Forget Mars Volta, I'm diggin' At the Drive-In

I like both bands, personally, but I'm a HUGE MV fan.

I must say that I was somewhat disappointed with the new live CD. The performances did not seem as tight. But then, it's hard to duplicate the tightness of their complex music live.

 

Mars Volta < At The Drive in < Fall of Troy


I like ATDI because Omar was weird... but he didn't think himself someone who should have extended solos.

 

I was disappointed by the first Mars Volta live CD (or should it be EP? 4 songs, 40 minutes) It was pretty poorly recorded and there didn't really seem to be any point for it to exist. After that, I just got tired of Mars Volta, sure they were kind of weird, but in a very gimmicky sort of way. Kind of like the aural equivalent of those bus tours through Haight-Ashbury in the 60's. "Hey, everyone, come check out this bizarre place with us, but don't worry. We'll bring you back." Then I rediscovered the Boredom's tape my brother had made me and things took off from there.

But At the Drive-In are ace. It's interesting to look at Sparta and Mars Volta and see how one half tempered the other. Great great group.

 

I love ATD-I as well. In/Casino/Out is probably my favorite of their records. I've never been able to get into TMV much.

"Napoleon Solo" is the bees knees.


One band I'm intersted in hearing is The Fall On Deaf Ears. It was Cedric's old band before ATDI....back when he was like 17-18 years old. Apparently half of the band was killed in a car crash and they only made one record, an ep.

 

I personally prefer At The Drive-in. "Relationship of Command" is a great record IMHO.

 

I love Sparta, The mars Volta, and at the drive in. I think they're all extremely awesome. The Vaya EP is pretty good. I suggest you just get into all of it. I'm still not tired of it.

 

I like the Volta and ATD-I.

'Deloused in the Comatorium' and 'Relationship of Command' are quite literally two of my fave albums ever recorded.

I'm not into Sparta though.

It seems to me that Omar and Cedric left the group, and started pushing even further 'out' with even crazier structures and arrangements, but the guys who were left behind kept doing the same stuff, only not nearly as good.

Apparently Paul Hinojos left Sparta recently to join the Volta as their sound manipulator. I guess he agreed with me...

 

Man do I love The Mars Volta. I havn't heard to much of At the drive in, but what I have heard is frikin awesome. Frances the mute and Deloused in the comatorium are definately in my top 6 favorite records. Very proud of Omar and Cedric seeing how they did come out of El Paso. (where I live) and not to many artists come from El Paso and make it big.

 

have to agree with ya, superduck.

 

"hello mother leopard, i have your cub. you must protect her, but that will be expensive. ten thousand kola nuts wrapped in paper... midnight... behind the box. i'll be the hyena... you'll see."

I listened to that ATDI record EVERYDAY on my way to the studio last summer when I was recording my new bass/drums POWER DUO record with Pat Mastelotto. It was hard not to get psyched up after listening to ATDI's "Relationship Of Command". A GREAT record....

I think they are a million times more accessible than MV...... but less profitable...........

 

the mars volta kicks tail live too. i saw them earlier this year at the berkeley greek theater. a complete and utter auditory and sensory trip. amazing. and i was stone cold sober! IMHO the drummer is one of the best, if not THE best, there is currently. unfortunately i couldn't hear juan very well but he has some serious drool-inducing gear.

 

In Casino Out, Acrobatic Tenement, and Relationship of Command are three of my favorite albums. Great songs.

 

+1. Metronome Arthritis and Proxima Centauri are two great great tunes.

 

Second best album ever created, only after Neutral Milk Hotel - In the Aeroplane over the Sea

 

After hearing about how much better At the Drive-In was than Mars Volta, I bought "In-Casino-Out" and "Relationship of Command". I can't say I'm impressed in the slightest, and after listening to each album once through I have no desire to put myself through that again... If I recally correctly, it's the same singer in both bands, but why is he so much more terrible in ATDI?

I'll stick with The Mars Volta, I like 'em a lot better. Less emo, too...

-Dash

 

Another huge fan of ATDI here!!! Relationship of Command blew me out of my socks at the time. Too bad they broke up but I believe it would be hard to top that work.

 

...I think they are the greatest band no one has ever heard of. I grew up on Beatles, Stones, Zeppelin, Doors, Maiden, and now too many bands and styles to mention and I really believe Relationship of Command is the greatest album I've ever heard if i had to choose one. I started questioning this in my head about 2-3 years ago and I am still jamming this album regularly (Daily almost?) not ever getting tired of it. I think it's because I am still trying to decipher the meaning of the lyrics. Cosmonaut, Mannequin Republic, Arcarsenal, Chanbara, Alpha Centauri... just great. The lyrics and vocals are not for everyone and most of ATDI's work would scare off the average radio ear after 20 seconds but their energy, emmotion, creativity, and musicianship rivals any band i have ever heard.