Bedlam in Goliath Lowest Rated Mars Volta Album?

Ricochet wrote: heyitsthatguy wrote: I think I'm the only person alive whose favorite (well, second favorite, Goliath is unbeatable) song on the album is Cavalettas by a long shot Ricochet wrote: Cavalletas is, by far, one of THE most interesting Mars Volta tracks ever Goliath is nice, but nothing amazing.

Edited by Henry Plainview - October 10 2008 at 13:57

I think I'm the only person alive whose favorite (well, second favorite, Goliath is unbeatable) song on the album is Cavalettas by a long shot
that said I do hope they ease up a little bit on the next album, I liked Bedlam, but it didn't have as much dynamic contrast as their previous albums

This is my least favorite TMV album as well. The vocals were incredibly grating to me and the music seemed hap-hazard.

Bedlam is wonderful.
Especially the title track. It simultaneously sends shivers down your spine and tears strips of your skin, If ever there was the perfect metal prog crossover, that was it.
Interesting that what is actually prog-metal is the more Iron Maiden+Keyboards stuff.

topofsm wrote: ProgBagel wrote: With every album they stray farther away from the debut album. Sadly, people don't want that.   I disagree with that, mostly because my friends and I haven't heard their previous albums, and we tend to think Bedlam is rather noisy and bland. We definetely have heard a lot of their material before the album was released, so we definetely know what TMV is all about, but we just don't like Bedlam.   There's just too much going on. There are too many instruments trying to play at the same time, too many predictable odd time signatures, and too much repetition amongst elements like that. Every time I listen to it, I get tired and want to go to sleep.

If you havnt heard their previous albums then you're hardly in a position to disagree with PB's statement.

I think the problem with Bedlam is that it never lets up.  Not that I like the noodling passages of the first two albums -- they are a distraction -- but they served a purpose (blessed relief).  But there is a certain sameness to Bedlam -- each song an all out sonic assault -- that is somewhat tiresome, at least to my now 55 year old ears.  Still a very good album however, but I'd not rate it over Deloused or FTM.   

Moatilliatta wrote: ProgBagel wrote: With every album they stray farther away from the debut album. Sadly, people don't want that.   And they get less and less accessible. I thought it was a fantastic album, with only a couple of weak spots in the middle. Oh well.

I agree, if you take Torniquete man and Cavaletas out you end up with a very solid 4 star album, but instead it´s more of a 3,5 in my opinion. It stars and finished great but the middle is so so...

DJPuffyLemon wrote: .... same-y ....

First of all, great word, it has a ring similar to "truthiness". 

same-y; adj. - 1. to have the characteristics of redundancy  2. to appear exactly like, but not really


As far as the subject at hand, I would rate TMV albums in the following order from most to least favorite. And I totally agree that Bedlam... listened straight gets very same-y.

1. Frances the Mute
2. De-Loused in the Comatorium
3. Bedlam in Goliath
4. Amputechture

The last I find virtually unlistenable.

Ghost Rider wrote: I wouldn't go as far as to say that TBiG is TMV's best album (I believe they haven't topped De-loused yet), but I disagree with those who think it's their worst. As Harry and Chris (Moatiliatta) said before me, it's definitely their densest, least accessible offering so far, and also a tad overlong (as I pointed out in my review). However, when it's good, it's REALLY good (see "Goliath" or "Aberinkula", one of the most explosive openers ever), and it's undeniably a very progressive record. To be fair, though, I realise the band's whole output can be a bit of an acquired taste - no gentle, soothing harmonies in the style of Genesis or Camel here!

I don't like the openers or the Goliath hit so much as other, more worthy tracks: Cavalletas is, by far, one of THE most interesting Mars Volta tracks ever, Ourobous has that grave, almost mythological edge, Soothsayer finally blends the MV sound with that Muslim suggested one - and 12 Conjugal Burns ends it victoriously, the kick in it (both vocals and instrumentally) finally reminding of the good ol' De-Loused times.

True, there are not many contrasts to the loud, dense and bombastic music, however that doesn't mean some don't actually exist! There are two or three tracks where things cool off into dark, frozen or vibrating mementos. Not to mention, I believe the short Torniquette Man is appreciated for its more alternative sound, the clearer lyrics and for such...which doesn't make it actually special to my ears, because it's quite ordinary compared to the rest of the album!

I've got used to the length, and I even enjoy that it captivates you the whole way till the end. This is certainly a rare thing in Mars Volta music, since, back in Amputechture, I cross the line of boredom long before the half point of the album, Frances is overall intriguing but I mentioned Cassandra Gemini's handicap, plus De-Loused officially ends its gems after Cicatriz (so it is said, but I love it too much to agree with that...).

Moatilliatta wrote: ProgBagel wrote: With every album they stray farther away from the debut album. Sadly, people don't want that.   And they get less and less accessible. I thought it was a fantastic album, with only a couple of weak spots in the middle. Oh well.

Good point there actually.
The reason why I liked TBIG so much, was because it just got even less accessible sounding but not at the expense of having great replay value, which I think many prog artists should be aiming for.