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Rating:
THE REVIEW
One day I glance at the playlist of this site and I see something like "Mars Volta are too good."
The name rang a bell but I couldn't quite remember.
Google
Mars Volta
There you go...
...AAAAH, right, that's who they are, what's left of At The Drive In (Cedric Bixler - Zavala and Omar Rodriguez - Lopez) reformed into this new project.
I also belong to that school of thought that wonders: why did ATDI ever break up? Curious, I buy it.
From the booklet, I see that the producer is a certain Rick Rubin and that the album was recorded at his Laurel Canyon Studios. This is already a guarantee, although the result is not always predictable.
It's clear that the album needs to be listened to at least a couple of (mars) times to be understood, the result is very intricate. With each listen, you notice a different nuance. It's as if it's made up of various layers to be peeled (mars) time after (mars) time.
Essentially the sound is:
psychedelic
funk
dub
jazz metal
prog-rock
Yes, at times even prog-rock. If you take, for example, the very long Cicatriz ESP (Frusciante is also in this song), you can sense the same atmospheres of some King Crimson records, although the song at times sounds like a demo. The drums sound "muted", the bass (by Flea!!) is distorted.
The high-pitched voice like Robert Plant. Even this (mars) time there's a lot of Led Zep, especially in the mixes. It seems like a deliberate effect. And there's also some Pink Floyd sprinkled here and there.
When the album ends its second round, you really wonder whether to play it again or move on to something else.
In the end, too much of it becomes a bit cloying. It's like those recipes with a thousand different flavors.
That end up tasting of everything but having no taste at all.
Well done but... cloying.
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Summary by Bot
The reviewer explores The Mars Volta's debut album, highlighting its intricate layers and genre blends including psychedelic, funk, dub, jazz metal, and prog-rock. Notable contributions from Flea and Frusciante are mentioned, as well as producer Rick Rubin’s involvement. Despite admiration for complexity and musicianship, the album's richness eventually becomes overwhelming and less enjoyable. The review closes with ambivalence about replay value.Tracklist Lyrics Videos
The Mars Volta
American progressive/experimental rock band formed by Omar Rodríguez-López and Cedric Bixler-Zavala (formed from members of At The Drive-In). Known for ambitious concept albums, virtuosic live shows and a blend of prog, psychedelia, post-hardcore and Latin influences.28 Reviews
Other reviews
By ZiOn
The Mars Volta are without a doubt one of the greatest novelties in the current global Rock scene.
They have given us one of the best albums of 2003, an album that explores different atmospheres without losing cohesion.
By joe strummer
The prog-hardcore ambitions blend perfectly with the accessibility of the melodies, aided by Cedric Bixler’s splendid voice.
While remaining a beautiful and very fascinating album, De-Loused perhaps also shows some shortcomings in terms of compactness.
By bella_Bartok!
To this day this remains one of the best albums I have ever listened to.
It’s a psychedelic avalanche of hard sounds mixed with Latin rhythms and melodic bursts.
By uno qualunque
The real gem of the album is the delicate 'Televators', with those beautiful acoustic chords and the almost childlike choirs.
This is one of the best albums of recent times, and if that isn’t enough for you... well, it still means something nonetheless.
By Bloody Francy
The musical revolution, an undefined mix of genres (including prog, noise, free-jazz), an absolute chaos from which emerges an almost complete perfection.
The stunning voice of Cedric Bixler Zavala, powerful and erotic... one of the most loaded and sexy voices in history.
