Mars Volta "Bedlam in the Goliath" insights

[amos]

I want to preface this by saying I am not a huge At the drive-in or Mars Volta Fan. At the drive-in's "Relationship of Command" I thought was a great post-punk album. The percussion on "De-loused in the Comatorium" blew me away the first time I heard it, but could only take so much of it before I got sick of Mars Volta, and stopped listening to them... for a several years in fact. I did not care for "Frances the Mute" and thus skipped over "Amputechture".

Which brings me up to the present: "Bedlam in the Goliath" dropped last Tuesday. I effing love it. I really think it is their most cohesive work yet, as good if not better than De-loused. Like all Mars Volta, it gets to be a bit much. This is the reason why I take neo-prog or prog-metal bands like Mars Volta or Tool in small doses. I consider Lateralus a masterpiece, but I avoid listening to it too much for this reason. "Excessive" would probably how most of the trendy indie zines (Pitchfork; Popmatters; etc.) describe their sound. They aren't far off. It's just matter of whether or not you can get over the fact that it's excessive neo-prog freakout jams, with lots of crazy effects and drug inflected lyrics. Another fantastically entertaining gem regarding their new album is the story about the ouija board from Jerusalem that "cursed" the entire production of the album and gave the band bad-luck for a good while. They used this as inspiration for the bizarre lyricism found throughout the album. Thumbs up.

Bonus tracks: Wikipedia lists all the bonus tracks and b-sides (Including an awesome Nick Drake cover as well as a Pink Floyd cover) that are spread throughout different international and vinyl releases. Most private bit-torrent trackers have an album up with all of these songs amalgamated into one torrent. All the b-sides are covers, and from what I've heard, are all incredible.

If you are a Mars Volta fan, or even if you have never heard their music, I highly recommend this one folks. I understand why people do not like Mars Volta. After listening the crap out of "De-loused in the Comatorium" I had no interest in Mars Volta for a couple years. This album has got me back into the band in a big way.


At the drive-in / Fugazi fans: Check out Sparta. While Omar and Cedric formed Mars Volta, the rest of At the Drive-In became "Sparta" which is kinda post-hardcore/emo band(in the fugazi sense; not the bs pop-emo sense). Their 2004 release, "Porcelain" has some great tracks on it.

Mars Volta fans: Check out Battles if you haven't already. The album is called "Mirrored"; it made quite a few top 10 lists at the end of 2007. It's one of my favorite albums at the moment.

I sure wish I had money to go to Coachella.
Who wants to carpool?

Regards,
-Dave

[TheEmptyCell]

I'm sad to say I haven't gotten a copy yet, but I've heard most of the songs. I think once I give it a solid listen, I'll be able to say for certain, but I might be inclined at the moment to say it's better than Frances the Mute. I love TMV, Frances being my favorite of their albums, and Amputechture being my least. I'd be interested to hear their covers.

Anything good from the bassist, Juan?

[Valerus]

I've listened to like half of it already and I think it's pretty good. I like their stuff.

[bassaficionado6]

This is actually a pretty amazing album. Juan is on fire, along with every other member. Unlike some of the other albums it doesn't have giant spaces of times of ambience, however I love all their stuff!

[jollygiantchris]

YES THIS ALBUM IS ****ING AMAZING!!! I must say this is by far their best album its extremely consistent, the songwriting is great, and the band is tight as hell. This is one of the few albums that I can listen to without skipping any tracks and sit and listen to in its entirety. Hell to give you an idea of how much I like this album I was gonna say X is my favorite track and I couldn't pick one

Basswise, however, the line in Agadez is my favorite just has a great weird vibe to it.

[Brad Barker]

i try to listen to at least most of it every day since i got it last friday. very great songwriting, on the whole. the length is a bit much, especially when there are one or two songs that aren't very memorable.

and i think it's taken me the fewest number of listens to partially have something resembling an idea about what each song is about.

[Deluge Of Sound]

Originally Posted by amos

Mars Volta fans: Check out Battles if you haven't already. The album is called "Mirrored"; it made quite a few top 10 lists at the end of 2007. It's one of my favorite albums at the moment.

I sure wish I had money to go to Coachella.
Who wants to carpool?

Regards,
-Dave

Battles is great, but how on earth could you dislike Frances???

[amos]

Originally Posted by Deluge Of Sound

Battles is great, but how on earth could you dislike Frances???

To be honest, I never really gave Frances The Mute a chance. I plan on giving it another listen.

[palm grease]

im a huge TMV fan! the album is a masterpiece! Juan is a monster! not to mention the new drummer Thomas D???????......

Amputecture is one of my faves of theirs! John "Fro-Plenty's" voice is loud n clear! But man, Bedlam is un-worldly!

[Figjam]

Great album. Havent listened to it enough yet to give a detailed review, but juans playing is great and the new drummer is excellent. Great recovery from Ampu(suck)ture.