
I enjoy what he does, musically. "Tira me a las arañas" is an amazing song, and about his live performances, I think it's due to the overly-active vibe on-stage or whatever you want to call it. They put up a great show, but that's the cost it has for him to focus less on guitar playing and more on show making.
He's alright. Mothing of his really impressed me until "L'via L'viazquez". At least the part that are "actual" song.
Who doesn't love this man? (http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b396/andrewsnow/omar1.jpg)
Thats very disconcerting.
comptonasseddy
10-26-2005, 05:06 PM
Who doesn't love this man? (http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b396/andrewsnow/omar1.jpg)
Dude thats just sick! but i love him all the same
incubliss
10-26-2005, 05:07 PM
Love him.
He was so much cooler in ATD-I.
lilsolsman
10-26-2005, 05:15 PM
I like him. I really enjoy TMV.
I never really got into ATD-I though. Not sure why.
-1up!-
10-26-2005, 05:19 PM
Love him. His guitar playing makes something harden in my pants.
littledrummerboy
10-26-2005, 06:15 PM
just a nobody from a band no one knows about.
Yeah just this little band called at the drive in... they basically did nothing.
YDload
10-26-2005, 10:58 PM
He's alright. Mothing of his really impressed me until "L'via L'viazquez". At least the part that are "actual" song.
I'm not sure what you mean by "actual" song, but the first two guitar solos in that song are played by John Frusciante.
bcb_06
10-27-2005, 04:27 PM
actually, many of the solos on frances the mute were played by john frusciante
YDload
10-27-2005, 04:54 PM
actually, many of the solos on frances the mute were played by john frusciante
No, just those two.
sr800bkAGAIN!
10-27-2005, 05:58 PM
i like his style.
he's no god or virtuoso, but his style attracts my ear.
bassisfun
10-27-2005, 07:20 PM
i really like omar and pretty much anything he has been associated with (musically anyway). his style is just so wierd and original that it really makes me wanna hear where he's going with it
I likelike him. I haven't likeliked anyone since I was 13, but now I have that familiar, anxious, jumpy feeling again.
Killtacular
10-27-2005, 09:37 PM
Who doesn't love this man? (http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b396/andrewsnow/omar1.jpg)
:eek:
Oh. My. Gawd.
As far as Omar goes, I don't see him as a particularly spectacular guitarist, but his creativity makes up for it to make for an enjoyable string strummer.
Tangy zizzle
10-27-2005, 10:33 PM
Musically - Solo album sucked, Frances was waaayy too ambitious, De-Loused was damm good, and for a punk band ATD-I had some seriously good and fresh guitars.
Cocaine
10-27-2005, 11:13 PM
He's much too sloppy live. You dont notice it at first...but..well I have a live dvd of theirs and my God man. He just needs to stop "improvising" because sometimes it sounds like piss. You can be creative without being annoying, to be honest. I preferred him when he wasnt trying to break out unique solos.
YDload
10-28-2005, 12:51 AM
He's much too sloppy live. You dont notice it at first...but..well I have a live dvd of theirs and my God man. He just needs to stop "improvising" because sometimes it sounds like piss. You can be creative without being annoying, to be honest. I preferred him when he wasnt trying to break out unique solos.
I think he'll get the hang of it eventually, but your best bet is to not buy the next two albums just in case. I actually preferred his bizarre guitar melodies in songs such as "Drunkship of Lanterns" and "Eriatarka" than true solos from him.
FUnkarockadrummer
10-28-2005, 01:01 AM
I'm a fan. I liked at the drive in and meant to check out mars volta for ages. Finally did and was really impressed. I like both the bands but love is a strong word.
tomass15
10-28-2005, 01:25 AM
lol hes wierd but he has such a unique sound and playing style, the tunes he comes up with are absolutley genius he is a massive inspiration to my playing aswell
Cocaine
10-28-2005, 02:55 PM
I think he'll get the hang of it eventually, but your best bet is to not buy the next two albums just in case. I actually preferred his bizarre guitar melodies in songs such as "Drunkship of Lanterns" and "Eriatarka" than true solos from him.
That's what I mean in a way. He can kick out a decent groove I just think he's not quite at the level he thinks he is. I mean, it's good to practice new things, just not live.
Tangy zizzle
10-31-2005, 04:17 AM
He's hit or miss live. I've seen him play tight as and then extremely sloppy in the span of an hour. It's hard to replicate that **** live.
pixiesfanyo
10-31-2005, 05:28 AM
No, just those two.
hahah.
it's like rug burn.
anyway, i like Omar.
not my favorite guitarist, but he has got some skill, and his improvising is pretty good. I dunno what you guys are talking about. Maybe in 2003 it sucked. But if you go to one of the shows now he's vastly improved.
was_so_beautiful
10-31-2005, 07:18 AM
his playing is technically good....but just not very pleasant to the ear! it's just too sloppy and continuous.
Cocaine
11-01-2005, 03:17 PM
his playing is technically good....but just not very pleasant to the ear! it's just too sloppy and continuous.
How can it be technically good yet sloppy and unpleasant to the ear?
Wanker
11-01-2005, 03:28 PM
How can it be technically good yet sloppy and unpleasant to the ear?
It could be technically good and unpleasant (which IMO it is), but you're right that the sloppy part doesn't fit in there.
melack
11-04-2005, 08:00 AM
How can you hate him? He's a brilliant gitarrist.
So is John Petrucci, and I hate his ***.
EonBlueApcolyps
11-04-2005, 11:55 PM
I like his playing very much. I definetly prefer his solo stuff over TMV/ATDI
comptonasseddy
11-08-2005, 11:55 AM
so the new mars volta came out today, i dont have it yet and doubt ill get it for a while (because of finiaicial reasons) so has his live skills increased since frances the mute?
neal_672
11-08-2005, 12:40 PM
Love him, he's superb.
More so with TMV though, didn't really stand out with ATDI...
FakeReality
11-08-2005, 04:33 PM
The Mars Volta are my favourite modern band, so yes, I LOOOVE him. Although for the sake of being non-bias, I sometimes get a bit fed up with his drawn out sections which only consist of effects+random notes, especially on Frances the Mute. I still love him though.
CarrionBirds
11-08-2005, 06:44 PM
Totally indifferent to him.
you never listened to at the drive in or the mars volta?
anyway, i love him. i like his stuff in at the drive in better though
Hep Kat
11-10-2005, 03:17 PM
his playing in atd-i didn't really impress me until relationship of command came out.
you never listened to at the drive in or the mars volta?
Indifferent.
1. Having no particular interest or concern; apathetic: indifferent to the sufferings of others.
2. Having no marked feeling for or against: She remained indifferent toward their proposal.
This one describes his pretty well, too:
6. Being neither good nor bad; mediocre: an indifferent performance. See synonyms at average.
fuzzymayo
11-10-2005, 11:55 PM
I'm definately a TMV fan boy, but he can definately get on my nerves from time to time, occasionally I'll wonder if he listens to himself when he does weird crap, but for the most part I love him.
I always thought the big question about Mars Volta band members was Cedric's voice. Seems lotsa people don't like it.
london_calling
11-11-2005, 02:39 AM
I think Cedric's voice is great, but I hate it when people call them emo just because of Cedric's voice. If they stopped to listen to the music they might think differently. But to answer the thread, I think Omar is an awsome guitarist. Maybe not the best but still great.
Hep Kat
11-11-2005, 09:19 AM
cedric's voice is incredible, and omar is an amazingly talented and creative guitarist.
'nuff said.
Borkola
11-11-2005, 10:51 AM
Who doesn't love this man? (http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b396/andrewsnow/omar1.jpg)
Amazing.
Well, he can't really hold his own, but The Mars Volta is one of those bands where you can't take one thing out and it'd sound alright. I dig his guitar playing on Televators, and I love the solo on L'Via l'Viaquez.
YDload
11-11-2005, 11:24 AM
I think Cedric's voice is great, but I hate it when people call them emo just because of Cedric's voice. If they stopped to listen to the music they might think differently. But to answer the thread, I think Omar is an awsome guitarist. Maybe not the best but still great.
Nobody calls them emo. They aren't even close to the pop-punk which people think is emo, nor the emotional hardcore which is true emo (although At the Drive-In was close).
BillCosby
11-11-2005, 12:08 PM
Nobody calls them emo. They aren't even close to the pop-punk which people think is emo, nor the emotional hardcore which is true emo (although At the Drive-In was close).
I know people who have called them emo. But they're stupid.
They also called Muse emo.
/post
EightMilesHigh
11-11-2005, 01:32 PM
I like The Mars Volta, but I'm pretty indifferent about his guitar playing. I mean, he's good enough, but he doesn't really shine as anything spectacular, at least not to me.
CarrionBirds
11-11-2005, 03:41 PM
Indifferent.
1. Having no particular interest or concern; apathetic: indifferent to the sufferings of others.
2. Having no marked feeling for or against: She remained indifferent toward their proposal.
This one describes his pretty well, too:
6. Being neither good nor bad; mediocre: an indifferent performance. See synonyms at average.
you forum dwellers are funny man
do you feel good now that you tried to make me feel stupid?
Strummerville
11-12-2005, 01:24 PM
Omar's a bit of a legend in my book. Fantastic guitarwork on both Frnaces The Mute and De-loused.
dillinger44
11-12-2005, 09:50 PM
Omar is why i play guitar. i've seen a lot of people complaining about how sloppy he is, but apparently they've never watched a jimi hendrix, jimmy page or john maclaughlin(in mahavishnu, not with di meola and paco de la lucia) live video. the last time i checked, TMV (or atdi) wasn't trying to be dream theater. in my opinion, they are about pouring every ounce of their being into their performance and using music as a means of artistic expression, not showing off how many notes per second they can play. sometimes, sloppy playing is the price they pay for that. there is a time and place, such as classical or metal, where percise playing is imperitive. but that is not TMV. what do you think old jazz guys thought when they first heard bitches brew by miles davis?
hey, you're not cory!
11-13-2005, 03:16 PM
He's an AMAZING guitar player and musician. Hes great at what he does and is still after all this time making unique and impressive music.
He can be prentitous, yes, but he has the skill to pull it off.
BillCosby
11-13-2005, 03:32 PM
Omar is why i play guitar. i've seen a lot of people complaining about how sloppy he is, but apparently they've never watched a jimi hendrix, jimmy page or john maclaughlin(in mahavishnu, not with di meola and paco de la lucia) live video. the last time i checked, TMV (or atdi) wasn't trying to be dream theater. in my opinion, they are about pouring every ounce of their being into their performance and using music as a means of artistic expression, not showing off how many notes per second they can play. sometimes, sloppy playing is the price they pay for that. there is a time and place, such as classical or metal, where percise playing is imperitive. but that is not TMV. what do you think old jazz guys thought when they first heard bitches brew by miles davis?
What's your user title from?
EightMilesHigh
11-14-2005, 06:24 PM
Love him or hate him...
Heheh, that made me think think of "Hate Or Love It" by The Game. I like that song.
FACELESSnotBASSLESS
11-14-2005, 08:54 PM
As far as solos go, his work can become repetive, but even those who can't stand TMV or ATDI must admit he is a genious as a composer.
Floydfanatic
11-14-2005, 11:05 PM
i love him for atdi, and he's good in the mars volta
but i love him most for GSL
BillCosby
11-14-2005, 11:07 PM
What's your user title from?
Ah, nevermind. I remembered.
I rock you suck
11-17-2005, 09:48 PM
I think he's a genius. I can't really decide what I liked him better in, At.The.Drive-In, The Mars Volta, or DeFacto. In ATD-I, it was more dissonance and strange, complicated yet insanely catchy riffs. In TMV, its more spacey-progressive latin fusion...and in DeFacto (in which he played bass) it's...unexplainable. He has probably placed the biggest impact on me. His style is one of the most original I've ever heard. I've also read somewhere that he knows very little music theory, and a big majority of his songwriting has come from his experiences and feel for the guitar. He influences me so much. He is a very creative and philosophical guitarist, and I respect him gr-eat-ly.
I rock you suck
11-17-2005, 09:49 PM
I think he's a genius. I can't really decide what I liked him better in, At.The.Drive-In, The Mars Volta, or DeFacto. In ATD-I, it was more dissonance and strange, complicated yet insanely catchy riffs. In TMV, its more spacey-progressive latin fusion...and in DeFacto (in which he played bass) it's...unexplainable. He has probably placed the biggest impact on me. His style is one of the most original I've ever heard. I've also read somewhere that he knows very little music theory, and a big majority of his songwriting has come from his experiences and feel for the guitar. He influences me so much. He is a very creative and philosophical guitarist, and I respect him gr-eat-ly.
I rock you suck
11-17-2005, 10:08 PM
he's undoubtedly shown the greatest growth of any rock guitarist musically in such a short span of time, going from incompetent punk/indie rocker to a shredder who's a little TOO good to rein himself in. It's as if Mark Hoppus could suddenly play "Tommy the Cat" or Meg White tackling "YYZ." It's a very noticeable change in playing from Acrobatic Tenement to Frances the Mute.
It is a very noticeable change in playing, but his roots are pretty firmly planted in Acrobatic Tenement. I've listened to all ATD-I, TMV, and DeFacto cds about a gajillion times. His awkward style of playing lead guitar is seen throughout all Acrobatic Tenement tracks. I agree, it is indie/punk, but not so much as incompetent. He was, then, as he is now, sloppy, but his style is very evident. His dissonance. His scattered, frenetic picking. His strange, 'Why in the hell is that so damn cool?' licks and riffs. Omar, though having grown very noticeably in ability, has still held pretty close to his original style.
EDIT: Sorry for posting twice above, my computer is incredibly slow, and it takes like 5 minutes for me to know if I even posted.
vBulletin® v3.8.1, Copyright ©2000-2009, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.