The Mars Volta

[Nyarlath]

I've been on a sort of a kick lately. I also love Omar's playing.

L'Via L'Viaquez - YouTube

[MFB]

I only really dig "Deloused in the Comatorium" and am 50/50 on "Frances the Mute." Not quite sure what it is but I just get kind of ...bored during parts of it. This however, is one of my favorite tracks on the album.

I have to relisten to their other albums since I really cant remember much of them


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[Nyarlath]

Wirelessly posted

Deloused, Frances, and Amputechture are all masterpieces IMO.

[Mr. S]

I absolutely love Francis the Mute I've not got many of their albums but the are a rather awesome band, just a shame they really sucked when I saw them live last year.

[Dormant]

Love everything they have done apart from the new song off the upcoming album 'Noctourniquet' that was released recently. Much more of an album band than a live band for me. Have seen them twice, and both times they were incredibly boring and played really long self-indulgent noise solo's. The first time I saw them was after 'De-loused in the Comatorium' was released and they played nearly every song off the album, played a version of 'The Haunt of Roulette Dares' that went on for nigh on 40 minutes and then made a point of saying that they wouldn't play 'Inertiatic ESP' because it would be too obvious.

Pretentious and annoying as fuck but being a big fan of 'At the Drive In' I can't really help but like their output.

[jacksonplayer]

The first time I saw them live at Bonnaroo a few years ago they were amazing. The other time was at a smaller club and their set wasn't as good, so maybe they run hot and cold. I can see how having a taste for the experimental helps in enjoying their live show.

Also, check out this MV side project called Zechs Marquise, which is sort of a jazzier, more instrumental take on MV. It features Omar's brothers.

Zechs Marquise

[Dormant]

Originally Posted by jacksonplayer

The first time I saw them live at Bonnaroo a few years ago they were amazing. The other time was at a smaller club and their set wasn't as good, so maybe they run hot and cold. I can see how having a taste for the experimental helps in enjoying their live show.

I think I'm just not very good at understanding my own tolerance levels anymore!

I always used to think I liked live shows being more experimental (obviously specifically for more progressive styles of music) with lots of free flow improvisation. However, the couple of times I saw them they felt like they were being purposefully obstructive to the audience. It was all samba type backing music with amazing bass and drums and then Omar doing his best Thurston Moore noise impressions for 10 minutes at a time.

My tolerance for improvisation after the first time I saw them dimmed somewhat.

[JamesM]

I love Amputechture.

[jacksonplayer]

Originally Posted by Dormant

I think I'm just not very good at understanding my own tolerance levels anymore!

I always used to think I liked live shows being more experimental (obviously specifically for more progressive styles of music) with lots of free flow improvisation. However, the couple of times I saw them they felt like they were being purposefully obstructive to the audience. It was all samba type backing music with amazing bass and drums and then Omar doing his best Thurston Moore noise impressions for 10 minutes at a time.

My tolerance for improvisation after the first time I saw them dimmed somewhat.

Yeah, I don't really see them as master improvisers.

Fortunately for me, Omar hasn't been quite as far out there at the shows I've seen. I like his work with textures on the records, but 20 minutes of him experimenting with his pedalboard is probably a bit more than I could take, too.

It's certainly possible to improvise at length with textures, but doing so requires a sensitive ear for the entire arrangement and a notion of ongoing composition, not just "I'm going to make some crazy noise with this thing for 20 minutes."

[beneharris]

Wirelessly posted

I saw them live a few years ago and they were great. they didn't do much improvisational stuff, just played through a set.

that was when I realized most of the really good guitar solos weren't played by Omar.

and geez the guy bringing out the singers tea every few minutes was really jarring to see. really took you out of the show, I could have done without him.