six months or so ago i bought two albums on the same day, Deawing by Porcupine Tree and Frances the mute by The Mars Volta. Both were difficult to listen to in the beginning. Deadwing i struggled with and could hardly get through 4 or 5 tracks before changing the CD as the music was a little gloomy and maudlin at times. Frances on the other hand was just so dense that i could not get my head around it.

Now six months later i understand both albums better. Deadwing has some fine parts but still there are tooo many songs with a dull verse followed by a catchy chorus and throughout the album a sprinkling of classy sections followed by a return to the bland. Lazarus is the exception as it is a catchy tune from the off in the coldplay style but after 10 plays or so it becomes ho hum, a typical pop song.

Frances though has revealed many gifts, this is is an album i am glad i never gave up on. It sure helps to hear them live, what an experience, truly amazing, a throwback to the great prog bands of yesteryear in their scope and ambition.

Whilst the whole album is very good i must pay tribute to Cassandra Gemini. This is a track to take the breath away and once finished i'm looking to start it all over.

The symphonic aspect of this epic is apealing and i would love to see this played with a full orchestra someday.

I'm starting to consider this track alongside other epics such as gates of Delirium by Yes. I never thought i would hear music with such scope and grandeur played with so much energy and precision. Is this track a masterpiece? I don't know it's still early days but i'm starting to think Cassandra Gemini should be spoken of alongside the greats. Well Done The Mars Volta

I agree Cassandra Gemini is an epic through and through. One thing I don't like though is that my CG is broken up to tracks 5 - 12 on my cd. I'd rather just one big atmospheric chunk of symphonic grandeur!!!!!!!  oooh, that sounds good. Well I suppose it did help the first time I heard it, pretty much fell in love with it after that.

Frances the Mute

Vismund Cygnus is almost as good!! It's such a raw f**k off kinda track

While I do love the song, it's not the best work they've ever done.

My favorite from Frances.  And that's saying something.  What a great album!  What a great epic!  Two thumbs up!  Can't wait to get another Mars Volta album! 

Winter Wine wrote: Vismund Cygnus is almost as good!! It's such a raw f**k off kinda track

Yeah, that one's great too.  It ties L'Via for my second favorite.

Syntharachnid wrote: My favorite from Frances.  And that's saying something.  What a great album!  What a great epic!  Two thumbs up!  Can't wait to get another Mars Volta album!

 well, they've been working in their next one....from the news I've heard it's going to be a good one.

I can't even sum up how I feel about this incredible band/album/song.

the mars volta = amazing

cassandra geminni = amazing

everything you said = accurate

i feel obliged to point out, just because i'm a jerk, that you mispelled the title mister poster..."Cassandra Geminni"

Sorry I'm a jerk, and also a huge TMV fan....

I'll just echo what everyone has said here... including king volta by pointing out that it's "Geminni," not "Gemini."

AfanSpur wrote: Incredible, i wonder how many of you were like me Yes fans? My favourite epics are Gates of Delirium, CTTE, Awaken , AYAI, Suppers ready, Karn Evil 9

Wow, all in my list of my favourites! along with a lot more Genesis, Elp, Floyd and Crimson of course

AfanSpur wrote: six months or so ago i bought two albums on the same day, Deawing by Porcupine Tree and Frances the mute by The Mars Volta. Both were difficult to listen to in the beginning. Deadwing i struggled with and could hardly get through 4 or 5 tracks before changing the CD as the music was a little gloomy and maudlin at times. Frances on the other hand was just so dense that i could not get my head around it. Now six months later i understand both albums better. Deadwing has some fine parts but still there are tooo many songs with a dull verse followed by a catchy chorus and throughout the album a sprinkling of classy sections followed by a return to the bland. Lazarus is the exception as it is a catchy tune from the off in the coldplay style but after 10 plays or so it becomes ho hum, a typical pop song. Frances though has revealed many gifts, this is is an album i am glad i never gave up on. It sure helps to hear them live, what an experience, truly amazing, a throwback to the great prog bands of yesteryear in their scope and ambition. Whilst the whole album is very good i must pay tribute to Cassandra Gemini. This is a track to take the breath away and once finished i'm looking to start it all over. The symphonic aspect of this epic is apealing and i would love to see this played with a full orchestra someday. I'm starting to consider this track alongside other epics such as gates of Delirium by Yes. I never thought i would hear music with such scope and grandeur played with so much energy and precision. Is this track a masterpiece? I don't know it's still early days but i'm starting to think Cassandra Gemini should be spoken of alongside the greats. Well Done The Mars Volta

MUST GO BACK TO MUSIC STORE AND TRADE DEADWING FOR ANY EARLY PORCUPINE TREE WORK I STRONGLY RECOMMEND "THE SKY MOVES SIDEWAYS" IN FACT JUST BUY EVERYTHING FROM THEIR FIRST ALBUM TO "SIGNIFY" AND THEN STOP DEADWING SOUNDS LIKE OASIS AFTER A KICK IN THE FACE OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT RUN FOR YOUR LIFE SQUIRRELS ARE COMMING BACK AAAAAAAAAHHHHH!!!....

MUST GO BACK TO MUSIC STORE AND TRADE DEADWING FOR ANY EARLY PORCUPINE TREE WORK I STRONGLY RECOMMEND "THE SKY MOVES SIDEWAYS" IN FACT JUST BUY EVERYTHING FROM THEIR FIRST ALBUM TO "SIGNIFY" AND THEN STOP DEADWING SOUNDS LIKE OASIS AFTER A KICK IN THE FACE OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT RUN FOR YOUR LIFE SQUIRRELS ARE COMMING BACK AAAAAAAAAHHHHH!!!....

http://www.abc.net.au/triplej/2004/listen/alpha_T.htm - http://www.abc.net.au/triplej/2004/listen/alpha_T.htm

Interviews with Omar Rodriguez. Sounds like he is one of us. Definitely not your average posing pop alternative preening.........

Talks of depth of quality of headphones of thinking..........a true progger!

FragileDT wrote: alan_pfeifer wrote: While I do love the song, it's not the best work they've ever done.   Well than share with us. What do you think is the best work they've done?

Cygnus, Take the Veil Cerpin Taxt, Drunkhip Of Lanterns, Enuch Provocatour.

There's nothing wrong with Casandra, I just feel that it lacks some of the punch later in the song that their shorter (and even then, their material isn't as short) material.  There's the entire recorded jam session that could've been trimmed abit, but other than that, I love the song and think it ranks up there with the Great Progressive epics.

There's nothing wrong with Casandra, I just feel that it lacks some of the punch later in the song that their shorter (and even then, their material isn't as short) material.  There's the entire recorded jam session that could've been trimmed abit, but other than that, I love the song and think it ranks up there with the Great Progressive epics.

No disrespect to your comment but the build up in the last 5 minutes is orgasmic. The whole song teases you after the enormous build up and the lingering jam which threatens to explode but doesn't and just as you give up hope the whole mood changes, lifts and explodes taking us through to the final coda. The long slow jam is essential to building the tension so that the song can resolve itself. well thats what i think.