(Progressive rock) The Mars Volta - De-loused in the Comatorium
 

[img]http://www.marshallamps.com/images/marshalllaw/news/artistpix/marsvolta.jpg[/img]

After the demise of indie band At the Drive-in, Cedric Bixler and Omar Rodriguez (the guys with the afros) created the new, progressive rock outfit that is the Mars Volta. After hearing the stunning [i]Tremulant[/i] I was hooked on their music. Instead of riding the success they had with At the Drive-in, the unique hardcore/indie style, they tried new things, and the results are splendid. Take such examples as ‘Eunuch Provocateur’ (my personal all-time favourite Mars Volta song) ‘Cicatriz Esp’ (the 12 minute epic featuring Red Hot Chili Peppers’ John Frusciante on guitar) and ‘Roulette Dares (the haunt of)’, and it’s clear that they succeeded with their plans, and as soon as their first album. Comprising of only 8 tracks (with 2 fillers) and running a tad over an hour, their shortest song is 4 and a half minutes long, so get prepared for some epics.
As you may have heard, [i]De-loused in the Comatorium[/i] is based on a character called Cerpin Taxt, who goes through a journey throughout the album, and eventually commits suicide. Cerpin Taxt, in turn, is based on a friend of Cedric and Omar's who committed suicide, Julio Venegas. Off the [i]Tremulant[/i] EP, 'Concertina' was based on Julio and the man they allege to have caused his suicide (he did other things, like nearly make Jim Ward (Other guitarist in ATDI) have a nervous breakdown, and tried to get Omar to leave ATDI) and Cedric felt like he needed to dedicate an entire album to him.
Unfortunately for the band, especially considering live shows, Jeremy Ward died shortly after the release of ‘De-loused’ because of a heroin OD. Whilst not appearing to be an essential member, Jeremy was always backstage during live sets, setting up the band’s sounds and adding ambience music, and will be sorely missed (you can find an R.I.P notice for Jeremy on the clip to ‘Inertiatic’). Paul Hinojos (Bassist of Sparta) is the new sound guy.
And one final mention must go to the rest of the band. This band wouldn’t be half the band they are without the drumming services of Jon Theodore. He is an amazing drummer, and constantly keeps rhythm, even with the odd time signatures. Flea’s bass playing is not the slap-happy funk style you would expect from a Red Hot Chili Peppers album, but it is still excellent. As always, Cedric Bixler’s energy and strange lyrics are a highlight of the album, and Omar Rodriguez’s guitar and composing skills are nearly unmatched.

Song list on ‘De-Loused’
1. Son et Lumiere
2. Inertiatic Esp
3. Roulette Dares (the haunt of)
4. Tira me a las Aranas
5. Drunkship of Lanterns
6. Eriatarka
7. Cicatriz Esp
8. This Apparatus Must be Unearthed
9. Televators
10. Take the Veil Cerpin Taxt

Composed by Omar Rodriguez and Cedric Bixler

Vocals – Cedric Bixler
Guitars – Omar Rodriguez
Bass – Flea
Drums - Jon Theodore
Keyboards – Ikey Owens
Sounds – Jeremy Ward

Son et Lumiere (1:35), Inertiatic Esp (4:24)
Son et Lumiere is basically an intro to Inertiatic Esp, that is why I have merged them. To begin this album, a faint wind sound is heard, following by a keyboard pulsing out some chords. There is nothing really to say about Son et Lumiere, except that ‘son’ in Spanish means ‘are’ in English, and that it is a great lead in song to Inertiatic Esp.
We’ve had the entrée now it’s the main course. Inertiatic is a great song. It is the only song to be released by the Mars Volta, and is a good choice. Whilst clearly not the best song on the album, it is the easies to listen to, and is the highest pace, and is upbeat, so it’s a good get-into-us song. The song begins with a snare drum roll, and the lyrics ‘Now I’m lost’ which begins the journey of Cerpin Taxt, who obviously gets lost somewhere, presumably his mind. The sound is quite similar to At the Drive-in sort of, it has obvious influences, which is always good. A good opening track.

Roulette Dares (the haunt of) (7:31)
Very Pink Floyd [i]Dark Side of the Moon[/i]-esque as the tracks roll smoothly into one another. This song is the first of many long-ish songs, and is a stunner, my 2nd favourite song off the album. It begins relatively simply, with background music and a synth to make it sound cool. It has a good intro bit, very fast, and then enters a slow verse, and the transition is excellent, aided by Omar’s amazing guitar fills. Omar has an insanely high riff count in this, and Flea pumps the bassline like no one else can. At about the 1:25 the lead in riff to the chorus is quite memorable. The bridge part (about 2:10) is the first experimental phrase of the CD, with Omar and Ikey going nuts, and Flea and Jon holding beat expertly. Another experimental bit is further on down the track, and ends the song well. A near-perfectly constructed song, and you will wish it went for longer than its already huge 7:31.

Tira me a las Aranas (1:28)
Another filler track. I’m not sure if it leads into ‘Drunkship of Lanterns’ so I didn’t fuse the two. Tira me a las Aranas would be cool if it was a real song, but it’s too short. It’s sort of an Indian-sounding solo from the guitar, and it flows into the next song quite well, so the two songs are probably linked, but oh well.

Drunkship of Lanterns (7:05)
Many people that enjoy the Mars Volta that I talk/chat to seem to think that this is an excellent song, but I don’t agree with them. While the talent taken to write this song is blatantly obvious, I can’t seem to enjoy it, no matter how many times I download it. However, I must say, I do enjoy the polyrhythm bit (first heard at 0:38) it is marvellous. And the guitar solo at about 5:00 is amazing.

Eriatarka (6:20)
The beginning of the song sounds remarkably like ‘Inertiatic Esp’, with the guitar and drum roll, but again, that’s a good thing. A slower song by the boys, initially. It gets good (well, better than it already was) at about 1:30 mark. This song was the song that made me say ‘Flea I ****ing hate you for being so ****ing **** good’. An excellent track, but not one of my favourites for me. It fluctuates immensely throughout, making it interesting to say the least. The chord progression from about 1:10 is sublime.

Cicatriz Esp (12:29)
Cicatriz Esp. Cicatriz Esp. Cicatriz Esp. My favourite track off the album, and it is not hard to see why. This track is just so **** good. It has everything a music lover could ask for, guitar solos (by Mr. Frusciante from Chili Pepper – amazing guitarist) guitar riffs, excellent bass, insane rhythms from Jon.
I love the intro to this song. “Do you recall its name?” It’s like a psychiatrist is questioning Cerpin if he is sure he saw something. I love it! It gets excellent after the helicopter bit, the chorus is very high paced, and easy to listen to. But after this is where the real magic begins. The jam session! Ahhhhhh. Some of the most amazing things I have heard come out of the 6-stringed instrument we call a guitar are in this jam. It shows you how good John Frusciante is. To be honest, the first time I heard this, I fell asleep! But I was tired. The only problem I have with this song is the bit in the middle of the song, it gets very quiet, and sounds like the microphone is underwater. A cool effect, but it goes for about 2-3 minutes, far too long. But the following guitar solo makes up for the wait. If you allow yourself the 12 minutes to listen and appreciate this track, you will see how very good it is. It ends with the vocals out, similar to Pink Floyd’s jams in [i]The Piper at the Gates of Dawn[/i].

This Apparatus Must be Unearthed (4:57)
Hmm. It’s funny how Cedric Bixler can write two songs, one can be decent, and one can be a complete failure. Oh well. I really dislike this song, and there is nothing in it that can convince me otherwise. This song is monotonous, bland, and overall, very boring. Thankfully it only takes up under 5 minutes of the 1 hour masterpiece.

Televators (6:18)
This delightfully named track starts off quite slow, just ambience music really. Guitars enter at about 0:30, and an acoustic (that’s right) comes out to play. This is 2nd prog rock song I’ve heard (Comfortably Numb) that has an acoustic in it. Whilst quite slow, I enjoy this song, and I feel it sort of wrecked it when it gets heavier. It would be an excellent track if Cedric didn’t start wailing in some parts. A good, relaxing track nonetheless.

Take the Veil Cerpin Taxt (8:42)
This song is nothing short of awesome. The intro is the best on the album. In some sense, this song is similar to the first song, Inertiatic, in that it is high paced, and is heavily At the Drive-in sounding. The line “You take the veil” PROBABLY means to commit suicide, but I am not sure. (I wish they would hurry up and release the booklet!) I love the jam in this, mainly because it has a BASS SOLO! Yayyy. First bass solo in the history of prog rock no doubt. And what a solo it is. I wish I were as good as Flea. The guitar solo, heavily underrated because of the mighty BASS SOLO (I wish) is quite good. Whilst not very easy to listen to, you can appreciate it if you are a musician. Then, 4:36. The BASS SOLO! Flea, you are a genius. Even though it only goes for about 20 seconds it is still masterfully done. Another guitar follows this one, this time much more easier to listen to, and in my opinion, much better than the first one. The bongos give it an added effect as well, instead of just normal drums. The lyrics come back around the 7-minute mark to conclude the album. The album finishes with Cedric Bixler screaming “you brought me here!” whatever than means in the story of Cerpin Taxt.

My rating you ask? This is an album that helped me really get into prog rock. Now I like bands such as Yes, Rush and Dream Theater (I’ve always been a fan of Floyd). So my rating is 5/5. Buy this album and love it, but DON’T expect At the Drive-in, they are two completely different bands.

Awesome CD, and great review. :thumb:

To those who saw Mars Volta open for Red Hot Chili Peppers and Queens of the Stone Age and weren't impressed by them, give it another try. Their music doesn't translate very well on that tour. I saw it myself, and thought nothing of them, but later bought the CD after hearing good things about it, and the price was right (about 11 bucks CDN).

I love Cicatriz ESP too, but I would never compare it to "Gates of Delirium". I thought the best song was "Take the Veil, Cerpin Taxt". I really loved it when the song went into the huge jam, and at the end of the jamming part, there was this awesome riff that they repeat a bunch of times before going into the chorus again. Well, when they played that riff that ends the jam, I had a huge musical orgasm. Amazing

It's John Frusciante who does the additional guitar in Cicatriz; Jon Theodore's the drummer.

But thanks for the review! I asked, and received. Could you edit it later to add reviews of the rest of the tracks? You forgot my personal favorite, "Eriatarka."

[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by Kaden [/i]
[B]I love Cicatriz ESP too, but I would never compare it to "Gates of Delirium". I thought the best song was "Take the Veil, Cerpin Taxt". I really loved it when the song went into the huge jam, and at the end of the jamming part, there was this awesome riff that they repeat a bunch of times before going into the chorus again. Well, when they played that riff that ends the jam, I had a huge musical orgasm. Amazing [/B][/QUOTE]
That was definitely the perfect ending for the album. The song goes through so many different styles it's incredible. I know exactly the part you're talking about in the end where they repeat the riff. Right at the veery end. Awesome, it's good enough to make me listen to the whole rest of the song in anticipation for that. I also really like at about 4:30 in, after it goes from craziness, to this real smooth kind of jam and then everything gets pieced back together leading to the madness again.

Ya know, I'm a huge prog fan and all, but I really don't like this band.
I basicially see them as crappy punk rockers who smoked too much pot so they tried to make a prog album. It has some nice moments, but as a whole it's really not that impressive to me. Especially musicially.

*comfortably awaits flames*
:)

Flea plays bass for them?? In the album it said some hispanic name.

[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by BirdsOfFires [/i]
[B]Ya know, I'm a huge prog fan and all, but I really don't like this band.
I basicially see them as crappy punk rockers who smoked too much pot so they tried to make a prog album. It has some nice moments, but as a whole it's really not that impressive to me. Especially musicially.

*comfortably awaits flames*
:) [/B][/QUOTE] Elaborate for us. What are the flaws with De-loused, or anything Cedric and Omar have ever done (ATDI) for that matter?

flea played bass on the ALBUM
their actual bassist (i.e. the person who plays for them at gigs and ****...) is that hispanic guy.

[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by el doctor [/i]
[B]That was definitely the perfect ending for the album. The song goes through so many different styles it's incredible. I know exactly the part you're talking about in the end where they repeat the riff. Right at the veery end. Awesome, it's good enough to make me listen to the whole rest of the song in anticipation for that. I also really like at about 4:30 in, after it goes from craziness, to this real smooth kind of jam and then everything gets pieced back together leading to the madness again. [/B][/QUOTE]

Yeah, that's a great song:thumb:

I like Omar because he's left-handed like me. I'd go as far as saying he's the third best left-handed guitarist after Hendrix and Iommi, because I don't know that many others except Tim Armstrong.

[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by BirdsOfFires [/i]
[B] It has some nice moments, but as a whole it's really not that impressive to me. Especially musicially.
[/B][/QUOTE]

Especially musically? As apposed to what? Visually? Texturally? Smell? Taste?

[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by Zappa [/i]
[B]Especially musically? As apposed to what? Visually? Texturally? Smell? Taste? [/B][/QUOTE]

:lol::lol:

I laughed so hard reading that, cause I thought the same thing but didn't say anything.

[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by YDLoad[/i]
[b]I like Omar because he's left-handed like me. I'd go as far as saying he's the third best left-handed guitarist after Hendrix and Iommi, because I don't know that many others except Tim Armstrong.[/b][/QUOTE]

Kurt Cobain?

*snickers and flames another Nirvana thread poster in Rock & Metal*

Re: (Progressive rock) The Mars Volta - De-loused in the Comatorium
 

ok guys i completed the review.. finally

(shameless bump)

thx dude. great review :thumb: i just got into the Mars Volta, and this album totally got me into it. my favorite song in the album is 'Take the Veil Carpin Taxt'. the band is simply an incredible band.

[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by Zappa [/i]
[B]Especially musically? As apposed to what? Visually? Texturally? Smell? Taste? [/B][/QUOTE]

Meh. What I MEANT was:

Alot of people say they love this band because they're all "insanely talented musicians" and from what I've heard (this album) isn't all that technical really. I was just stating that unlike some people's views on this album, I wasn't impressed on a sheer technical level.

I AM a Huge prog fan, King Crimson, Yes, WYWH-Era Floyd, and all those other good bands are among my favorites.

This album just didn't apeal to me, I think mostly because of the over-produced sound.

This is a very good review, now that you've updated. I agree that "Apparattus" is the black sheep of the album, but I personally don't think Cicatriz is the best (though it's very good), just because it goes off into weird quiet stuff for a little too long.

I used to think "Take the Veil" was the best, but now it's a tie between "Televators" and "Eriatarka".

"Drunkship" is a great song! Don't dis it!

^^ i didnt dis it - i said i couldn't get into it.

BTW, you seem to know much already about Julio. Can you give me any evidence of what I've been hearing lately, that he comitted suicide by jumping off an overpass into traffic? It would make sense in TMV's music, but I can't find any proof of the matter. If you knew about it, that is.... it makes Televators make a lot more sense, as well as Embroglio.

great review, probably the best ive read so far since i completely agree

Re: (Progressive rock) The Mars Volta - De-loused in the Comatorium
 

[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by manuscriptreplica [/i]
[B]Take the Veil Cerpin Taxt (8:42)First bass solo in the history of prog rock no doubt.[/B][/QUOTE]

Not really.

Yes-Sound Chaser
Dream Theater-Dance of Eternity, Metropolis Pt. 1
Steve Miller Band-Shu ba da du

I know there's more, but I can't think of them right now. The rest of the review was good, but that statement was waaaaay overrating TMV. Great band, great album, gets a 5/5 from me.

[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by SubtleDagger [/i]
[B]BTW, you seem to know much already about Julio. Can you give me any evidence of what I've been hearing lately, that he comitted suicide by jumping off an overpass into traffic? It would make sense in TMV's music, but I can't find any proof of the matter. If you knew about it, that is.... it makes Televators make a lot more sense, as well as Embroglio. [/B][/QUOTE]

he shot up rat poison (i'm pretty sure that's how he died, i haven't heard anything about jumping off an overpass!). what lyrics make you say that he jumps off an overpass?

p.s. i REALLY now wish they would hurry up and release the booklet!!!!!!!

i also remember reading rat poison somewhere

The rat poison he shot into his right arm after the coma, when he lost all feeling in his right side. It shriveled up and he couldn't use it.

Listen to "Embroglio" (by ATD-I) and "Televators" for more on what happened at the overpass.... I believe "Embroglio" actually mentions the street name as well. I'll give you a quote from one of Cedric's close friends as soon as I can.

And that booklet does need to come out. :angry:

Here you go... this is a quote from a member at [url]www.thecomatorium.com,[/url] at a message board for song meanings.

[QUOTE][b]Julio went into underground seclusion, right before killing himself. When he was meditating in solitude, Ben visited Julio for four days and left on March 14. On March 15, Julio came out of subterranean isolation and jumped off of the Mesa street bridge, onto the highway below. He was hit by three cars, two of them running his body over completely.
Two songs also directly back up my story: "Concertina" ("On the 14th you stole what hasn't grown old") and At The Drive-In's "Embroglio" ("He's stranded on the Mesa Street exit").[/b][/QUOTE]

If you don't know who Ben is, it's the guitarist who was kicked out of ATD-I for technically near breaking up the band... he was mentally ill, and tended to be violent. He's often cited as the person who pushed Julio to suicide.

Not to mention "Televators" which clearly mentions images of the same context ("just as he hit the ground"; "chalk outline"; numerous mentionings of "concrete" and "asphalt"). "Three half-eaten corneas" is a mention to the three eyes Julio often put in his art. That song and "Embroglio" are the biggest pointers to the incident.

I love that album, and am a hardcore fan of the band, but that was one of the weaker reviews i have read. Flea's basswork on that album is nothing special at all. I dont consider myself a good bassist by any standard (i cant touch Classical Thump, Portrait of Tracy etc.) but i could play everything flea did on that album with no problems, including that bass solo in Take the Veil. Eva Gardener (the bassist on Tremulant) did a MUCH better job. Just another small flaw, Jeremy Ward died about a week before the release of the album, not afterwards. Furthermore, Televators isnt the only song with an acoustic, Tira me a las Aranas is played with a classical guitar.

In regards to Julio. He shot up rat poison and went into a coma for a week. That is what the bulk of the album is about, Julio's experiences while in a coma. In real life, he woke up from the coma, then jumped off a bridge into intersecting traffic. That is what track 10 is about. When he wakes up and then [i]chooses[/i] to die. The album itself is a fictional account of the adventures he might have had when he was in a coma. His choosing to die marks hte completion of his journey. The song "Concertina" is basically Cedric accusing Ben of driving Julio to suicide ("on the fourth day you stole what hasnt come home").

The Mars Volta's live set is SO much better than the recording. I saw them when they were headlining a tour, and it was intense. Their new bassist (Juan Alderate) is much better. During the bass solo in take the Veil, he started the solo, and the rest of hte band left, and he did this awesome 5-minute solo before the rest of hte band came on and finished the song with him. My only beef with this album is how boring Inertiatic is, and how quiet Ikey is. They need to turn him up becuase he is incredible. If you wanna talk about the Mars Volta, IM me at YObassist.

ok cheers (for the julio info)... i don't really pay much attention to lyrics and song meanings because i'm not that interested, but it's nice to know. I have not heard Embroglio so i will download it now. i heard about the rat poison from [url]www.themarvolta.com[/url] but now that i read it he clearly didnt die from it.
i dont think eva gardener played THAT much better than flea did. i never stated that fleas work was that hard either. i can play portrait of tracy rather easily, are you saying that is not a masterpiece? the solo in take the veil is a gem. eva kept the beat, that is all, and added quite a few cool riffs. Flea did the same, but i feel in a better fashion, but meh.

p.s. another good mars volta site: [url]www.inertiatic.com[/url]

I think that it was wrong of me to say that it was a weak review, reading it a second time, its actually quite good, although i disagree with a couple of things said. I think Eva's work on Concertina and Eunuch Provocateur are much better than anything flea did on the album. Flea did a great job of holding hte beat, as did Eva, but the only thing impressive about Fleas work was that one bass fill in Drunkship, and the solo is OK, but really nothing that mind blowing. I wasnt saying earlier that PoT isnt a masterpiece, because it definitely is, I was just saying that im not a good bass player, but that album was nothing special as far as TECHNICAL bass playing goes. The bass playing on tehre is still phenomenal in the sense that it fits the song. I visit [url]www.inertiatic.com[/url] on a somewhat regular basis. I also am part of the 'official' street team, and i used to post on that message board regularly, before i found this place.