Five Star: A look at albums
that are so good that they impress even the most cynical of critics. Very
few albums are superior enough to obtain a five star rating but occasionally
a band slips through the river of mediocrity that is the modern music industry
and they produce an album that restores our faith in the future of rock!
This series is a look at such albums.
Once upon a time, a great sense of conformity
befell a community of people who despite many differences shared a common
bond in the interest of music. This sense cursed most of the community,
sickening them with a fathomless cynicism so far reaching that there was
no cure. So spoke the victims of this hellish condition "There is no music
that is boundless or free; we are doomed to a lifetime of repetition and
trend-following musical arts that bore and exhaust us." Some of these unfortunates
even dared to say "this curse is so great; soon we will lose all interest
in music itself!" Those lucky enough to not be burdened with the plague
of musical boredom looked far and wide for a cure; it took a while, but
eventually it was found. It was the serum known as The Mars Volta.
I went a bit biblical with the intro to
this review as to many ignorant people who I have heard speak about my
single greatest life passion, music, that music is never again going to
be interesting, innovative, or exciting. It really is that serious. But
it needn't be ever again. I've always been a fan of bands that push boundaries
be they in any genre (I've spent the last week divulging in The Mars Volta,
Meshuggah, and Enslaved, a pretty odd crowd) and I always tell those cynical
music fans out there that with a little looking, you can find almost anything
appealing and fresh at the same time. After hearing the follow-up to the
genre-bending conglomerate that was The Mars Volta's debut, De-Loused
in the Comatorium, I can safely say without any doubt that a person
hearing this album can never mock music's eternal soul ever again.
Call me a fanatic, but music has a quality
to it that should inspire fervent worship in it's amazing power to do just
about anything. Rock has torn down Iron Curtains, scared entire societies
of "free-minded people" (thus exposing their very hypocrisies) and done
the greatest thing of all, change human minds to think in a different light.
On Frances the Mute, the Mars Volta
take every known (or maybe even unknown) musical genre, perfect it, and
than mix it without effort into a concoction that is cohesive yet barely
contained. To make things even more mind-blowing, the Mars Volta wrap this
insane musical style around a concept album, a sort of surrealist parody
of the life events of former programmer/keyboardist Jeremy Ward, who died
shortly after the band's first release. Ward had once found an odd diary
that detailed an unnamed person's life, and strangely it was very similar
to his own; both were adopted and never knew their real parents. On Frances,
the TMV crafts what is in my mind a space-rock opera, an intergalactic
ghost story within a ghost story. A lost soul's memory is found by a man,
and the man's soul is channeled by the people who
loved him, fueling their lives through their loss.
Something is definitely possessing the
TMV on this album for sure. "Cygnus....Vismund Cygnus" introduces the story's
protagonist (with an amusing Bond reference) and some spacey folk rock.
What explodes next is a trippy funk beast with dripping guitar solos and
fiery bass lines. The 13 minute tune also eclipses an amazing lo-fi guitar
jam, ambient washes of peaceful bliss for frontman Cedric Bixler Zavala's
vocals, and even a growing string arrangement with violins.
"The Widow" is a morose ballad for the
Internet Age, and again Omar A. Rodriguez-Lopez's spacey guitaring totally
blows some neurons. "L'Via l'Viaquez" is the height of the power of a confident
Mars Volta. On this 12 and a half minute freak-out there are innumerable
arena rock solos, bilingual (Spanish-English) vocals, and (I kid you not)
keyboard laden salsa breakdowns.
"L'via" is easily one of the best songs
I have heard in the last six months, and maybe ever. "Miranda, that Ghost
Just Isn't Holy Anymore" is another 13+ minute opus that starts with minimal
samples and soon leads a sinister and brooding song that will drop some
jaws. It's as if the spacey rock of previous TMV efforts channeled the
lifeform of E.T. and now it's transformed into the acid-spewing Alien,
hunting marines in a dark spaceship lost in the stars. The half hour epitome
of genius is "Cassandra Gemini", which encompasses (among too many things
to list) a sneering set of vocals from Zavala, voice box effects, jazzy
flutes and noir guitar work, and a favorite of mine that I will describe
as a piano being pushed down the stairs with an ambient guitar into the
umbra reaches of a black hole. Let's not also forget enough crazy brass
section solos to make Mr. Bungle crap their pants.
In conclusion, this is what happens when
a group of people decide to do whatever they damn well please, even if
it is pushing a piano into outer space with electronic salsa grooves in
the background. The TMV has created a genre so ahead of its time (and I
honestly believe this album has that much "classic" potential) that it
is literally impossible to define it in current titles or phrases. Let
me be the first to coin a new genre then, and I shall christen the sound
"Cerebal Spectre Rock." Like a ghost haunting one's brainstem, the Mars
Volta will make you think, feel, and most importantly, wonder if this is
the boundary that no one else can surpass. Let's just say I can't wait
till Frances The Mute is no longer the ghost of TMV present and
rather the ghost of TMV past; clearly whatever is coming next will blow
all of our minds.
More Info
The Mars
Volta - Frances The Mute
Rating:
(should be 6 stars)
Track Listing:
1. Cygnus...Vismund Cygnus a) Sacrophagi b) Umbilical
Syllables c) Facilis
Descenus Averni d) Con Safo 2. The Widow 3. L'via L'Viaquez 4. Miranda That Ghost Just Ain't Holy
Anymore a) Vade Mecum b) Pour Another
Icepick c) Pisacis
(Phra-Men-Ma) d) Con Safo 5. Cassandra Geminni a) Tarantism b) Plant a
Nail in the Navel Stream c) Famine
Pulse d) Multiple
Spouse Wounds e) Sarcophagi
author's note: Many of the Frances tunes
include "sub-chapters" to each song. The sub-chapters have been listed
for your reading pleasure.
Posted by SMITTY:
THE SINGLE BEST GUITAR PERFORMANCE ON AN ALBUM IVE EVER HEARD
Posted by ciuco:
MOCCA OH!!!..I need lyricsss-sissi!!..the first musical book, but i needd these f++++g! lyrics to understand everything!!!..anyway BELLISSIMO!!!
Posted by spell checker:
Cerebal should be cerebral and saying: "the TMV" makes no sense, T=The M=Mars V=Volta. Other than that, the review is right on. FTM is easily the best album of '05 up to this point. De-loused was great but Frances is much more complex. And for the guy that is annoyed because of the sounds in between the tracks, get into the story of the album and discover how they make perfect sense or go back to listening to crap music.
Posted by Claire:
F**king awesome.... musically perfect.
Posted by Claire:
F**king awesome.... musically perfect.
Posted by Steve:
If Frances is a five star and should be six, then Deloused in the Comatorium is a seven and should be an eight. Classics? Not yet. Masterpieces? Without a doubt. Keep it up TMV, you guys are saving rock n' roll!
Posted by Cerpin Taxt:
This was the first TMV album I bought. I went out completely on a whim and bought it just on my friend's recommendation (I'm normally the one recommending the music to people, so I was a bit stubborn about this band at first). As soon as I got home I put this album in, and within the first four minutes of "Cygnus...Vismund Cygnus" I knew that good things will be coming from this band in the future. This is in my top three favorite albums of all time, spanning all genres of music. Omar is an AMAZING guitar player, Juan plays some of the funkiest bass lines I've ever heard, Ikey just completely wails on the keys, Jon plays the drums better than an octopus on speed, and Cedric, where should I begin? His voice trancesnds higher than the stratosphere, hitting notes that I didn't know were possible for men to sing. This album is INCREDIBLE. I personally would give it at least a seven out of five stars. The only way the album could be improved was if it were put on a [hypothetical] 100+ minute CD and they then added the title track "Frances the Mute" (found on the single for The Widow). If they did that I would pay nearly any price to buy it, even though I already have this album and The Widow single. AMAZING!
Posted by Spotted Owl Eater:
This, my friends, picks up where rock left off. Nothing has sounded this good since Moving Pictures.
I once again am thrilled by music. Thank you TMV!
Posted by right:
who cares how many songs it has. if they called the whole thing one big song, which they could, the music would be the same and it would still be unbelievable.
Posted by jose' corbett:
I saw them live! i have all the cds. I got all my friends to listin to them... they will go don in history!!! thats for sure.
Posted by jojo prat-soto:
I think that they are by far one of the best if not the best bands ever
Posted by blown away:
unbelievable
best album ive heard in a while
its so big.
Posted by Frosty the Sasquatch:
Sorry, I'm a stoner. Cedric wails, Omar whales on guitar.
Posted by Frosty the Sasquatch:
My first experience with TMV was when I was in a music store (I think it was an HMV, but I can't remember) and I happened-chance upon this album in the punk section. I had heard about them from a friend of mine who told me to check out "Deloused," so I asked the clerk to put it on for me. The first track was nice and trippy, but nothing too impressive. Then Omar launched into "NOW I'M LO-O-OO-OST!" and I knew that I had to have this album. Since then, it's been one of the albums I've listened to the most and I still get the jibblies whenever I hear that incredible wailing. Some of the notes he sings can only be heard by dogs. If they come anywhere in Canada, I am so going to go see them.
Posted by Men:
AMAZING is the only way to put it . . . smoke a bit, turn off the lights and crank this album . . you'll be taken to another world.
Posted by gherard:
its a very good band greats songs and beatiful,,,,,, buena banda vengan a mexico homs
Posted by RISS:
IF I EVER GET THE CHANCE TO MEET THIS AMAZING GROUP I WOULD JUST LIKE TO TELL THEM "THANK YOU" FOR BEING SUCH FREE MINDED INDIVIDUALS THAT CREATE TRUE ART FOR THE EARS. THEY PAINT A STORY WITH SUBLIMINAL WAILS AND UNCHAINED RIFFS. ALSO THOSE WHO HAVE OVER COME BAD DRUG ADDICTIONS CAN REALLY RELATE TO THE MEANING OF THE STORY BEHIND THOSE FRACTURED BEATS AND DYSFUNCTIONAL LYRICS
Posted by CRAZY:
IM MORE OF A HIP HOP GIRL BUT WHEN I MOVED TO HEMET STARTED HANGING OUT WITH A NEW CROWD THATS ALL THEY DREAMED WAS MARS VOLTA THEN GOT ME LISTNING TO IT AND ITS TRULY SOME GREAT MUSIC SOMETIMES WHEN I LISTEN TO IT CAUSE I SPACE OUT A LOT BUT WHEN IM LISTING TO IT I GO INT A DEEP SPACEOUT WHICH IS BEYOND CRAZY
Posted by Robby Z :
yea definately..frances the mute is a sick album and i also highly recomend deloused in the comatorium. and if your really into it your should definately consider seeing them live because they just may put on the best shows ever. from their trippy light shows and crazy backdrops i can assure you you'll be amazed...not to mention the fact that their shows are never the same because its half improv and they just jam non stop from beggining to end...TMV is something to look into.
Posted by whatever:
The mars volta are great, they're introducing extreme and risky blends of sounds and creating f*ck-high energy. Is there a problem with less lyrics and more music Pietro? If you're a music fan, you should understand that feelings can be expressed by music too, not just words. I listen to many genres because music doesn't recede in only one, and this band caught my attention. Looking forward to the next album.
(and why the hell is everyone getting worked up?)
Posted by lifeisinmotion@hotmail.com:
Some of you people seem to have only listened to the last ten years of rock music. This is rather unfortunate as these years have been rather dull. Paul Minot is right, but he might be on his own here. All of you ignorants who complain there are only 5 songs on this album (especially this guy known as the comatorium) obviously have not heard Yes' "Close To The Edge" and "Relayer", Godspeed You Black Emperor's "Lift YR Skinny Fists Like Antennas To Heaven" and many others. Pull yr heads in, do you want to be paying for the silence between chapters? Go listen to Close To The Edge. Now.
Posted by Cass:
well i love mars and they dont have a label. so you really shouldnt compare them to someone and expect them to sound like (blank). no labeling here, just music, just sounds, lyrics noise, and meaning. this makes wonderful music, and without them, i wouldnt have ever seen it that way.
Posted by Ferg:
I bought the album after I heard a few reviews saying that they're really progressive and are pushing the boundries heaps. I must admit though that reading these reviews made me a little dissapointed with the album as a whole. I'm a big fan of progressive music and this comes close but unfortunately falls short. Take a look at radiohead's albums, each album is completely different. I'm not saying that the Mars Volta have to be like radiohead or anything it's just that thats what I expect from a band that's been marketed as progressive. The songs are good and are mixed very well but once again, when I hear that 'the widow' is the only thing to at least come close to being radio friendly I am again let down. Don't get me wrong, I think the widow is an awesome track but how much more radio friendly can you get, It's just not that extreme. I like the Mars Volta for what they are, not what they're thought of to be. They are a good tight band that push the boundaries, unfortunately for them, no further than anyone else out there.
Posted by stature:
THE BEST THING SINCE SLICED BREAD. THE MARS VOLTA IS BETTER THAN SEX
Posted by Dan:
the amount they are better than "ordinary" music is the same amount that seeing them live is better than thier recorded material..haha huh what?...just go see them live, take acid, see god.
Posted by rr:
I am 42 years old -- and I think this band is one of the freshest sounds I have heard in years. I appreciate the 'mezcla' of Zeppelin, Santana, Black Sabbath, salsa, acid, rock , you name it. I have to say that L'Via has got to be one of my favorite songs of all time -- maybe it is because I am bilingual and can appreciate the lyrics in both Spanish and English. I really like how all the styles come together in one song. Also, the mysterious metaphors employed in the lyrics make it super interesting.
Posted by steven soapppp:
all i did was listen to classic rock because i hated everything that was on t.v. i have to say that this band saved my life and are the most talented bands in over ten years
Posted by Good Guy:
Well i guss i dont understand music thean i just found it pretentious and unintresting.
Posted by ionlydieeveryday:
Any one who does not like this album not only do they not understand the mars volta they dont understand music. There is not one thing wrong with this album.Theres not to much filler and nosies. Like omar has said this album is made to be listen to whole, the singles are just trailers. For those who say they dont like the widow because its to normal or its to radio freindly you also know nothing. it goes well with the album helps tell the story. Ditc was a amazing album. up until ftm it was my favorite but when you listen back to tremulent than to ditc now ftm you hear progression and you hear mauterity (not sure about that spelling). This band is one of the greastest ever.I think its ashame because they may never get the reconition the truley deserve. This band has the potential to change the face of music for ever...
Posted by ionlydieeveryday:
Any one who does not like this album not only do they not understand the mars volta they dont understand music. There is not one thing wrong with this album.Theres not to much filler and nosies. Like omar has said this album is made to be listen to whole, the singles are just trailers. For those who say they dont like the widow because its to normal or its to radio freindly you also know nothing. it goes well with the album helps tell the story. Ditc was a amazing album up until this one my favorite but when you listen back to tremulent than to ditc now ftm you hear progression and you hear mauterity (not sure about that spelling). This band is one of the greastest ever.I think its ashame because they may never get the reconition the truley deserve. This band has the potential to change the face of music for ever...
Posted by Eric:
Pietro you are stupid. The Mars Volta are flawless...nothing bad about them at all.
Posted by Eric:
The Mars Volta is by far the best band ever.
Posted by Jeremy:
Frances the Mute is an exceptional album. While I dislike The Widow mainly because it's too main stream and normal, all of the songs tell the story with such style that is unforgetable. I can't wait till I hear Frances the Mute and their next albums to come!
Posted by crazyk:
i think that the widow is a awsome song i thought that it was self expanitory
Posted by funkmedic:
I must say that this album is a breath of fresh air in this stale age of music. I have never heard of TMV before , and for some reason they remind me of the LEGITIMAte offspring of PINK FLOYD and RUSH in their heyday. The drippy psychedelics, the operatic type storyline are intermeshed, with the added bonus of some spanish DNA for good measure. I cannot get enough of this album, and hope that maybe I will be fully able to understand the albums mission here on earth. Man did this album trip my head out!
Posted by ralph:
you all think too much and that's a problem. define, delete, rewrite, re-name, complain, insane. just listen to the music. the vibrations to your ear.
Posted by Sigmasyncratic:
i think both albums are great i can't even pick the one i like better. they're both awsome. people who don't like the fillers are crazy
Posted by TheGoldenWalrus:
what can I say about the album? I'm so happy that something absolutly different has envolved into this sad music industry. Yeah At The Drive-in broke up but man where would they be headed right now? After hearing Catocombs and Extracurricular, I found out a great reason why Cedric and Omar called it the quits. The two songs were nothing but screams (which I still love the songs) and didn't seem to point them in a good direction. Relationship was an amazing album and my favorite probally even though Acrobat Tenement was a close favorite also for me. So back to The Mars Volta. There Ep was awesome and Concertina is still my favorite song from them and I hope they play it when I see them at the Electric Factory. Miranda's Ghost is so beautiful especially with Fleas beautiful Trumpet part in which by the way I respect Flea so much more now even though I always loved him. Of course I love the half spanish half english L'via and I love chilling to Ikey's piano solo at the end. Also people critisze the weird sounds and effects they use to bridge the songs together. I think it was a brilliant idea. It simply keeps you listening. And of course theirs cassandra. This is the best long song I have ever heard (over 10 minutes). Its a masterpiece and the way they end the album just shows you that more will come from the mars volta. Juan is one of the better base players I've heard in a long time. How does he keep that band together because he does it so well while Omar is going off in his own world and Ikey is whaling away on the keyboards. Oh and its also nice to hear a drummer that can play as fast as John does. That bass breakdown that Juan does is also amazing and Ikey puts the perfect organ sound. People say the next Led Zepelin, I say even more than that. So much more to say buit Im sure you stopped after you saw how long this revie was. Finally theres a band that breaks out like (my favoite band of all time) Pearl Jam, Nirvana and SoundGarden did.
Posted by diane:
Alright, my first comment is personaly aimed at "yakineko 22" fist of all you shouldn't even call yourself a mars volta fan if you don't even understand their music or TMV. i was extremely shocked when you said frances has "too much fluff and instrumental filler and not nearly enough songs" and the icing on the cake was the "crap in beetween" are you musically challenged? Let me tell you something, Frances was like a movie. when you watch a movie you don't skip through all the "boring" parts and get right to the orgasm action scene. to fully understand the movie you have to pay attention to every single detail to better understand and to get a better feeling of it. it's like Omar said, every single sound means something.You think cedric and omar just added those fancy instruments in there because it sounds cool? No! they had "instrumental filler" because it is part of the story they are telling.so please don't call ANY part of Frances "crap". And please don't put your two cents on anything you don't understand.Oh, and one more thing, Frances dosen't need any more songs or more vocals.it is all around perfect just the way it is, so do yourself a favor and turn on your radio for a quick fix because you can't handle real music.
Posted by Mark:
It is surely awesome to see a fairly young band like TMV connecting to people who have been lucky enough to live the age of the original prog bands, or people like myself not blessed with such luck and looking for stuff almost as worthy....long live the TMM!
Posted by paul minot:
As an old prog head, and an old punk rocker, let me just say it's wonderful to see TMV single-handedly reviving the idea that adventurous musicianship is sexy. I haven't heard Deloused yet, but I'm quite sure I'll love it, because these guys are simply bitching Artists.
A bit of advice to younger listeners. You guys are new to this kind of music, but in the '70s we learned how to assimilate it. First, you let the artists be themselves. Self-indulgence is only wrong when it's lazy. There is absolutely nothing that TMV is doing on "Frances" that is lazy, believe me.
Secondly, the album you initially hate (especially the followup to the one you already love) often turns out to be one you love later. When an artist is diving this deep, they're on their own. They know better than you do--that's why they make their music and you don't--and you may just need some time to catch up with their vision. Albums that are just "too much" may someday be just fine. Believe me.
Oh yeah, old prog bands that TMV remind me of: Can, Led Zep, Yes (except much better--more testicles), Quiet Sun (a fusionesque jam band with Latin tinged guitar from Phil Manzanera), Gong at their spaciest.
At 49 years old, TMV are my new heroes. Can't wait to get their other stuff.
Posted by the voice of reason:
I think that, when most people defend the debut over this album they see the first album as being much more focused. It had a central theme, and a personal one as well (suicide) that spoke directly and truthfully. Also, the sonic landscapes seemed nothing short of revolutionary, especially for the genre, and the fact that it melded together so perfectly. This wasn't a haphazard experiment, waiting for someone else to gome along and perfect it. It was a masterpiece work in a style (indie-prog) that had never been tried been done before. What many people seem to take away from this album is more of the same, except less focused. For all the brilliance of the solos (and yes, i do think they are brilliant) Mars Volta seem to have essentially done the bigger is better formula. The revolutionary spirit of the first record isn't present, and neither is the focus. Instead, we are treated to more jam session, less songwriting, the latter of which proved to be the backbone of "Deloused".
Posted by muisc:
I love the jamming part of the album! It's insane! Omar is an amazing guitarist, and the bassist is incredible!!! Did anyone listen to the bass solo at around 5:50 seconds on part 4 (track 8) of Cassandra Geminni. It is mindblowing. It seriously remind me early Cliff Burton. Brilliant album, simply brilliant. Oh, and good on em for getting 4rth slot on the Billboard chart this week. Not that it matters, but it is relieving to see some good rock on the charts for once!
Posted by Mark:
Sorry Floss....in no means was it intended to diss Mr. Bungle...just to point out Mars Volta has a decent amount of brass on this album. Just for the record I think Bungle (and pretty much all Patton outfits) rules. Sorry if that sounded like I was mocking them...Bungle is the coolest.
Posted by Floss:
One thing I highly disagree with from the article is the Bungle diss. Mr. Bungle is life, respect life.
Posted by Floss:
Everyone here that thinks the debut album is better than this, they are insane. Don't get me wrong, I love Deloused, but this album is absolutely perfect. I cannot even imagine their next album, they are only going to get better.
Posted by dC:
man you guys saying you want more songs sounds like you guys worship radio and singles. As a musician that has played guitar for 12 years I agree with omar and mark when they said why space out the chapters, inbetween what you call "songs" are still songs but filled with amazing and genre bending guitar, drum, vocal, and string work that I have ever heard.....10 stars screw 5
Posted by pietro:
There is no denying that TMV is amazingly talented and innovative...deloused changed my life..however, i hate to say it but i fear that TMV sound is entering the "jam band" cliche...no doubt their instrumentals are amazing but i think more vocals would have favorably changed frances for me...
Posted by the comatorium:
Well technically Frances The Mute is an EP is disguise. 5 songs is not a full LP no matter how long each song is. (So the band split the last 32 minute song into 8 tracks *sigh*). And so as an EP, this is by far the best. But an album? Well despite almost twice as much time as anything mainstream, it still falls short for The Mars Volta - because expectations are much higher for an almost flawless debut album.
Posted by Jeremy Miller:
I was first introduced to such a sparatic genre when one of my friends gave me a life changing CD know as "De Loused in the Comotorium" some of the guitar riffs, solos, and sounds that were sung through the screaming steal strings of beauty defined absolute chaos, and it was like a breath of fresh air. i thought i had heard the greatest thing in my life but i soon found myself highly anticipating the release of a new salvation of music "Frances the mute" it was everything i had ever hoped for and more. The first time i listened to it it scared me, the second time it humbled me, and the third time it opened my eyes "these guys are true musical artist who have far surpassed the boundaries of anything on earth that is refered to as music" Frances the mute is by far the best musical masterpiece eer released and i think it deserves the highest rating possible.
Posted by cdwillis:
Frances the Mute is good, but it would be better if they actually made the five songs into songs, not just long jams. The album could easily have been 10-15 tracks, which would have made it much better.In my opinion Frances the Mute is a good album, but Deloused in the Comatorium is much better.
Posted by Mark:
All that boring instrumental filler sounds alot like jamming guitar solos, drum beats, wicked samples/electronica, and sometimes a brass/strings section. I kinda like it. Anyone else?
Posted by muisc:
It needs more songs? Its 75 minutes long! How can it need more songs? The reason they only put 5 songs on the album is because Omar said "silence in between songs are a waste of time, and they bore me." So instead of having 15 songs on the CD (sepreating the chapters there are 15 songs) They fill the spaces and only have 5 songs! Now that is genious!
Posted by doingsomeone_ele'scocaine:
i agree, they are both good albums, just the debut sounds alittle better...still a masterful album
Posted by yakineko22:
I disagree. I think their debut was much better. This album has too much fluff and insturmental filler and not nearly enough songs. Don't get me wrong, when there actually ARE songs it's great, but it's the crap inbetween that makes it a bore to listen to.
Posted by tmv_02:
the mars volta rule
frances the mute is a fantastic album, worthy more than 6 stars...
recommended for everyone
