DE-LOUSED IN THE COMATORIUM

PAGE OF CONCRETE - I guess it's all been said before, but there is no doubt that this is an awesome album - and an amazing debut - I cannot say how good this is, and probably the MV album that you are most likely to like if you've not heard them before.

ASH OF POMPEII - Having said all that, I was lucky that I actually heard Frances the Mute first and was totally blown away by it, and as such it remains my favourite MV album. It's a good thing for me, because I didn't compare it with Deloused - a mistake that many reviewers seem to make when discussing the other MV albums - as it makes it difficult for the Mars Volta to live up to Deloused and therefore move on.

CARPEL JETS HIT THE GROUND - So don't compare Deloused with the rest (or necessarily buy it first - you might want to consider buying Frances the Mute first (or Bedlam, which is also amazing. I wouldn't start with Amputechture - the most challenging listen of all their albums).

EVAPORATED THE FUR. Think about Deloused in the Comatorium in its own right - it is full of wild energy, expression, very powerful singing - NOW I'm LOST! - EXOSKELETAL JUNCTION AT THE RAILROAD DELAYED (this remains my favourite Volta lyric). The musicianship is superb, and it feels like they have worked incredibly hard with long long hours perfecting the music with great great practice and results.

IN THE RATTLES OF....I love the CD sleeve, with its mystical lyrics and little red men in different poses - you can almost imagine them dancing to the music. What the lyrics mean - who knows? But that is one of the great things about them - the crazy lyrics - each word makes sense but when put together they don't - the great mystery of Cedric (who the heck is Moatilliata or Cerpin Taxt?). However, the bizarre concept that runs through the album is sensed and comes to the fore in Televators - one of MV's best more gentler tracks. I don't think I'll review all the tracks, or this will be too heavy a read - just to say they're all awesome - there are NO 7 out of ten's here. 10/10 for Son et Lumiere, Inertiatic ESP, Roulette Dares, Drunkship of Lanterns, Eriatarka, Cicatriz ESP, Televators and Take the Veil. That is 8 tracks that are 10/10 - absolute classics! All super-eclectic too.

RUST PROPELLERS AWAIT. I could go on forever on how good this album is, every track giving its own individuality - this is a lesson to every band on the importance of extreme hard work and practice.

I'VE DEFECTED!

This is a masterpiece - you can tell when you pick up the CD and burst with excitement as you put it in, knowing the music is going to take you there - on the ride of your life!