 "Review Number 500-0000-45" | 2008-07-15 |
| - Reviewed By proxyjon |
the mars volta walked to my house and sat on my porch. the mars volta started smoking something. the mars volta knocked on my door but didn't stand up. I opened the door and then closed the door and then sat on the porch next to the mars volta. we didn't say anything for a while. the mars volta exclaimed, "e-e-e-eyes!" it was OK. I knew that the mars volta was OK.
--http://alicia-pernell.blogspot.com/ |
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| "TMV's best to date" | 2008-04-10 |
| - Reviewed By bwookie |
| This album demolishes the expectations laid down by both their previous album and their live show. This album is magnificent from start to finish, working as a complete cycle. Cassandra Gemini gives a close approximation of their live show, yet drags a little in the middle. They should have replaced some of the noodling with the missing title track. That being said, this disc definitely functions as a true "album", and has the most psychedelic feel to it. Not for the faint of heart, but the most rewarding in my opinion. |
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| "...hmm...(philisophical grunt)...um...who's miranda?" | 2008-03-20 |
| - Reviewed By User: A1NJYYLGVK6NIO |
...De-Loused was an epic and proggy psycadelic album...if somewhat a little too acessible...now after this what would Omar and Cedric and co. think of next? Well now we have Frances the Mute...an album with only 5 real songs inside it (they've been divided very awkwardly but the tracks are very obvious)...now the differences in this album are quite obvious...do you remember the instrumental part in cicitraz esp? (you know...bird noises) well lets just say there are ALOT more of these and significantly longer to the point that most people would be able to leave the room and come back and it would still be going...there is also alot more of noticable latin influence with Cedric at times speaking in Spanish...but of course...like most of Mars Voltas work it has to be heard to understand...hypocritically speaking here's a track listing...
Cygnus Vismond Cygnus 10/10: Starts off with an accoustic guitar and a quiet cedric singing in the background then suddenly the drum and pounding bass comes crashing in with Cedric sounding like a banshee (unsure what language) and then a quick guitar solo vocal break followed by the sound again...after this is repeated a few times there is then a gradual and rather long instrumental part until the vocals come back in with the chorus...then it breaks down into very awkward noises...for quite a long time...
Widow 7/10: Yes...the single...never liked it that much...verse chorus combo...a trumpet solo then a guitar solo...not the best song really...a load of noise leads to the next song...
L'viaquez (forgotten how to spell it) 9/10: Starts with a light thudding of the drum until appearing with an amazing intro solo followed by a light hearted salsa vibe from Cedrics spanish lyrics...which is usually not my kind of music but it compliments it very well...the chorus is alot more quieter and sinister and follows a simple pattern of exploding back into full blast when the verse comes back with a guitar solo...after this is repeated a few times there is then a part which doesn't follow the old structure...slightly interesting but nothing new...feels kind of rushed...and then ends with a slowed down version of Cedrics vocals into...
Miranda that ghost just isn't holy anymore 10/10: Now if I was to also mark it for the large blank sound at the beginning...I would probably have to deduct a mark because no one should have to be this patient voluntarily (or just fast forward who knows) but what follows is so fragile and beautiful...cedric really does sing falsetto at this point and to such a point it could make you cry (in a good way)...and the chorus...sends shivers down the spine...it is so beautifully eerie...trumpets are also good...
Cassandra Gemini 10/10: I really don't care what people say about this song being pointlessly long...I love it...it starts off very active and insane...with loads of sound flying everywhere...and then they get more structured...then there's a very long part where there's just a drone of instrumentation until they come back again...it then ends as the album started with the accoustic guitars and cedric sounding slightly more insane then he did to begin...
...if you liked Mars Volta for De-Loused...this may take some getting used to...but trust me once it grows on you...you will reap the reward from the muted unenlightened (aka anyone who hasn't heard this)... |
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| ""Frances The Mute" / "Cassandra Gemini" tracklisting decoded" | 2008-02-06 |
| - Reviewed By scrutinizer981 |
For those of you wondering which movement is which in "Cassandra Gemini," this is how the CD tracks are divided:
1. "Cygnus....Vismund Cygnus" - 13:02
2. "The Widow" - 5:51
3. "L'Via L'Viaquez" - 12:22
4. "Miranda That Ghost Just Isn't Holy Anymore" - 13:10
5. "Cassandra Gemini - A. Tarantism [1]" - 4:46
6. "Cassandra Gemini - A. Tarantism [2]" - 6:40
7. "Cassandra Gemini - B. Plant a Nail in the Navel Stream [1]" - 2:56
8. "Cassandra Gemini - B. Plant a Nail in the Navel Stream [2]" - 7:41
9. "Cassandra Gemini - C. Faminepulse [1]" - 5:00
10. "Cassandra Gemini - C. Faminepulse [2]/D. Multiple Spouse Wounds [1]" - 3:48
11. "Cassandra Gemini - D. Multiple Spouse Wounds [2]" - 0:47
12. "Cassandra Gemini - E. Sarcophagi" - 0:54
I figured this out by following the lyrics while listening to the album. I hope the band seriously considers releasing a "Director's Cut" of this record in the future including the missing opening title track (eventually released on the CD single of "The Widow") and presenting the album as 6 whole CD tracks like it was originally intended. Although it would have to be a 2-CD set to accomodate the 90-minute running time (the title track is 15 minutes alone), it will make the album sound more complete. In the meantime, find yourself a copy of "The Widow" single, rip the track "Frances The Mute" onto your computer along with the official 'Frances' CD and arrange the tracklisting as such:
1. "Frances The Mute"
2. "Cygnus....Vismund Cygnus"
3. "The Widow"
4. "L'Via L'Viaquez"
5. "Miranda That Ghost Just Isn't Holy Anymore"
6. "Cassandra Gemini"
Thank goodness for playlists! |
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| "You will not be muting this..." | 2007-10-27 |
| - Reviewed By stuartmcbeath |
At first listen, it just sounds like a complete mess and is all over the place, though bit by bit it begins to make more sense........
After: 1st listen - Widow single (edit) clicks
2-5 listens - Cygnus apart from the last 2 mins clicks
6-10 listens - Miranda - (now I realise the true genius of it)
11-15 listens - L'Via L'viaquez -(brilliant)
15-20 listens - getting there with Cassandra Gemini but its still pretty tough
The bits such as the last 3 minutes of the widow and 2 mins of Cygnus along with various other parts of the album can only really be described as `awkward' listening. When the later minutes of Widow were playing my Mum actually thought the CD was jamming! To be fair it does sound that way. I do wonder what Omar and Cedric think of these parts, as they must have a reason why they are included. Obviously no one could understand their music more than them so they must see something in these parts which make them special enough to have included them on the album. In saying that, what I thought were 4 awkward minutes in the beginning of Miranda, I now realise that it really does act as a superb build up till the trumpets slowly come in. The uses of the trumpets are what makes Miranda such a cold and chilling track and adds to the atmosphere of the album as a whole.
Like any good album you really can't judge it until you've listened to it a lot. I really didn't like this album for starter especially as it is meant to be listened to in one sitting. At 76 minutes long, I think the sheer length of it played mind tricks on me and instead of properly listening to the music, I was thinking of how long it was. As you keep listening to it, time gradually becomes insignificant and when that stage is reached you can truly appreciate the album because it will start to make sense, so you're focusing less on the time and more on the music.
This album is to deloused as deloused is to relationship of command (At the Drive-in) because from relationship to de-loused, they really did take their music to another level and now they've managed one step further. Whether they make the next step with their next album remains to be seen, where that step is I don't think they even know! But one thing is for sure they have the talent to be timeless.
One thing I really like about this album is the concept that it is never ending, it can just loop forever because the end of the last track Cassandra, turns into the intro for Cygnus.
This album also shows how singer Cedric really has moved away from ATDI even further because there are virtually no `shouty' bits at all. In fact Frances shows what an amazing singer he really is. He hits notes which most people could only dream of reaching, for example the "oh yeah" s during Cygnus or the "bring me to my knees towards the beginning of Cassandra. Overall his pure and unique vocals add a great deal to the album.
However the key to this album which holds it together is not Cedric's unique vocals, Omar's exquisite guitar playing or John's mental drumming - but it's the infectious baselines which set the tone for the whole album. While Omar, Cedric, John along with the other contributors go off into their own little worlds in the album, the base line is the constant throughout each song and brings it all together. In particular Omar's guitar playing seems to dance round the baselines not knowing which way he's going to go next.
To explain what their album is like compared to other prog albums I'll put it in to context by using the analogy of running. First of all I'll explain how much music in general can be related to running. Anyone can run a mile, maybe at different times, but they can still run it. Just like pop music, its easy to understand. However longer runs require more training and you have to build up to it. This is like progressive music because you need to listen to it lots in order to understand it or to appreciate it to its full potential. To put this into context of this Mars Volta album is like a 3 hour long run. A 3 hour long run can take many shapes and forms. The MV album is like a mix of urban and rural landscapes. The urban bits are the straight forward road running bits, or the parts of the albums which are the easiest to understand. However they are still hilly sections in this part to keep it challenging. Then there is the rural parts which are the parts are the rough trails which take longer because it is more technical. This represent those `awkward' moments of the album.
To sum up Frances the mute is a never ending journey through a musical landscape. A tough 3 hour long run may sound completely unthinkable to some people, but if you do the training its nothing short of brilliance........................just like Frances the Mute!
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 "The Mars Volta - New Era Progressive Rock" | 2007-09-25 |
| - Reviewed By stevesly |
| This is an album that is difficult for me to categorize. In my opinion The Mars Volta are a progressive rock band. Many will disagree with this assessment, but to my ears these guys are producing music that is truly unique and unlike anything else out there. They combine elements of older bands like King Crimson, Led Zeppelin, Amon Duul with more modern progish bands like Tool and Coheed And Cambria. The music on Francis really covers a lot of ground. Some of it is very accessible while other parts of the disc are very experimental. The album is a concept piece of sorts following the entries in a diary that one of the band members supposedly found. The musicians are all top notch and there are plenty of incendiary instrumental workouts to go along with the vocal sections. The vocals are going to be an acquired taste. Personally I like them, but I am sure they are not everyone's cup of tea. The Mars Volta provide challenging music for people who are looking for something with a bit more substance than today's mainstream rock. The music should also appeal to older progressive rock fans, although this definitely ain't your grand pappy's brand of prog. |
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 "okay but not great... buy De-Loused in the Comatorium instead" | 2007-08-20 |
| - Reviewed By User: AGST8QVWCWT6Q |
this album is solid but maybe since i owned De-Loused in the Comatorium first the expectations were set too high, as that album is one of my all-time favorites. in comparison to De-Loused, this album is a little rawer, a little darker on the whole (musically and lyrically), and a little less energetic (on the whole). i would classify both as a latino-fused progressive alternative rock (from the planet yerbadoxi - exxxxxcellent).
in both albums omar brings the orchestrated madness which is known for and it is truly unique, interesting, and worth listening to... especially for musicians looking to explore new territories. ditto for his lyrics, spliced between spanish / english, and replete with disparate analogies which are quite amazing and inspiring. |
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| "TMV" | 2007-07-05 |
| - Reviewed By User: A2683Z6KFP7E9R |
Before you base your judgment of this CD soley in comparison to any of The Mars Volta albums you need to realize that it isn't a Mars Volta album. It is a Soundtrack for a film and Omar is even quoted by saying it is a reaction to the film. If you're a die-hard Omar fan then you'll love it. Rapid Fire Toll Booth is now one of my all time favorites and all the other songs sound great in my opinion.
I don't usually write reviews because it's so painful for me to read someone elses review especialy ones that contain the following examples. I only like their older stuff, they keep changing their style, the guitar player is too self induldgent,they should use the same producer as on their first album, there's too much ambience, there's too much guitar noodling, they've become snobs, they're not as good without the old drummer, they're progressive, they're experimental, they took a riff from some other band, I like them less with each album they put out,etc. That was in reference to all bands not just The Mars Volta.
That kinda review irritates me because it's a bunch of garbage. I wish those kinda people would just stick to their MTV lifestyles and leave the real music to those who are true fans and are more open minded. I don't know why it bugs me so much it's not like I'm defending them because I know them on some personal level it's just that some people just don't get it. I'm tired of everyone disecting the music and the musicians. All they want to do is entertain us, not create some sort of musical doctorine that should be discussed as though one was attending a seminar. As a musician I understand the need to experiment and branch out so the music making process doesn't become stale. Do you really want your favorite band to constantly repeat themselves and never evolve. People please I beg of you quit writing these cliche pointless reviews. As for me I'm through writting about this subject for as long as I live. Omar & Cedric have been making music for quite some time now. Let's allow the professionals to do their thing and the rest of you can either tune in or tune out.
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| "Melodic sonic boom !" | 2007-06-08 |
| - Reviewed By mshackelford3 |
| If you want to hear some amazing song structures, melodies and all around great rock musicians Jon Theodore to Omar Gonzalez and even John Fruscante, get this album. Once you get through the few dead spots and few moments of senseless noise, this will be placed in your heavy rotation of favorite music. Cedric Bixler is one of the most amazing modern rock singers out there today. |
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| "very cool" | 2007-03-08 |
| - Reviewed By juliaindurham |
| i reviewed de loused in the comatorium and thought this deserved a review as well. the mars volta is so different from most other music out there and the first time i heard them i was hooked. i would suggest listening to some tracks before buying because the vocals aren't for everyone. i once heard someone say, "the vocals are like nails on a chalkboard", and i will admit they are not for everyone. i personally took to them and consider TMV one of my favorites these days. |
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