The Mars Volta

Come on guys, I haven't seen one mention of this awesome band, who seem to have brought prog back to the mainstream. Jazz noodling, hardcore influences and santana solo's, concept album about the death of a loved one and big hair. What more can you want?

 

Edited by Crow

They get a pretty fair shake around here- if anyone does dislike 'em, I haven't seen it. Even Rick Wakeman likes 'em- read the interview!

Crow

You haven't searched hard enough. As one of the oldies here, I greatly welcome TMVon to the music scene, as demonstrating the original concepts of progressive music.  Made me go search for a record by  At The Drive In but thsi was more difficult than I thought it'll be, being in the sticks of the Uk - but Amazon.Uk came up with a bargain priced copy in the last few days. First listen clearly shows the roots of TMV, and I really like the anger (parallels with Tool??), punk vocal delivery and some metaphysical (I think?) lyrics.  You'll find I did one of the reviews onTMV for the Amazon.UK website, drawing the parallels to prog; (appears from the votes subsequently received that not all the population agree with me - but please go there and make your views known !!!).

I still need to check them out. My old roomate had something by them, but I can't really remember. Love the hair though!

I like At The Drive-In! (I once spent a newyears eve screaming along with a friend and my voice was entirely gone next day)

But yeah, Mars Volta... I'll remember now

 

At the drive in were prett damn good. Just annoyed at myself for missing them at reading when they played there several years ago.

On live footage i've seen of them though, you can see a prog side of them coming out, especially in the extended middle eigths, with slightly epic jams being played.

They've got a dub band too, but I can't remember its name.

Have to ask, what do you guiys think of Post-rocks relation to prog?

I do agree that Dream Theater is overrated.

Dream Theater very rarely hit the mark with me. They sound like a band in which all the members are trying to achieve different things within each song, which only occasionally makes for an enjoyable listening experience. Perhaps if they all occasionally pushed in the same direction they'd come up with something quite moving, rather than just 'technically impressive'. And yes, I agree with whoever said that being an ace musician doesn't make you write ace songs.


www.mumrah.com

From what I have heard of Dreamtheatre, I didn't find them particularly interesting, quite detached and emotionless, certainly not what I'm looking for in music.