I absolutely love The Mars Volta. They have been my favorite band since deloused was released over a year and a half ago. But I have to disagree with everyone that is saying that Omar's guitar work makes the band. He's an ok guitarist, and one of my favorites to listen to, but Jon Theodore makes The Mars Volta what they are. His drumming is outstanding.

Omar is good, but he is actually probably the weakest link in the band. Juan Alderte is a profesionally schooled bass player, I've already talked about Theodore, and Ikey Owens plays keyboards, and if you play keyboards you have to be trained.

If you watch some of the live concert videos, Omar would be the loudest one on stage, and Juan, Jon and Ikey would be getting into a groove while improvising, and Omar would just come in with a bunch of noises and just ruin it. When he plays hes pretty good, but I'd like to see a little less *screeeeeech, extremely delayed-reverb pick slide noise* type stuff and more melodic playing.

Granted that is Omars style though, and don't get me wrong I love the weirdness in his playing, but too much of something can be a bad thing.

Anyhoo, Mars Volta rock!!!!

Album Rating: 4.0

Juan does loud banging effects more than Omar.

I have the entire album "Frances the Mute" and wow, you guys are in for a treat!

These guys approach the JH Experience as the best band ever...

Yeah, love this album, and John Theodore is now one of my drumming fav's. If only I could play as well as him. Can't wait for the new album!!

a great album and a great review. two thumbs up...a few things, though. Roulette Dares is my fav. track on the album, IMO. but don't get me wrong, i love this cd and every song on it...i even like This Apparatus Must Be Unearthed. By the way, Son et Lumiere is 'light and sound' in french

omar is better than kurt cobain!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hmmm.... I see very little mention of the song "Televators". That is just a brilliant song. I'm sure some of you may have a little hostility towards it because it's a single, but I like this song despite the fact I've never seen the video (except on their website) or heard this song on the radio. I think this song is one of the most beautiful songs written in my time (with their new single "The Widow" in a distant second place).

Excuse my double post...

I also love Cedric's wailing in "Televators". It doesn't ruin the song for me at all. My band's vocalist heard this song and damn near sh*t himself. "How can anyone sing like that? That's effin' awesome!" he says.

This is 2nd prog rock song I’ve heard (Comfortably Numb) that has an acoustic in it.

the mars volta would kill you if thye heard you say that

Album Rating: 4.0

Nice review, I agree with most of your comments. My highlights are Cicatriz Esp, and Roulette Dares. I came see where a lot of people say they find Mars Volts to be boring, but I love them. One of my favorites, this obviously being their best album to date.

YDload it's nice to hear there's another lefty apart from me on sputnikmusic, there's other left handed guitarists like paul mcartney and errrr........kurt cobain....but they both pretty suck. So omar probably is the best lefty about at the mo.

I like this album a little bit mor than Frances the Mute, but I love both equally. Every member is extremely talented, in my opinion. I hope they keep making great music.

Rolling Stone gave this 3 stars... This Message Edited On 07.18.05

Album Rating: 3.5

Rolling Stone also gave Saint Anger four stars. :rolleyes:



Me likes this album. Good stuff. I love Televators. And This Apparatus Must Be Unearthed wasn't bad, either. The only real thing I see wrong with it is the very few moments of random ambience. The two filler tracks, and the middle bit of Cicatriz ESP.This Message Edited On 08.04.05

Album Rating: 3.5

*double post*This Message Edited On 07.22.05

I don't know if anyone has already mentioned this but the CD is a string of fictional stories written by Omar Rodriguez, based on the dreams that Julio Venegas had while in a coma after overdoseing on rat poison, his name while inside his dream world in Cerpin Taxt. Julio Veneges killed himself after waking up from the coma
(Julio was a long time friend of ATDI with a long history of drug problems)This Message Edited On 07.26.05

Album Rating: 4.0

It was written by Cedric.



And it's not about that at all.



It's a fictional story written by Cedric and Jeremy Ward in memory of Julio.This Message Edited On 07.26.05

no I think in the liner note its says omar wrote the lyricsThis Message Edited On 07.26.05

Is this the beast album to start with if you want to get into Mars Volta?

Yep its more accessible

All of them were written by Omar except "Drunkship of Lanterns," which was writen by Omar and Cedric.