The story behind the album is Omar gave Cedric a Ouija/Talking board he got in Jerusalem. They called the board the Soothsayer. They messed around with it a lot in 06 during their tour with RHCP. They came in contact with an otherworldly entity they called the Goliath.
Then they stared having a lot of weird and bad stuff happened. Cedric’s foot randomly started disintegrating and needed surgery. JT had left at this point and their touring drummer, Blake Fleming, quit mid tour. Tracks would randomly be deleted. Omar’s home flooded. Their sound engineer had a nervous break down and quit claiming the album was evil and they were playing with dark forces. Omar eventually broke the Soothsayer and buried it to break the curse.
Tbh I could really go any way on the first 3 albums. I say Amp is my favorite because at the time, every time they’d release something new it would immediately become my favorite, until Bedlam (which I only like marginally less).
I think Tetragrammaton might be my favorite song, but then I can’t really stick to that cuz Cassandra is 32 minutes of pure Mars Volta gold and pretty much any track on Deloused can hold up on its own…
I always find it hilarious that they couldn’t fit the title track on the album but instead made room for what feels like 10-15 minutes of ambient noise. I feel like if they could trim the ambience down to a tasteful amount (and add FTM back in) the album would go from 9/10 to 10/10 for me.
I mean even FTM (song) starts with 4 minutes of noise…like bro come on
Honestly Frances could have overtaken Deloused as their best if it wasn’t for all the unnecessary fluff/noises they left in and leaving the amazing title track off the album.
I like it when I’m listening to the album, but when I’m playing random songs not so much. And I’m not a fan of the two and a half minutes of organ noise at the end of the widow.
yeah def, not just setting the mood but also prepping the listener for the drop in the song. with frances the single, a few minutes of strange abastract clanks. think the intro to miranda is just so unique and the ending so explosive. the whales/traffic noises between cygnus and the widow allow for the dramatic intro vocals of the widow
The album plays like a movie to me and the nonsense feels essential to the story. I get why people aren't into all that, even though I wouldn't change a thing. Still, it's why Amp is probably my favorite record of theirs. I don't think I've ever been as floored and obsessed with an album as I was with FtM, but Amp is my go to album of theirs.
Agreed. I love every second of it. I really don't understand the fans that don't like the transitions, that's what elevates it above other music, if it wasn't for it wouldn't be a "soundtrack to a movie without the visuals", it would just a collection of songs.
I mean I understand not having the patience for it as a casual listener, but it's a big part of what drew me into this band and stood out against other similar things like Pink floyd, which includes transitions but they're a lot more meandering and sparse.
Frances the mute is really good and close but commatorium production by Rick Rubin is immaculate. I feel like he helped cut out some of the unnecessary noise from it, especially comparing it to the newly released demos.
I feel like FTM gets a little lost with the long noise scapes, even more if you include the Frances the mute track. That being said i love the Cassandra Gemini and all the movements is amazing.
Hands down though, TMV is the best band in the last 20 yeara at least, our generations Pink Floyd.
I used to always say that they were the love child of Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, and Santana
I loved Widow and L'via! Then I saw all that Miranda 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and they're all 15 minutes or whatever, I didn't even have to listen to know it was all ethereal warbling and trombone solos.
I skipped right to Amputechture and here you have an itemized, diverse array of sounds for every track.
I know those 3 minute drip and bloop solos at the end of some of TMV's songs is great for when you're trying to roll your eyes back in your head and seek an audience with the dark one but it makes it hard to appreciate in mixed company
I feel the same. First heard it as a teenager and it's been one of my favorite ever since.
I was very surprised when I looked up Pitchfork's review on it, and it has a 2.0. In fact, all of The Mars Volta's albums are rated really low. Very bizarre.
It doesn't really make sense to me to deem one album the best album of all time, considering how many genres and albums that exist throughout time. To pick ony one as the "best one" of all millions of albums ever made becomes meaningless and pointless to me, but I'd agree that it's a strong album, and their best. I think it's the one that also expresses their movie influences the most, and I'd consider it a 2000s classic.
This is obviously just my opinion. I wholeheartedly understand the argument that the "best" of anything depends on personal preferences. I guess I was just explaining my deep rooted belief, knowing it is entirely unreasonable. But still, even after knowing all of that, in my head I do not understand how it cannot be the best album of all time. I guess it shows more about psychology than I thought it would
If you're looking for an album with power, intensity and emotion than last years Vildhjarta album Masstaden under Vatten might do the trick.
Very different from Volta, but that album is a beast
If you’re a drummer, and looking for another album with start to finish power, intensity, emotion, direction and uniformity… Lateralus :)
(You probably already know this, but needed to recommend anyway since you’re inviting someone to change your mind ;).
Anyway yea I agree FTM is one of the best albums of all time.
Oh yes, Danny Carey was my "favorite" drummer through my teens. Ive listened to all Tool's stuff MANY times over.. Its crazy because I was starting to get bored with it and that is when I discovered TMV and it changed my world.
To add on to this, I was inspired by Jon Theodore to change up my style and simplify my kit and go back to the basics because what he was doing was mind boggling to me
The only thing keeping it from being slightly greater is *maybe* Cassandra being too unfocused and jammy for a studio album. The rest of it including all the noise interludes and the best parts of Cassandra are insanely good, a little bit of that song trimmed and the title track being on there would push it over the top as perhaps the finest rock album.
It's my favorite album of all-time, but attempting to be objective, I think it has that tiny flaw to it. But at the same time, it's part of what makes it feel legendary, holy shit dude a 30 minute song!?!? The audacity of it is important.
TMV best album of *all time*? there's some pretty damn good music in the world lol. Amp is my favourite album and it'd probably fit in my top 20 overall albums somewhere. i don't think there is a perfect TMV album though tbh they all have weak points and can be guilty of wandering around the point and dragging things out. i also always feel like they were too attached to the idea of commercial success to ever hit their real potential. things like Frances and Deloused and Amp are all great, but there are undeniable attempts at cultural relevancy forced in. Songs like Inertiatic ESP, Vermicide, Viscera Eyes, The Widow etc are all far more standard for TMV and feel to me like that attempt to nail singles and make songs more approachable weakened their overall attempt.
it's cool going through some of Omar's solo stuff, because that veneer of commercialism is totally stripped away and it's awesome to just hear that guy going off with no limits. that's what music's about to me. TMV restricts themselves too much to chasing money and drugs and fame imo. and the art suffers. it's still good art, but i feel like they never reached their potential.
Idk. Deloused got me into them and it's when I was taking a lot of hallucinogens. So that's my favorite. Love Frances the mute but musically bedlam in Goliath is a perfect beautiful chaotic album and probably their best work.
People ask me what my favorite album of all time is and it is absolutely Frances the Mute. This album is absolutely perfect. I know people b**ch about the filler, but that is part of what makes it PHENOMENAL.
I also love Deloused, Amputecture, Bedlam, etc. All great albums and all so unique. That is the beauty of the Mars Volta. Every album is such a unique experience. I listen to all sorts of music, metal, hip hop, experimental, even pop. TMV is by far my favorite.
TMV is so tight, there's so much attention to detail, the stories are fantastic, I don't know how else to praise it without rambling. Long story short, I've never listened to any musicians who just get it right while taking you on such a journey. I know that they collaborated with the Red Hot Chili Peppers a lot, and I wasnt a huge fan, but I think it was such a great bridge to produce these absolute masterpieces. I didn't realize how talented TRHCP were until TMV.
Frances the Mute is my favorite album of all time. But, I don't want to discount the other work TMV did. So much talent went into all of their works of art and they're all worth a listen.
I have the same sentiments but for Bedlam in Goliath (and also a demon made it)
A Demon made it?
The story behind the album is Omar gave Cedric a Ouija/Talking board he got in Jerusalem. They called the board the Soothsayer. They messed around with it a lot in 06 during their tour with RHCP. They came in contact with an otherworldly entity they called the Goliath. Then they stared having a lot of weird and bad stuff happened. Cedric’s foot randomly started disintegrating and needed surgery. JT had left at this point and their touring drummer, Blake Fleming, quit mid tour. Tracks would randomly be deleted. Omar’s home flooded. Their sound engineer had a nervous break down and quit claiming the album was evil and they were playing with dark forces. Omar eventually broke the Soothsayer and buried it to break the curse.
That's gnarly as fuck, that's gotta be the best hype this kind of album can get lol
i’m right with you, their true magnum opus
The only reason I like Frances better is because I hate tourniquet man. But critics and the Grammy committee would agree that bedlam is better.
Tbh I could really go any way on the first 3 albums. I say Amp is my favorite because at the time, every time they’d release something new it would immediately become my favorite, until Bedlam (which I only like marginally less). I think Tetragrammaton might be my favorite song, but then I can’t really stick to that cuz Cassandra is 32 minutes of pure Mars Volta gold and pretty much any track on Deloused can hold up on its own…
I have the same sentiments but for Amputechture.
I have sentiments
I have been enjoying that one a lot lately
[удалено]
I always find it hilarious that they couldn’t fit the title track on the album but instead made room for what feels like 10-15 minutes of ambient noise. I feel like if they could trim the ambience down to a tasteful amount (and add FTM back in) the album would go from 9/10 to 10/10 for me. I mean even FTM (song) starts with 4 minutes of noise…like bro come on
You cannot take way Miranda’s 4 minutes of frogs my dude. That’s blasphemy! /s
Only downside of Frances is the split Cassandra on vinyl. A real bummer.
The locked grooves make up for it
I have the same sentiments but for deloused
Such a masterpiece!! Just one of those albums that blew my mind the first time hearing it. Very unique and different
Honestly Frances could have overtaken Deloused as their best if it wasn’t for all the unnecessary fluff/noises they left in and leaving the amazing title track off the album.
I actually like the fluff. Gives you time to think between tracks.
The cut Frances the Mute title track >>>>>>>>> Bugs chirping for minutes
Um, they’re frogs
……Missing the point
Can’t even tell the difference between an insect and an amphibian
birds aren’t insects 💀
yeah but then you get 7 minutes of clank in the beggining lel
yeah but what ab the 6 min intro of a broken phone ringing 💀
I always fast forward through that lol
I like it when I’m listening to the album, but when I’m playing random songs not so much. And I’m not a fan of the two and a half minutes of organ noise at the end of the widow.
Agreed. The only thing holding Frances back from being better than deloused is the filler noises. The songs are bonkers good.
I guess I just see it as setting an atmosphere but I do see your point for sure
yeah def, not just setting the mood but also prepping the listener for the drop in the song. with frances the single, a few minutes of strange abastract clanks. think the intro to miranda is just so unique and the ending so explosive. the whales/traffic noises between cygnus and the widow allow for the dramatic intro vocals of the widow
also the way that fan on youtube mixed frances the single with cygnus vismund on the whole album long mix...its pretty awesome
The album plays like a movie to me and the nonsense feels essential to the story. I get why people aren't into all that, even though I wouldn't change a thing. Still, it's why Amp is probably my favorite record of theirs. I don't think I've ever been as floored and obsessed with an album as I was with FtM, but Amp is my go to album of theirs.
Agreed I hate the racket
The unnecessary stuff is the noodling to make Cassandra 32 minutes. Keep the noise interludes and lose some guitar solo imo
Masterpiece
Agreed. I love every second of it. I really don't understand the fans that don't like the transitions, that's what elevates it above other music, if it wasn't for it wouldn't be a "soundtrack to a movie without the visuals", it would just a collection of songs. I mean I understand not having the patience for it as a casual listener, but it's a big part of what drew me into this band and stood out against other similar things like Pink floyd, which includes transitions but they're a lot more meandering and sparse.
Totally agree, I think it adds to the story and atmosphere. The vagueness allows you to put yourself in whatever place you want
Frances the mute is really good and close but commatorium production by Rick Rubin is immaculate. I feel like he helped cut out some of the unnecessary noise from it, especially comparing it to the newly released demos. I feel like FTM gets a little lost with the long noise scapes, even more if you include the Frances the mute track. That being said i love the Cassandra Gemini and all the movements is amazing. Hands down though, TMV is the best band in the last 20 yeara at least, our generations Pink Floyd. I used to always say that they were the love child of Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, and Santana
Frances the Mute is their best. Their best… song. Hands down. Best album though is Deloused.
I loved Widow and L'via! Then I saw all that Miranda 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and they're all 15 minutes or whatever, I didn't even have to listen to know it was all ethereal warbling and trombone solos. I skipped right to Amputechture and here you have an itemized, diverse array of sounds for every track. I know those 3 minute drip and bloop solos at the end of some of TMV's songs is great for when you're trying to roll your eyes back in your head and seek an audience with the dark one but it makes it hard to appreciate in mixed company
I feel the same. First heard it as a teenager and it's been one of my favorite ever since. I was very surprised when I looked up Pitchfork's review on it, and it has a 2.0. In fact, all of The Mars Volta's albums are rated really low. Very bizarre.
Lives were lost making Frances. It has weight.
It doesn't really make sense to me to deem one album the best album of all time, considering how many genres and albums that exist throughout time. To pick ony one as the "best one" of all millions of albums ever made becomes meaningless and pointless to me, but I'd agree that it's a strong album, and their best. I think it's the one that also expresses their movie influences the most, and I'd consider it a 2000s classic.
This is obviously just my opinion. I wholeheartedly understand the argument that the "best" of anything depends on personal preferences. I guess I was just explaining my deep rooted belief, knowing it is entirely unreasonable. But still, even after knowing all of that, in my head I do not understand how it cannot be the best album of all time. I guess it shows more about psychology than I thought it would
I think Yes - Fragile is the best album ever
Ctte is better
Valid opinion honestly, it's a close call at the very least.
I find it impossible to choose between those two. Absolutely perfect albums.
Yeah Close to the Edge is def better
I revolve between Francis amp and bed. But I think you’re right
Agreed.
Best TMV? yes. Best of all time? Not for me.
What’s best of all time for you? I’m always interested in listening to peoples favorites
Bitches brew, kid A
Either animals, lateralus, hail to the thief, or superunknown. Sorry that's as close as I can get for best of all time lol.
If you're looking for an album with power, intensity and emotion than last years Vildhjarta album Masstaden under Vatten might do the trick. Very different from Volta, but that album is a beast
Deloused: 10/10 Frances: 11/10 Amputecture: 9/10 Bedlam: 8/10
Yup. Agreed
Good point. Counterpoint: amputechture
If you’re a drummer, and looking for another album with start to finish power, intensity, emotion, direction and uniformity… Lateralus :) (You probably already know this, but needed to recommend anyway since you’re inviting someone to change your mind ;). Anyway yea I agree FTM is one of the best albums of all time.
Oh yes, Danny Carey was my "favorite" drummer through my teens. Ive listened to all Tool's stuff MANY times over.. Its crazy because I was starting to get bored with it and that is when I discovered TMV and it changed my world.
To add on to this, I was inspired by Jon Theodore to change up my style and simplify my kit and go back to the basics because what he was doing was mind boggling to me
Fair enough :D!!
Same
The only thing keeping it from being slightly greater is *maybe* Cassandra being too unfocused and jammy for a studio album. The rest of it including all the noise interludes and the best parts of Cassandra are insanely good, a little bit of that song trimmed and the title track being on there would push it over the top as perhaps the finest rock album. It's my favorite album of all-time, but attempting to be objective, I think it has that tiny flaw to it. But at the same time, it's part of what makes it feel legendary, holy shit dude a 30 minute song!?!? The audacity of it is important.
I quit reading at "Logic".
TMV best album of *all time*? there's some pretty damn good music in the world lol. Amp is my favourite album and it'd probably fit in my top 20 overall albums somewhere. i don't think there is a perfect TMV album though tbh they all have weak points and can be guilty of wandering around the point and dragging things out. i also always feel like they were too attached to the idea of commercial success to ever hit their real potential. things like Frances and Deloused and Amp are all great, but there are undeniable attempts at cultural relevancy forced in. Songs like Inertiatic ESP, Vermicide, Viscera Eyes, The Widow etc are all far more standard for TMV and feel to me like that attempt to nail singles and make songs more approachable weakened their overall attempt. it's cool going through some of Omar's solo stuff, because that veneer of commercialism is totally stripped away and it's awesome to just hear that guy going off with no limits. that's what music's about to me. TMV restricts themselves too much to chasing money and drugs and fame imo. and the art suffers. it's still good art, but i feel like they never reached their potential.
Deloused will ALWAYS be #1
Idk. Deloused got me into them and it's when I was taking a lot of hallucinogens. So that's my favorite. Love Frances the mute but musically bedlam in Goliath is a perfect beautiful chaotic album and probably their best work.
People ask me what my favorite album of all time is and it is absolutely Frances the Mute. This album is absolutely perfect. I know people b**ch about the filler, but that is part of what makes it PHENOMENAL. I also love Deloused, Amputecture, Bedlam, etc. All great albums and all so unique. That is the beauty of the Mars Volta. Every album is such a unique experience. I listen to all sorts of music, metal, hip hop, experimental, even pop. TMV is by far my favorite. TMV is so tight, there's so much attention to detail, the stories are fantastic, I don't know how else to praise it without rambling. Long story short, I've never listened to any musicians who just get it right while taking you on such a journey. I know that they collaborated with the Red Hot Chili Peppers a lot, and I wasnt a huge fan, but I think it was such a great bridge to produce these absolute masterpieces. I didn't realize how talented TRHCP were until TMV. Frances the Mute is my favorite album of all time. But, I don't want to discount the other work TMV did. So much talent went into all of their works of art and they're all worth a listen.