The Mars Volta appreciation thread

Evans wrote: Am i the only one who kinda feels like the two bookending tracks on Amputechture drag on a bit? Strange, i have no problem whatsoever with the 31 minutes of Cassandra Gemini, but whenever "El ciervo vulnerado" come on i just feel like turning it off and calling it a day. Day of the Baphomets would have been such a great album closer, like Cassandra or Take the veil..

Exactly. That is its only flaw.

moreitsythanyou wrote: Evans wrote: Am i the only one who kinda feels like the two bookending tracks on Amputechture drag on a bit? Strange, i have no problem whatsoever with the 31 minutes of Cassandra Gemini, but whenever "El ciervo vulnerado" come on i just feel like turning it off and calling it a day. Day of the Baphomets would have been such a great album closer, like Cassandra or Take the veil.. Exactly. That is its only flaw.

"Vicarious atonement" may work as a soft start before the crazy Tetragrammation, but when you're finished listening to both De-loused and Frances, you're left with a feeling of "what the f- was that i just heard?" whereas with Amputechture you just... float out of it, it's too merciful! :)

El Ciervo Vulnerado is in my opinion the only bad Mars Volta song ever put on a studio album

 A good and interesting band, based on De-loused, I have to hear their other albums yet.

I'd sooner lose Asilos Magdalena or Vermicide before El Ciervo Vulnerado.. I can't explain why, I just feel it closes the album well. Although, I don't like the album as much as De-Loused or Frances the Mute, which are just amazing. I can't wait to get the new album

I am almost certain The Bedlam in Goliath is going to be their best. All the tracks that have been released from TBiG benefit from MUCH tighter songwriting. I believe Omar might has learned that Rick Rubin was an integral part of the genius of De-loused. Perhaps not a major part, but definitely an integral part. Omar might be gaining experience from having produced numerous albums now (this includes his solo albums).  It's about time.

My expectations are extremely high from these leaked songs. 

I wasn't happy with the songwriting. First song does the same thing for about four minutes, just quiet then loud, quiet then loud. and it's just generally less interesting to me because some of the songs are based around obvious rock riffs. I think it's another album I'll be rewarding two stars, but it still has a month to change my mind.

anyway, Wax Simulacra and Orouboros are good songs. =)

Listening to TBiG for the fourth time since I bought it, and more and more convinced about its worth. It's not an accessible album by any means, but I am quite sure none of us are looking for immediacy from TMV.  My impression is that it takes some time to really get into the album, though repeated listens reveal all of its facets and hidden charms. Based on what I have heard so far, it's a more cohesive album than both FtM and Amputechture. As to comparisons with De-loused..., I don't believe they are fair to either album. DitC was ground-breaking (I call it the blueprint for modern prog), TBiG is more mature and accomplished, but probably not possessed of the same impact.

the best drummer is john theodore, but mars volta as far as i am concern is not that prog, and in their music i feel a sort of dishonesty, but that's just my opinion, and in fact was one of the firs prog related band that i heard, and as soon as you go deep into prog you are enlightened by other amaizing band and you know that the mars volta isn't that big