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The Mars Volta

#2
I took lessons with a guitar teacher for quite some time. Showed him a few bands i like. As he is listening to The Fall of Troy he tells me that they sound like this band he used to dig back in the day, The Mars Volta. I blew it off, as a few of my friends listened to them, and I thought they were stupid. I'll tell you now that they are definitely one of my favorite bands and this cd in particular is my favorite. So much going on that I didnt even notice until I learned a few songs on guitar. Killer tone the bass and guitar player have as well. Amazing stuff man.
 
#4
The Mars Volta are one of my favorite bands to come out in the 2000s.
I saw them at Coachella in 2003 and their live sound was horrible, mostly bass & kickdrum in the woofers and some high pitched melodies where the lyrics could not be deciphered, but they sure rocked out. I wasnt all that into them at the time, maybe not for another year after that when Frances the Mute came out. I found out I needed to give their stuff a few listens before I caught on, and then they'd completely melt my mind.
De-loused is a great album, and every album after that I thought has been pretty great as well - Frances the Mute, Amputechture, Bedlam & the Goliath - I think they have another album out now that I havent heard yet too.
They reall are a great band. A friend went to see them live with the Chili Peppers once and she said their entire set was pretty much just one song.
 
#5
roceci said:
One of those great, great bands whose albums get a bit unlistenable after the midpoint, too much of the same stuff. Shame.
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I really have to disagree. Aside from a few tracks throughout their entire discography I've found their albums to withstand the test of time. I have certain memories associated with FtM, and those can never be relived, but I can still put on an album, any of theirs, and trip out to some awesome improv.
 
#6
MatticusMania said:
I really have to disagree. Aside from a few tracks throughout their entire discography I've found their albums to withstand the test of time. I have certain memories associated with FtM, and those can never be relived, but I can still put on an album, any of theirs, and trip out to some awesome improv.
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Well it's all subjective at the end of the day innit. The OP asked for peoples' thoughts, & there's mine, as right or wrong as yours. :)
 
#10
roceci said:
Well it's all subjective at the end of the day innit. The OP asked for peoples' thoughts, & there's mine, as right or wrong as yours. :)
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It absolutely is, I meant no disrespect or anything :)

roceci said:
btw, what memories are they? A few idyllic summers out in the country slaughtering random passers by?

;)
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Haha! I do recall it being the summer time. My 2 piece band (drums & bass) had all our gear set up in my living room as my parents were out of town. We were under the spell of some mighty fungus and I put Frances the Mute on, played loudly through my PA system... my face was firmly planted against the speaker and I could not move away for the entire duration of the album. Great times.
 
#11
First time I saw them their live sound was pretty terrible, but I could appreciate it still cause they literally didn't even any songs, jammed out all the way through.

Second time was absolutely amazing, although being ripped helped that im sure :D

Third time was great too but they had their new lineup (i think its just got 2 or 3 less people) and it was very good, but the bass player took a solo on his fretless and it really wasn't very good. Disappointing for me but they are just such a tight band its great to watch.

but my opinions on their albums is the Deloused is one of their best
 
#13
Probably the band of the last few years for me.

Worth a listen is the 'Scab Dates' live album - total headrush!!

They take a few tracks off 'Deloused...' and, well, take a listen!

TBH, I could pick any one of their albums, they've all got their 'wow' bits for me. I love to hear a band doing something a little different, and TMV certainly do that.
 
#17
MatticusMania said:
It absolutely is, I meant no disrespect or anything :)
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No worries, thought not.

MatticusMania said:
Haha! I do recall it being the summer time. My 2 piece band (drums & bass) had all our gear set up in my living room as my parents were out of town. We were under the spell of some mighty fungus and I put Frances the Mute on, played loudly through my PA system... my face was firmly planted against the speaker and I could not move away for the entire duration of the album. Great times.
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Hehe, I know that one...had pretty much the same experience with an Ozric Tentacles album many moons ago...or was it suns...happy days...
 

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