DE-LOUSED IN THE COMATORIUM

The Mars Volta may sound nothing like prog bands of old, but they share far more in common with them than any retro band can claim. When I heard "Inertiatic ESP" I had much the same response as the first time I heard "21st Century Schizoid Man." The same sense of "What is this?", "This changes everything." was there. The Mars Volta draw heavily from their punk days as At The Drive-In for De-loused and combine it with a genuine progressive approach toward song-writing. The result sounds nothing like At The Drive- In but retains all the punkish, explosive energy of it.

This is a highly emotive album thanks greatly to Cedric's brilliant vocals and psychotic lyrics of a drug-induced Alice In Wonderland landscape. Once could hardly ask for better musicianship that impresses throughout without ever becoming something people could label as showing off. I especially like the spacey and near-noise effects Omar generates from his guitar alongside his Fripp influenced playing. You'll hear bits and pieces of punk, Latin, and salsa music throughout, but at no point will it aid you in drawing a comparison to anything else.

Love or hate this album deserves your respect.

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