Album: Mars Volta: De-Loused in the Comatorium
Genre: Too hard to describe.
Tracklisting:
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. The Apparatus Must Be Unearthed
9. Televators
10. Take The Veil Cerpin Taxt
The Band:
Omar a Rodriguez-Lopez (Guitar)
Cedric Bixler Zavala (Vocals)
Jon Theodore (Drums)
Jeremy Michael Ward (Sound manipulation/Keyboards) (Now deceased)
Flea (Bass)
Ikey Isaiah Owens (Keyboards)
Guest spots by:
Jon Frusciante (Guitar on Cicatriz ESP)
Lenny Castro (Percussion)
Justin Mendel Johnson (Stand-up bass on Televators)
Rick Rubin (Producer)
Overview:
De-Loused is an hour-long concept album which takes you through the journey of a man's drug overdose-induced coma and the hallucinations he experienced.
The music:
As MV said themselves, 'we're a rock band who wants to be a salsa band'. Clearly showing their Mexican heritage in this album, a few select tracks have a distinct driving Latin beat while maintaining the hardcore elements that At the Drive In was known for. (For those of you who don't know, ATDI split into two bands: MV and Sparta.) However, if that isn't your taste, you have nothing to worry about. This album is far from Latin with a rock groove; it's more like rock and sometimes a little voice in the back of your head says 'Hey... does that sound like Latin to you?' and you say 'Eh... a little maybe.'
This album is guitar fueled 90% of the time, and the keyboards bring back memories of Pink Floyd. For example, there is one guitar solo on Roulette Dares towards the end of the song that, if I did not know it was MV, I would guess that it was Floyd. Rodriguez-Lopez is a true genius on the guitar, and his riffs control the song without dominating or self-indulging. Theorore's drum work perfectly compliments the rest of the band, although like most great drum work, it is easily ignored when you're listening to Zavala singing. His voice is almost feminine in nature, and while he does no screaming, the power and emotion in his voice as he wails things like "I'm lost" in Inertiatic ESP is extremely moving. The real news musically is Flea's contribution to the album on every track minus Televators, on which Johnson's stand-up work is barely audible but still suitable. Flea's signature slap-pop is nowhere to be found on the album. The musical maturity that Flea has acquired is fully present on this album. He has mastered the art of knowing when to sit back, while still being a vital part of the song and maintaining his Flea voice. (I actually thought it was Flea when I listened to it before I read the album notes.) Each member of the band is perfectly suited for the other 4, and it is a joy to hear them work together.
The lyrics:
The musical elements of the album are important, of course, but the true genius of this album is found in the lyrics. This album was written by Lopez and Zavala about their deceased friend and continual inspiration, Julio Venegas, who commited suicide in '93. He was a continual drug-user, who even experimented shooting up rat poison which caused a complete withering of one of his arms. One day he attempted suicide by giving himself an overdose of morphine, but he was found and his life was saved; however, he went into a coma, which is where the majority of the album takes place. Lopez and Zavala imagine the hallucinations that Venegas might have had during his coma, and musically document it with extremely odd yet understandable and touching mental images of a man standing on an infinite plain, surrounded by shipwrecked boats, completely alone. After coming out of the coma, Venegas knows the truth about himself due to the hallucinations that explored the light and dark sides of his mind. Venegas hurls himself over a bridge onto a freeway during rush-hour traffic.
The lyrics are hard to understand while listening. As of today, MV is still awaiting the release of a book written by Zavala and Lopez documenting the album's making and meaning. If you want, you should get the lyrics online. My favorite set of lyrics that i think are 99% accurate are found at www.inertiatic.com .
Conclusion:
Between the chemistry of the individual band members, and the intense and moving musical journey accompanied by the lyrics, it's no wonder that the band is frequently compared to Pink Floyd. I see it as what Pink Floyd would be if they were hardcore. Don't take that to the bank, though - I played the album for my dad, a 55-year old music junkie and huge Floyd fan, and he was downright insulted. Regardless, ATDI, Floyd, and fans of almost anything that requires talent (Ahem... pop-punk fans may look elsewhere) would enjoy this album. Even if you're uninterested in the lyrical and artistic elements of the album, they rock, plain and simple. And even if you hate the music, you can't deny the power of the concept.
Score:
5/5
References:
www.themarsvolta.com (official website)
www.thecomatorium.com (album interpretations, interviews)
www.inertiatic.com (bio, lyrics)
www.goldstandardlabs.com (record label; go there for info about the book)
Thank you for reading. My AIM name is HolySkinnyAgent and my e-mail address is [email]kingsleyanthony@hotmail.com[/email] if you want to make some input. But you should probably just post here. Bye.
| | | its an excellent album and i agree with most you have written..the links are a nice touch also. it would just have been a better review if you reviewed every song seperatley
| | | [QUOTE=moderaterock222]its an excellent album and i agree with most you have written..the links are a nice touch also. it would just have been a better review if you reviewed every song seperatley[/QUOTE]
i was actually considering doing that, but i was afraid that i'd be doing too much direct interpretation of each song, and i think that some should be left to the listener. also, one of the reasons that I like concept albums is that it's really one song but with multiple movements, like a symphony.
| | | This review was done quite a while ago, and it's grown to considerable size.
Search for the review first, rulebreaker.
| | | i merged the two threads.
| | | thanks, stingray! sorry i didn't see this thread earlier.
| | | I never see these new reviews until they're already merged, so good job!
| | | amazing cd wish they were still ATDI and awsome review
| | | dude I had no idea flea played bass for them
| | | ^Just for the album.
| | | saw the mars volta open live for the queens of the stone age and red hot chili peppers. possibly the worst band i have ever seen in my life. they sounded like crap, didn't really play anything, and had no personality. they really didn't care what the crowd thought of them which is terrible.
in short i've seen local bands that can barely keep time that are better than these guys. but if you like them that's cool, you're just wrong :P. no flames!
| | | I baught this album not too long ago, and it never leaves my CD player.
I love it.
| | | this cd is a masterpiece.
| | | [QUOTE=Crocto]saw the mars volta open live for the queens of the stone age and red hot chili peppers. possibly the worst band i have ever seen in my life. they sounded like crap, didn't really play anything, and had no personality. they really didn't care what the crowd thought of them which is terrible.
in short i've seen local bands that can barely keep time that are better than these guys. but if you like them that's cool, you're just wrong :P. no flames![/QUOTE]
I've heard that their live show sucks, but don't judge the band by that. Their studio stuff is magnificent.
| | | [QUOTE=Crocto]saw the mars volta open live for the queens of the stone age and red hot chili peppers. possibly the worst band i have ever seen in my life. they sounded like crap, didn't really play anything, and had no personality. they really didn't care what the crowd thought of them which is terrible.
in short i've seen local bands that can barely keep time that are better than these guys. but if you like them that's cool, you're just wrong :P. no flames![/QUOTE]
Really? Thats odd, especially the no personality bit. When I saw them live they were amazing, with Cedric jumping everywhere, climbing up the side of the stage and throwing his microphone around. I think the show would have been weird if I hadn't heard the album first, but since I knew what to expect I absoloutely loved it.
Oh and since this is the review thread, I think the album is fantastic.
| | | it never gets old.
the cd that is...
| | | Album Rating: 5.0
This album is amazing, i cant wait for their next one.
| | | have you all heard? omar is doing a solo record, and TMV are doing a new album - both set to be released this year! yayy!
they do NOT suck live! (or whatever you said) full of energy, a great connection with the audience, and kept me thoroughly entertained throughout.
| | | i saw them live at the london astoria when they were they
it was the gig i have ever been to
you could see all were putting in 110%. The person i was most impressed with was jon theodore(the drummer) he ****ing killed the drum set.
Then Omar on guitar - wow ****ing amazing - IMO one of the greatest man still making music today
omar plans to release a solo record which john frusciante and flea are both appearing on. I forgot the name - but its due out autumn i think. Im looking forward to it so much!
| | | Since buying this album around 4 months ago or so (can't remember exactly) it has become one of my favourite albums ever, easily in my top 3. It is just amazing, not one song lets you down. If you don't have this album i highly HIGHLY recommend you getting it, you won;t be dissapointed.
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