I have a treat for you today. I have reviewed the entire discography of "The Mars Volta" starting with "De-loused In The Comatorium".
Enjoy...
"De-loused In The Comatorium" (2003) -
RATING: 4.9 out of 5
The debut album from The Mars Volta is stunning to say the least. The band fuses Prog Rock with Jazz and Fusion influences. No one quite has a voice like Cedric. His vocal parts are extremely ear catching and he can hit amazingly high notes. With one of the most epic album openers of all time "Inertiatic ESP", the album opens up with a bang. Cedric shows that he just may be the new generations Robert Plant. Omar's guitar work is very impressive as well. But we also can't forget that Flea is on bass for the entire album. Flea is on fire to say the least. Also, John Frusciante is taking up guitar and synthesizer duties on an unforgettable "Cicatriz ESP". Also to note, this was Jeremy Ward's only album appearance before his death (besides being on the Tremulant EP). He had sound manipulation duties within the band and he helped to make the record sound as psychedelic as it does. From what I know, most of the band were really influenced from drugs (particularly opioids and heroin) during the recording of this album. Heroin ended up leading Jeremy Ward to his death. But the cast on this record is nothing to mess with including Isaiah Owens who is a monster on the entire album with keyboard work. For example, the thunderous organ work on "Drunkship of Lanterns" is just a sample of what Iaiah brings to the table. There isn't another album that sounds like this record. It is it's own being. You can't say that about many albums out there today. The band would go on to make great music in the future, but never an album like this.
"Frances The Mute" (2005) -
RATING: 4.6 out of 5
The album opens up with a face melting "Cygnus...Vismund Cygnus" complete with blazing guitar parts and soulful string arrangements. The first track is yet another epic masterpiece. Next is "The Widow" which was the band's first big single to be played on radio stations across the country. Flea does not play bass on this record, but rather trumpet. He appears on "The Widow" and "Miranda That Ghost Just Isn't Holy Anymore". In his place, taking on bass duties for the band was Juan Alderete live and in the studio. Omar's brother Marcel, makes his debut on percussion for the album, and will continue to do so on every future album. "L'Via L'Viaquez" opens up with John Frusciante's 2nd volta appearance shredding it up. The song carries on the album nicely, and is yet another incredible recording. Going into "Miranda That Ghost Just Isn't Holy Anymore", it is Mars Volta's trippiest song yet. By the time Part B of the tune comes through, we take a trip back into that "Deloused In The Comatorium" sound. Omar is absolutely shredding by the time Part C comes around and the band along with their mini orchestra of violins goes into an epic jam. This album has many hints of the band's first album which is great considering how amazing that album is. The addition of all of the instruments add to the album's genius. "Cassandra Geminni" continues with the band rocking, and Omar goes off into more memorable melody making with his guitar. After slowing down into much sound manipulation and psychedelic effects, the band chooses the epic way out and closes the album and "Cassandra Geminni" with an unforgettable bang. We can say with certainty that this is yet another successful album from The Mars Volta.
"Amputechture" (2006) -
RATING: 2.9 out of 5
"Vicarious Atonement" introduces the album as yet another dark and epic adventure with The Mars Volta. "Tetragrammaton" is the first song to feature the entire band. This includes John Frusciante who makes his 3rd Mars Volta appearence and provides rhythm and lead guitar to most of the album. Paul Hinojos joins the band for the first time on this album proving sound manipulation. "Tetragrammaton" opens up strong but you kind of wonder where the band is going with the song. And when you think it's about to end, there's still 7 minutes left. "Vermicide" brings a track that is similar to "The Widow" but doesn't come close. "Viscera Eyes", the band's single is one of the strongest tracks on the album with a guitar riff that sticks in your head for days and Cedric's haunting vocal melody. "Day Of Baphomets" and "Meccamputechture" provide little boost to the first album from the band that lacks in every aspect. Only crumbs of these songs amount to their past material. "El Ciero Vulnerado" and "Asilos Magdalena" do nothing more than waste space on the album and are full of sound manipulation and pointless shredding by Omar and Frusciante. This album should have been great, but it wasn't. This would be drummer Jon Theodore's last album with the band. Luckily, Volta's next release would have the band reaching the light at the end of the tunnel.
"The Bedlam In Goliath" (2008) -
RATING: 4.2 out of 5
"The Bedlam In Goliath" is the ear candy that I missed on "Amputechture". The first half of the album (all the way through "Cavalettas") is some of the best material this band has ever made, PERIOD. The second half of the album falls short starting with "Agadez" and "Askepios". These two songs don't fit as well on the record as all of the other tunes, and it shows. "Ouroborous" kicks things back up a notch and includes one of many great drum performances from the band's new drummer Thomas Pridgen. He is a monster on the entire album. The ass kicking "Wax Simulcra" won the band "Best Hard Rock Performance" at the 51st Grammy Awards. Other songs such as "Metatron", "Goliath" and "Ilyena" slap you in the face multiple times with blazing guitar riffs, chilling vocals from Cedric, and insanely fast drumming from Pridgen. John Frusciante and Omar Rodriguez show some of their most impressive guitar work to date on this album. Besides a few minor flaws, this record is a great comeback for the band and a huge improvement from "Amputechture".
"Octahedron" (2009) -
RATING: 3.0 out of 5
The band's softest album yet brings many questions to the forefront. Before the album's production started Omar Rodriguez asked Paul Hinojos (sound manipulation/guitar) and Adrián Terrazas-González (saxophone) to leave the band. The reason behind this is not completely known, but supposedly the band wanted a more simple sound. They achieved this with "Octahedron" but I'm not so sure that the band is heading in the right direction. It's not that the album is absolutely terrible but it goes no where fast. "Since We've Been Wrong" already had me wanting to hit next on my ipod. Even though the vocal work and guitars are carrying the song nicely at times, it is way too long. The same goes for "With Twilight As My Guide" and "Luciforms". On the other side of the coin, "Copernicus" is one of the most beautifully haunting Volta songs yet. Cedric nails an impressive vocal part with dreamy harmonies, and Omar accompanies it on guitar wonderfully. "Halo Of Nembutals" has an insanely catchy chorus, while "Cotopaxi" rocks hard.
I will not be including links to The Mars Volta's music for download...specifically because they are still a new group and their material is not difficult to find out there!
I hope you all enjoyed this one!
Mike Coleman
