in taking a real risk (all of 10.00) and havibng never heard anything by THe Mars Volta before, I bought this cd, based on this review, and other comments about this band made in these forunms, and all I can say is I agree 100% with your review and rating.

While it was sad to see At the Drive-in break up, it may have been the best thing that ever happened to late 90s, early 00s music, because it gave way for The Mars Volta. I am obsessed with this band. I saw them play at the Big Day Out festival on the Gold Coast, Australia. Wow. At the Drive-in played the same festival a few years earlier (missed them unfortunately, they walked off after about 10 minutes playing in Sydney because everyone was crowd-surfing and they kept telling them to stop cause they were hurting people but no one listened. Their loss), then Sparta played the year before Mars Volta, and Mars Volta blew them away. An hour set, which comprised of only 3 songs, roulette dares, drunkship of lanterns and cicatriz esp, and a hell of a lot of improvisation. cedric's live energy is unmatched by anyone ive seen play before, ranging from fear factory, to metallica, to RHCP, audioslave, james brown, michael franti and spearhead. he has more energy than any of these bands. Incredible. I cant express how much i love this band. Geez, am i rambling or what.

PS. i love the mars volta

incredible..... one of the most musical cds out.. everything about it is good.. it was goin to be hard changing from at the drive in but they pulled it off with an excellent cd

This album sounds like a hampster screaming while being grounded up in an amplified blender. The band's not popular, except in little indie circles, is because they're not accessible by any means, their lyrics are nonsensical and cryptic like an unwanted game of Jenga, and the music is so random, there's so sense of rhythm to any of their songs. I admire them for trying to do something different, but this falls on its face. All I'll say is that when they opened for the Red Hot Chili Peppers, about ten minutes into the set, there was approximately <b>10</b> people paying attention to them. I invite you to roast me and ask me questions about what I like, I just don't think this is good by any means.

^ At all the concerts I've seen I have always seen people drawn in by TMV and the few outcasts bashing because they can't deal with 10 minute jams

[QUOTE=warningpunk]This album sounds like a hampster screaming while being grounded up in an amplified blender. The band's not popular, except in little indie circles, is because they're not accessible by any means, their lyrics are nonsensical and cryptic like an unwanted game of Jenga, and the music is so random, there's so sense of rhythm to any of their songs. I admire them for trying to do something different, but this falls on its face. All I'll say is that when they opened for the Red Hot Chili Peppers, about ten minutes into the set, there was approximately <b>10</b> people paying attention to them. I invite you to roast me and ask me questions about what I like, I just don't think this is good by any means.[/QUOTE]

I think I've seen you post your feelings about the Mars Volta before. While I don't agree with them, you've certainly got a right to express them.

Basically, this is a band that doesn't do so well live because they never seem to actually play their songs; opting instead to have extended jam sessions and experiment with their sound in any way they can. However, on the album everything works perfectly thanks to all the "sound engineering" that sews the songs together with an electronic thread.

Your live experience has probably soured your opinion of them forever, so you probably wouldn't like the album anyway. Thanks for your input though.

I love this album, Mars Volta are one of the best new bands.

I disagree with your comments on Apparatus, manuscriptreplica. It's a bloody song with an awesome chorus.

[QUOTE=warningpunk]This album sounds like a hampster screaming while being grounded up in an amplified blender. The band's not popular, except in little indie circles, is because they're not accessible by any means, their lyrics are nonsensical and cryptic like an unwanted game of Jenga, and the music is so random, there's so sense of rhythm to any of their songs. I admire them for trying to do something different, but this falls on its face. All I'll say is that when they opened for the Red Hot Chili Peppers, about ten minutes into the set, there was approximately <b>10</b> people paying attention to them. I invite you to roast me and ask me questions about what I like, I just don't think this is good by any means.[/QUOTE]

You remind me of a rock critic. Completely cynical towards anything and everything, and excellent at expressing disdain.

[QUOTE=Zappa]You remind me of a rock critic. Completely cynical towards anything and everything, and excellent at expressing disdain.[/QUOTE]
I agree. :p I'm actually glad he wrote his opinion on it though because as good as I think the album is, there's no doubt that tons of people will hate it. The album is really prog at heart and in the history of music there's always been tons of people that hate the indulgence and expansive nature of progressive rock, while others love it. Some see it as incredibly structured while others see it as total anarchy. Not sure if this is totally relevant to the review but I just felt like adding that in response. ;)

[QUOTE=Zappa]You remind me of a rock critic. Completely cynical towards anything and everything, and excellent at expressing disdain.[/QUOTE]


agreed, critics diss the **** out of new stuff, then they realize people actually like it and dont care about what they say, and then they come back saying WHOAH THIS IS A CLASSIC

a la beatles, zep, sabbath etc. etc.

[QUOTE=Zappa]You remind me of a rock critic. Completely cynical towards anything and everything, and excellent at expressing disdain.[/QUOTE]

But you seem to act a lot like that too! Or maybe you're just Dr. David Thorpe of Something Awful's "Your Band Sucks." He can hate anything.

[QUOTE=YDload]But you seem to act a lot like that too!.[/QUOTE]

Beat me to it!

I'm not a rock critic. My ex-roomate in college played them ad nausem 24/7 for an entire semester, I know the band and I've heard their music. I know that to the band's fans "this is the greatest album of all time", this is so because there are always going to be people that feel they need to be different by liking something that no one else likes. With Mars Volta, this seems to be the case. I'm not the only one who thinks this, in fact, I'm among the majority. I give the band props for at least being original and the beat a lot what's on the radio these days. But in the end, people want to listen to something that moves them like Jane's Addiction or Soundgarden, not something that gives them a headache. the Mars Volta were better off as At The Drive In, at least the old version had soul to it. I'll leave you guys alone now to pick me apart.

[QUOTE=warningpunk]I'm not a rock critic. My ex-roomate in college played them ad nausem 24/7 for an entire semester, I know the band and I've heard their music. I know that to the band's fans "this is the greatest album", this is so because they're always going to be people that feel they need to be different by liking something that no one else likes. I'm not the only one who thinks this, in fact, I'm among the majority. People want to listen to something that moves them like Jane's Addiction or Soundgarden, not something that gives them a headache. the Mars Volta were better off as At The Drive In, at least the old version had soul to it. I'll leave you guys alone now to pick me apart.[/QUOTE]

I understand the pain of having to listen to someone else's music for way too long. You opinion is valid.

[QUOTE=warningpunk] But in the end, people want to listen to something that moves them like Jane's Addiction or Soundgarden, not something that gives them a headache.[/QUOTE]

"Superunknown" and "Nothing's Shocking" are both much better than "De-Loused..."

[QUOTE=warningpunk]But in the end, people want to listen to something that moves them like Jane's Addiction or Soundgarden, not something that gives them a headache. [QUOTE]


On a completely different tangent (well, almost) i found it quite easy to get into mars volta and currently find it pleasurable to listen to because i love the way the songs are built and the latino influence is put to excellent use (unlike that ****head band ill nino hahahaha).

However i cannot, however i try, get into soundgarden or janes addiction as i find them both painfully bland i.e rusty cage, what the **** is that?

Anyway, going slightly off topic.

jane's addiction and soundgarden hahaha
lol

uhmm...


no?:p

[QUOTE=D!nandtott!]jane's addiction and soundgarden hahaha
lol

uhmm...


no?:p[/QUOTE]
Dude...

Where have you been?

He's been around..this ol' faded town.

He posted a new song a couple weeks back.

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

if those of you who don't know who the mars volta is, they kick ***! the guitar on this record is some of the best i've heard in a while. its definitly an excape from all these pop-punk bands. this band is worht checking out.

Threads merged. Check out the How To Review A CD sticky thread before trying again, and always check if a review has been done (like this one) before posting one. If it has, comment in the thread.

mars volta is awesome, de-loused is one of the most impressive cds ive ever heard. rick rubin helps make this record what it is imo.

Good review. I agree with Roulette Dares and Take The Veil, Carpin Taxt being the best songs.

This album is scary and interesting when you are drunk.

Especially Cicatriz ESP.

a great album, fav song are
Roulette Dares
Eriatarka
take the veil cerpin taxt

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!!!!

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...