― del a robbo, Monday, 8 July 2002 00:00 (twenty years ago) link
― daniel, Monday, 8 July 2002 00:00 (twenty years ago) link
― Adam Weiss, Monday, 8 July 2002 00:00 (twenty years ago) link
So I guess I like this band after all. Saw the video for "Wax Simulacra" and holy shit!!! SO good! I wish all their stuff was this melodic (and brief). What else should I search from the discography, not being the most patient, prog-friendly dude?
― If Assholes Could Fly This Place Would Be An Airport, Tuesday, 12 February 2008 15:36 (fifteen years ago) link
Goliath!
― our work is never over, Tuesday, 12 February 2008 15:42 (fifteen years ago) link
not being the most patient, prog-friendly dude?
Uh, pretty much stick with the debut EP and the "Wax Simulacra" single then. Everything else is wanky, progtastic. Honestly though, the new album is pretty good - at least as far as these guys go. The lyrics are still horrifyingly bad, but there's some pretty cool guitar work (haven't figured out yet just how much is thanks to Frusciante) and the drumming is pretty spectacular in parts.
― jon /via/ chi 2.0, Tuesday, 12 February 2008 15:42 (fifteen years ago) link
I saw these guys last month and they kicked all kinds of ass. The songs are generally pretty long but they didn't wear me out live - which is unusual. The drummer was amazing too. It's been a while since i've been to a show where the band put on a bonafied rock show (microphone swinging, scissor kicking, that kind of stuff). My own lameness is mostly to blame for that.
― rat bat bruce, Tuesday, 12 February 2008 16:57 (fifteen years ago) link
I can't stand these guys -- the records (the first two, at least, haven't heard the others) and the live show, both. A friend played 'em for me and it was just torture. Live show was, yes, masturbatory. No other word for it. In a word -- absolutelyfuckingawful.
― stephen, Tuesday, 12 February 2008 22:32 (fifteen years ago) link
New album in June?
http://blog.thecomatorium.com/?p=64
(that's one month after their "El Grupo Nuevo Omar Rodriguez Lopez" album with Hella)
― StanM, Tuesday, 14 April 2009 15:57 (fourteen years ago) link
Can anyone speak up for these guys? I quite liked ATDI and I find the idea of the Mars Volta perpetually intriguing but don't think I've ever heard any of their music. But I'm in a rock mood right now and I'm always down for ludicrous prog self-indulgence. So are any of their records actually worth taking the time to hear?
― puff pastry hangman (admrl), Sunday, 2 January 2011 00:55 (twelve years ago) link
De-loused is worth hearing for comedy value. It's so-bad-it's-good.
― Davek (davek_00), Sunday, 2 January 2011 00:57 (twelve years ago) link
And you can get your 'ludicrous prog self-indulgence' from plenty better, I will say.
― Davek (davek_00), Sunday, 2 January 2011 01:02 (twelve years ago) link
Frances The Mute is genuinely good and exciting, its opening track is the best thing they've done
Amputechture is really underrated - Tetragrammaton is absolutely fucking insane, and great, and 17 minutes long
First album is otoh *OVERrated* and you should probably avoid it, Cicatriz ESP excepted (the longest and conversely easiest-to-listen-to song)
― acoleuthic, Sunday, 2 January 2011 01:02 (twelve years ago) link
Davek's last post is thoroughly OTM though
dolls wreck the minced meat of pupils cast in oblong arms length the hooks have been picking their scabs where wolves hide in the company of men
― Davek (davek_00), Sunday, 2 January 2011 01:05 (twelve years ago) link
haha ok
― puff pastry hangman (admrl), Sunday, 2 January 2011 01:11 (twelve years ago) link
Show me some other good contemporary heavy rock bands. I like QOTSA, for example. And Deftones. Stuff like that
― puff pastry hangman (admrl), Sunday, 2 January 2011 01:12 (twelve years ago) link
admrl, sorry if this is weird/creepy but apparently you went to UCS. Paulatim! I was 2001-2008.
― Davek (davek_00), Sunday, 2 January 2011 01:12 (twelve years ago) link
Oceansize finally get a thread of their own...C/D?Chrome HoofLike Jimi Hendrix Fucking Black Sabbath With King Crimson (New Bushman's Revenge Album On Rune Grammofon)quasi - c/d s/d
^^^all released very good albums last year
― acoleuthic, Sunday, 2 January 2011 01:15 (twelve years ago) link
Rune Gramafon!
No Davek, that's not creepy. I did go to UCS. Quite a while before you though (and for a much shorter time). I hated it, but I hope you had fun!
― puff pastry hangman (admrl), Sunday, 2 January 2011 01:34 (twelve years ago) link
Sorry to hear that you hated it :( It certainly wasn't 100% joy for me..
― Davek (davek_00), Sunday, 2 January 2011 01:36 (twelve years ago) link
Oh it's fine, I made a lot of great friends (still my best friends, in fact) and it was aaaages ago - I left in '96! Now I feel old
― puff pastry hangman (admrl), Sunday, 2 January 2011 01:41 (twelve years ago) link
sorry - 94!!!!
bunch of mars volta threads out there
anyway i like the new album a lot so far
― Whiney vs. (BradNelson), Tuesday, 27 March 2012 19:42 (eleven years ago) link
i think the opener is pretty bad, but the run from dyslexicon thru in absentia is pretty great! in absentia being the highlight of the album for me
― grimes - (the elder scrolls iv:) oblivion (diamonddave85), Tuesday, 27 March 2012 19:48 (eleven years ago) link
probably going to pick this up tonight, i've heard really encouraging things so far. but i'm also a guy who has heard double-digits worth of ORL solo stuff.
― stan this sick bunt (jon /via/ chi 2.0), Tuesday, 27 March 2012 19:55 (eleven years ago) link
so this gets a little goopy toward the end!
but whatever, it's 2012 and i sort of dig a mars volta record
― Whiney vs. (BradNelson), Tuesday, 27 March 2012 21:19 (eleven years ago) link
Mars Volta = officially over. Cedric Bixler Zavala on Twitter tonight:
Thank u 2 all VOLTA fans u deserved more especially after the way u rooted for us on this album. I tried my hardest to keep it going (cont-)
But Bosnian Rainbows was what we all got instead. I can't sit here and pretend any more. I no longer am a member of Mars Volta. (cont-)
I honestly thank all of you for buying our records and coming to our shows. You guys were a blast to play in front of
We could never had done it with out you. My dream was to get us to the point were Jon Theodore and Ikey Owens came back but sadly it's over
Thank u a million times over for ever giving a fuck about our band
For the record I tried my hardest to get a full scale North American tour going for Noctourniquet but Omar did not want to.
I guess a break from mars volta means starting another band and ignoring all the support the fans gave us. I tried my hardest guys
All I can do is move forward with my music and just be happy that mars volta ever happened at all. God Damn we had a blast. Thank u again
I just feel really guilty for not even really saying the truth because a hiatus is just an insult to the fans
To all our fans all over the world thank you for giving a fuck. You all ruled! I don't think ill ever hear a fist full of dollars the same
My record will see the light of day soon and I'm excited because it sounds nothing like my previous endeavors.
And no I'm not joking about any of this, I owe it 2 u guys to all fans to be serious about this
Thank u to all past members who helped Volta along as well. we blasted through like a comet and left our mark!
If u ever see me in person and want to know why I'll tell u my story
Please just be happy that it happened at all remember all the opposition we were met with for just starting a new band back in 2001.
― 誤訳侮辱, Thursday, 24 January 2013 03:39 (ten years ago) link
they're gonna play coachella weekend 2 this year
― puff puff post (uh oh I'm having a fantasy), Thursday, 24 January 2013 06:12 (ten years ago) link
so i guess sparta 'won'
― turds (Hungry4Ass), Thursday, 24 January 2013 18:58 (ten years ago) link
DONE!
― SeanWayne, Thursday, 24 January 2013 18:59 (ten years ago) link
"My dream was to get us to the point were Jon Theodore and Ikey Owens came back"
Jesus, if he knew that was the best lineup he shouldn't have kept going that long.
― This Is Not An ILX Username (LaMonte), Thursday, 24 January 2013 23:40 (ten years ago) link
last track on noctourniquet is one of the best mars volta songs
but i've been listening to the first two sparta records for a week and those things are secretly incredible imo
― emo canon in twee major (BradNelson), Friday, 25 January 2013 00:05 (ten years ago) link
Honestly the very first Mars Volta show I saw w/ a female bassist, Ikey & Jon is still among the best show I've seen. It was basically King Crimson jamming On The Corner in a small club blowing hardcore kids minds. I never really listened to them on record but that show was awesome.
― Oblique Strategies, Friday, 25 January 2013 00:21 (ten years ago) link
really sad, they were great until around 09 or so, but i think they could've made another great record and kept touring until they dropped. i wrote about the first time i saw them: http://www.splicetoday.com/music/the-mars-volta-r-i-p/
― you are my capitalism (spazzmatazz), Monday, 28 January 2013 17:24 (ten years ago) link
http://www.llss.tv/bosnianrainbows.html
― Defund Phil Collins (stevie), Sunday, 20 October 2013 09:09 (nine years ago) link
Interesting piece here: Cedric on why he stopped smoking pot.
― the top man in the language department (誤訳侮辱), Tuesday, 30 June 2015 17:06 (seven years ago) link
answer: "i became a scientologist"
― Cory Sklar, Tuesday, 30 June 2015 17:08 (seven years ago) link
dunno if its upthread but there's a podcast from the last year where cedric talks about the last ATDI usa tour. one of their friends in el paso had terminal cancer and was about to die, so he gave the band and their crew his "death stash" - trunks full of heavy duty opiates. sorta strange considering they still performed like they were made of 100% crack cocaine
― flappy bird, Tuesday, 30 June 2015 18:18 (seven years ago) link
this explains a LOT. i was checking out some of their later albums and i couldn't believe how godawful they sounded. who listens to that mess?
― scott seward, Tuesday, 30 June 2015 18:18 (seven years ago) link
the actual last atdi tour was a dumb reunion where they played coachella and sucked real bad and omar barely moved bcuz his mom just died and cedric was a new scientologist so he was being weird.
― Cory Sklar, Tuesday, 30 June 2015 18:20 (seven years ago) link
i saw them in 2003 or something, cedric's hair was super crazy, it was post-afro when he just let it grow and he was just this shrieking ball of hair onstage, it was very beautiful
― marcos, Tuesday, 30 June 2015 18:25 (seven years ago) link
maybe kind of like this but in my memory it was much longer
http://clubpix.kingsnake.com/data/8248MarsVolta_0254-med.JPG
― marcos, Tuesday, 30 June 2015 18:26 (seven years ago) link
https://www.brooklynvegan.com/the-mars-volta-announces-18-lp-box-set-unreleased-material-included/
full disclosure: I wrote the liner notes for this.
― Ray Cooney as "Crotch" (stevie), Friday, 5 March 2021 08:17 (two years ago) link
Can you explain how they got 18 LPs out of it? They only had six studio albums, five of which would be double LP length, then there's the EP, then an album of outtakes...that only adds up to 13 pieces of vinyl to me.
― but also fuck you (unperson), Friday, 5 March 2021 12:40 (two years ago) link
I've not seen a finished copy yet so I'm not sure, but Deloused was 2LP, Frances The Mute was 3LP (last LP 1-sided with etching on flip side), Amputechture was 2LP, Bedlam was 2LP, Octahedron was 2LP and Noctourniquet was 2LP, so that's 13 LPs, plus one disk for the EP, plus two for Landscape Tantrums, the unreleased first take of Deloused, plus a disk each for Plague and Eunuch, so I think that's how they get to 18LP.
― incredible pant century (stevie), Friday, 5 March 2021 13:30 (two years ago) link
Frances The Mute was 3LP (last LP 1-sided with etching on flip side)
This is interesting to me, because it sounds like they may have added the song "Frances the Mute" to the album proper. Not "spend $500 on a vinyl box set when I don't even own a turntable" interesting, but interesting nonetheless. Congrats on the liner note gig, too, btw. I'd like to write more liner notes myself.
― but also fuck you (unperson), Friday, 5 March 2021 13:40 (two years ago) link
Thanks - I've been doing more and more sleevenotes during lockdown, and they're a lot of fun. The artists actually want to get the stories behind their work on the record, and enjoy the fact they have final word on what reaches the page (and I'm fine with that, tbh), though there isn't a single one of them that hasn't bulldozed through every deadline in sight as the artists prevaricate over the placement of every punctuation mark (and I'm fine with that too, tbh, as I appreciate that level of exactitude).
― incredible pant century (stevie), Friday, 5 March 2021 13:44 (two years ago) link
would buy a TMV book if you fancy expanding it
― imago, Friday, 5 March 2021 14:02 (two years ago) link
watch this space...
― incredible pant century (stevie), Friday, 5 March 2021 14:05 (two years ago) link
Too many tracks unless it's a 3CD set.
― but also fuck you (unperson), Sunday, 24 July 2022 20:22 (ten months ago) link
maybe some tiny times?
― dow, Sunday, 24 July 2022 22:14 (ten months ago) link
It's going to be a full pop album isn't it. Exciting!
― imago, Sunday, 24 July 2022 22:33 (ten months ago) link
Good read, i thought.https://www.theguardian.com/music/2022/aug/12/the-mars-volta-the-most-revolutionary-thing-we-could-do-was-to-make-a-pop-record
― Ned Raggett, Friday, 12 August 2022 12:43 (nine months ago) link
Very much so. Excited!
― ban, buddy (imago), Friday, 12 August 2022 14:10 (nine months ago) link
Looking forward to reading that.
Saw that the running time for the new one is only 44 minutes, isn't that a relative EP for these guys?
― a superficial sheeb of intelligence (jon /via/ chi 2.0), Friday, 12 August 2022 14:36 (nine months ago) link
The songs are short - song-length, you might say. But they are brilliant. It's a wonderful album, the pop album they've been threatening since at least before Octahedron, a really brave record that pays off, big time.
― politics is about vibes and the vibes are off (stevie), Friday, 12 August 2022 15:02 (nine months ago) link
Yeah, I was being flip, I'm still super excited for this record. Just surprised to see the lack of epics on the tracklist.
― a superficial sheeb of intelligence (jon /via/ chi 2.0), Friday, 12 August 2022 15:02 (nine months ago) link
The most revolutionary thing we could do was to make a pop record
haven't read the article yet but god this is such a tired trope
― diamonddave85 (diamonddave85), Friday, 12 August 2022 16:12 (nine months ago) link
You're just questioning true art maaaaaaan.
― Ned Raggett, Friday, 12 August 2022 16:16 (nine months ago) link
"Vinculum in the Cyclosphere Pt. 1 (f. Carly Rae Jepsen)"
― a superficial sheeb of intelligence (jon /via/ chi 2.0), Friday, 12 August 2022 16:49 (nine months ago) link
Would listen. What's some good prog-pop?
― dow, Friday, 12 August 2022 19:01 (nine months ago) link
The most revolutionary thing we could do was to walk in lockstep with all critical trends
― marcel the shell with swag on (Whiney G. Weingarten), Friday, 12 August 2022 19:18 (nine months ago) link
What's some good prog-pop?
― dow, Friday, 12 August 2022 19:01 (nineteen minutes ago) bookmarkflaglink
basically just scour my EOY ballots tbh
― ban, buddy (imago), Friday, 12 August 2022 19:21 (nine months ago) link
As for TMV, whether this is a crass move or an inspired one depends entirely on the execution
― ban, buddy (imago), Friday, 12 August 2022 19:22 (nine months ago) link
― marcel the shell with swag on (Whiney G. Weingarten), Friday, August 12, 2022 3:18 PM (two hours ago) bookmarkflaglink
tough but fair
― Paul Ponzi, Friday, 12 August 2022 21:22 (nine months ago) link
so critical trends=going pop?
― dow, Friday, 12 August 2022 21:52 (nine months ago) link
The Big Time(s)!
New York Times, September 2022. pic.twitter.com/mXgxCflFQh— THE MARS VOLTA (@themarsvolta) September 8, 2022
― dow, Friday, 9 September 2022 01:28 (nine months ago) link
hmmmm
― imago, Friday, 16 September 2022 12:42 (eight months ago) link
neither as bad as some are saying nor as good as i was hoping
the preview songs are generally the stronger moments
― imago, Friday, 16 September 2022 12:43 (eight months ago) link
sure sounds like late-period Beck for something that's about escaping the Church, lads
― imago, Friday, 16 September 2022 12:44 (eight months ago) link
Ominous sign given that I didn't like any of the singles (different from not liking any of the videos; those were great).
― but also fuck you (unperson), Friday, 16 September 2022 14:01 (eight months ago) link
Haven't heard the whole thing yet, but this really seems like it would have been better as a non-TMV album, maybe another Antemasque or something.
― a superficial sheeb of intelligence (jon /via/ chi 2.0), Friday, 16 September 2022 14:45 (eight months ago) link
Yeah, I don't think I needed to hear Cedric Bixler-Zavala sing his usual falsetto nonsense over watered-down alt-R&B. I don't think *anyone* needed to hear that, frankly.
― but also fuck you (unperson), Friday, 16 September 2022 15:08 (eight months ago) link
i dig this
― flamenco drop (BradNelson), Saturday, 17 September 2022 14:36 (eight months ago) link
i did not know travis barker was briefly in antemasque, that is a completely baffling combination that i can only imagine would have resulted in the worst music ever? idk
― ufo, Saturday, 17 September 2022 15:44 (eight months ago) link
amputechture is their best album y/y?
― STOCK FIST-PUMPER BRAD (BradNelson), Tuesday, November 9, 2021 2:09 PM (ten months ago) bookmarkflaglink
god i'm so fucking right
― flamenco drop (BradNelson), Monday, 19 September 2022 22:07 (eight months ago) link
I don't hate this new one? It's a big departure, but also not? It almost sounds like short form pop songs made out of those brief linking interludes from their old prog epics.
― a superficial sheeb of intelligence (jon /via/ chi 2.0), Thursday, 6 October 2022 20:07 (eight months ago) link
The more I listen to it, the more I kinda love it
― Paul Ponzi, Thursday, 6 October 2022 21:26 (eight months ago) link
It's my favourite album of the year. The YouTubes I've seen from the show have been great, too. Cedric's voice is really strong, and deft.
― politics is about vibes and the vibes are off (stevie), Thursday, 6 October 2022 22:09 (eight months ago) link
I've been surprised to see how few songs off the new album they've been playing. I mean, I get it, but I figured they might give it more airtime.
― a superficial sheeb of intelligence (jon /via/ chi 2.0), Thursday, 6 October 2022 22:11 (eight months ago) link
album is actually very very good
― flamenco drop (BradNelson), Saturday, 31 December 2022 05:34 (five months ago) link
an album of jagged art-rock miniatures
― flamenco drop (BradNelson), Saturday, 31 December 2022 05:41 (five months ago) link
def the most interesting thing they've made since the first three records
new record didn't immediately grab me but the clips I've seen of the live shows definitely sold me on it, very good indeed, kind of regret not taking a road trip to Seattle to hear it in person, have seen them twice before in sports arenas and I think a theater is definitely where you want to be for a mars volta show
― Florin Cuchares, Saturday, 31 December 2022 07:25 (five months ago) link
my favourite album of 2022. Vigil is a stunning song.
― his cartoon heart expands, then he relaxes by smoking crack (stevie), Sunday, 1 January 2023 17:38 (five months ago) link
Huge fan of the first three Mars Volta albums. The new one makes a strong EP. Still have some great memories from the De-Loused and Frances tours back in the day.
― I can't tell if he's trolling or not (ilxor), Wednesday, 4 January 2023 04:20 (five months ago) link
havent listent to this group since bedlam but this new one is great, and very different, like a more rockin dirty projectors idk
― im a beacon of light (Spottie), Friday, 6 January 2023 07:39 (five months ago) link
So an acoustic version of the new album came out today and...nobody gives a shit?
― but also fuck you (unperson), Saturday, 22 April 2023 03:27 (one month ago) link
Oh, I didn't know it was out - it's excellent, though.
― dicbo=v2-ubswizzb&hrt (stevie), Saturday, 22 April 2023 18:55 (one month ago) link
Lots of albums come out and people don't give a shit about most of them. I'll check it out though
― change display name (Jordan), Saturday, 22 April 2023 20:38 (one month ago) link
Lots of albums come out and people don't give a shit about most of them.
True, but there were no reviews posted on any of the major music sites. Brief news items back in March when the album was announced, but this week, nothing. Seemed surprising to me.
― but also fuck you (unperson), Saturday, 22 April 2023 23:13 (one month ago) link
it’s an acoustic version of a record that already came out
sometimes these get covered and sometimes they don’t idk, i’m not particularly interested
― flamenco drop (BradNelson), Saturday, 22 April 2023 23:40 (one month ago) link
Thanks for the head's up on this. I really liked the album and had no idea they'd released an acoustic version. Listening now and it sounds exactly like you'd expect, but it's also really nice to hear the songs in this context.
Whoever's doing PR on this is sleeping on the job. I guess it got lost in the shuffle of Record Store Day. Incidentally, I just learned there was also a Mars Volta RSD release (not this).
― Paul Ponzi, Monday, 24 April 2023 20:05 (one month ago) link
I forgot this was coming out, but tbh it's not exactly near the top of my "must check out" list and I even say that as someone who has everything else they've put out.
― Maxmillion D. Boosted (jon /via/ chi 2.0), Monday, 24 April 2023 20:07 (one month ago) link
Ok so the new album. There's moments of greatness for sure, but my main gripes are:
Too much Cedric. The dude never stops singing the whole goddamn things. There barely any breathing space. No air. It's just a guy singing at me nonstop.
Not enough Omar. There are like no guitars on the thing. I like guitars and stuff.
Won't be returning to it very often. Last song might be my fav tho.
― kurt schwitterz, Tuesday, 25 April 2023 01:14 (one month ago) link
ok i take it back, i had no idea this acoustic version of the s/t would be jazz volta!!! it’s gorgeous
― flamenco drop (BradNelson), Tuesday, 2 May 2023 13:28 (one month ago) link
huh, well Brad's endorsement certainly has my more curious than anything else I've read about it so far...
― Maxmillion D. Boosted (jon /via/ chi 2.0), Tuesday, 2 May 2023 13:47 (one month ago) link
It's great. Omar took spare takes of Cedric's vocals to Puerto Rico after finishing the s/t album, ten reorchestrated them for acoustic instruments, setting them to specific Latin rhythms. It's subtly ambitious - Omar's roots in tradition Latin music have been at the heart of all TMV's stuff, and have only become more explicit in recent years, and this album is a triumph in that particular mission. He told me he sees it as being a quietly political album, too. They're some of my favourite TMV songs, and these versions are excellent.
― dicbo=v2-ubswizzb&hrt (stevie), Tuesday, 2 May 2023 15:56 (one month ago) link
great, the same album in completely different arrangements is gonna be in my top five of the year two years in a row
― flamenco drop (BradNelson), Thursday, 18 May 2023 22:12 (three weeks ago) link