The Mars Volta (LP7)

[djzap]

So, what do you think?

[ledzeppole10]

I like it alot! Waiting for my cassette to arrive for my next listen. I kind of splurged on it and then took a little break so I don’t burn out on it . I don’t want this honeymoon period to end.

Highlights include Que Dios, Equus3, No Case Gain, Flash Burns, Cerulea, and The Requisition. Some career highlights in there and this is for sure Cedric’s best album. His sense of melody and delivery has improved.
On certain songs like Cerulea, his voice has this “sweetness” almost like Thom Yorke. I haven’t heard him convey emotion like this before and I don’t care what anybody says, this is a quantum leap in terms of emotion for TMV. I just want the songs longer, more fleshed out and more Omar guitar work. What he does here is subtle and it suits the songs though. You can really hear his work in the instrumental versions and he does great work on certain songs.

Excited to see how they pull off these live shows and happy they are truly back, with the band seemingly firing on NEW cylinders.

[dogturtle]

I didn't quite get it the first time but it's really growing on me. Far from their best but still a very nice listen and very brave of them to change their style so drastically

[tremulant]

it was pretty good. It definitely was no Frances The Mute, but I'm happy with what I got. You could kind of tell what the whole theme of the album was going to be like just with the first 3 singles. The only thing I didn't like about the album is that all of the songs just end before you know it, like when it gets to the best part that starts to give you that rising feeling that the old volta kinda had, but just when you notice it, the whole song is just over. I can't really complain though, Cedric & Omar are growing old and their music can't always be this crazy jumble of loud sounds with an epic guitar riff. But really other than that this album was really good and ill probably be listening to it again. My favorite track is either the requisition or blacklight shine.

[djzap]

I've loved the album from my first listen, but its still getting even better for me with repeated listens. I find some tracks quite mesmerising and dreamy in a way they've not done before, especially the likes of Collapsible Shoulders and Shore Story. There are a lot of sounds here that I recognise from ORL's solo excursions, except now the addition of Cedric brings it into the TMV universe and really does change it a lot. Shades of Umbrella Mistress, Zen Thrills & Bosnian Rainbows mixed with much more 'traditional' TMV sounds.
I don't really find any issue with the track lengths. Always down for more music from them though so if they decided to make the tracks longer either I wouldn't complain! I'm just delighted they made an album thats honest in a way that makes me feel like they are not just cranking it out, they properly put their hearts into it and seem to be making something they can springboard off into a new chapter for TMV.

[cerpin taxt]

I love it! ofcourse its detached from their previous albums but thats how the volta is i feel like all the people who hate it now will have it slowly grow on them and eventually itll be as loved as the other 6 albums

[Eriatarka]

I liked it more than I thought I would, but I'm not sure if it's fully my vibe. Still a pleasant album to listen to! Just need more time to digest.
Overall my main complaints would be how the instruments feel pretty pushed back and could use some more room to breathe, and how some songs feel underdeveloped/end when they're getting good (Que Dios being the biggest example considering its a banger but its under two minutes!!!) and these things both feel like common complaints from the album. Some songs feel a little same-y too, the Shore Story - Blank Condolences - Vigil stretch kinda melts together in my brain.

I still think the change in sound/direction is overall a good move compared to just trying to recreate Deloused or Frances, but I'm not quite sure they've cracked the code for the "new" Mars Volta. I also think that drastically cutting back on the length of their songs does come from a well-meaning place even if that approach doesn't land for me. Here's to hoping they're planning for another album!

also its a good vibe when you're stoned lol

My 5 picks, not in order: Blacklight Shine, Que Dios, No Case, Tourmaline, Equus 3

[SmallWeinerBigHeart]

Very pleasant to listen to; it feels very fresh to me and I love the little layers I find every time I listen (which I think is one of the charms of Volta). Wish there were more tracks like The Requisition and Flash burns and ESPECIALLY Flash Burns. Also Tourmaline and Palm full of crux make me super emotional lol

[72skidoo]

On certain songs like Cerulea, his voice has this “sweetness” almost like Thom Yorke. I haven’t heard him convey emotion like this before

I've only felt that emotional quality in his voice a couple times before. Namely in Vicarious Atonement, Asilos Magdalena, and With Twilight As My Guide. Some people seem so shocked by the new sound, but if you made a playlist of those songs and a few of their other more chill tracks, absolutely nothing on the new album would feel out of place.

[Fonz]

Hello, I like the album. It’s good.