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The Mars Volta - Amputechture Audio CD

A fair review of the The Mars Volta "Amputechture" Audio CD. Please note that the below review is the views of the authors, and authors only. You can get a complete list of all The Mars Volta reviews here, or go back to the The Mars Volta tabs.

The Mars Volta Band: The Mars Volta
Title: Amputechture
Rating:
Release Date: 2008-11-19
Media: Audio CD

Tracks: 1: Vicarious Atonement 2: Tetragrammaton 3: Vermicide 4: Meccamputechture 5: Asilos Magdalena 6: Viscera Eyes 7: Day of the Baphomets 8: Ciervo Vulnerado

Mars Volta - 'Amputechture' (Universal)
My first CD by the Mars Volta I've ever purchased - mostly because I just saw them play live on their current tour and I liked what I saw and heard. Review number 97. Best described as part progressive / experimental - part psychedelic. Tracks I was impressed with the most are the moody - somewhat Zeppelin-ish "Vicarious Atonement", the sixteen-minute (good progressive, with a touch of psych) "Tetragrammaton", "Asilos Magdalena" (features some intricate guitar), the awesome high-energy rocker "Viscera Eyes", the twelve-minute {with Geddy Lee-like vocals} "Day Of The Baphomets" and "El Ciervo Vulnerado" (loved the out-there sound effects + the way this piece flows - reminds me a bit of vintage Gong). Key players appear to be guitarist Omar Rodriguez-Lopez and vocalist (I swear, this front man reminds me of the late MC 5 crooner - Rob Tyner) Cedric Bixler-Zavala. Might appeal to fans of System Of A Down, early Zeppelin, early Rush and obscure '60's and 70's freak rock (hadn't heard that term in ages). Look on the Internet and you'll notice these guys pen out some songs about some rather complex subjects. .


The Mars Volta - Amputechture LP
There's so much going on in their music that you just need the best quality of sound. There's nothing more splendid-sounding than to listen to The Mars Volta on vinyl record. This is probably their most underestimated and least popular album. . . but totally worth the time to listen and the money to buy it.


I will keep this as short and slightly nuanced as possible...
. . But after having listened to this album on-and-off for nearly 2 years, having been given it by a good friend and mostly shelved, I have concluded that it is an unmistakable masterpiece.

While I'm no stranger to progressive rock, with Amputechture as my introduction to The Mars Volta it took quite a while to fully absorb their material and begin to appreciate the composition. But did it!

I've since purchased all of their other work, and I've yet to relinquish Amputechture as my favorite. The overt (and yet extraordinarily esoteric) religious overtones and meandering mood have convinced me that I've yet to fully peel the piece apart and appreciate everything inside of it -- a work of art, indeed.

Although there were mere months between Frances the Mute and Amputechture, I can't help but feel that this album was in the offing for a while. If not. . . wow.


Mahavishnu Orchestra + the Beegees = The Mars Spinal Tap
The last track has some interesting middle eastern sound scapes. TRACK SYNOPSIS

The first and last tracks are B-side noise and spiritual leftovers of Frances the Mute.

2. Tetragrammaton, or, "The ineffable falsetto of 'Staying Alive". This is the first time we hear double tracked vocals since Deloused, basically. They are extremely high. An interesting if forced composition.

3. Vermicide. Begins with a fart of bass and horns. Slow waltz feel to it. Add slower sections of 'Cassandra Gemini' and there you have it. If you accept the "Close to the Edge" comparison, this could be considered a sort of 'Venture".

4. Meccamputechure. Cederic's vocals are either nasally lower register near-yellings, or autotune-induced harmonies that sound more like a slide guitar, or talk box run through a synth. Take two of Tetragrammaton that does not become relevantly differentiated from it until the last 4 minutes.

5. Asilos Magdalena. The Widow Redux but less dramatic: it never resolves itself, and this is neither effective nor original, being copypasta of The Widow-L'via transition 'word for word' from Frances the Mute. A stronger moment for the album, but not in general.

7. Viscera Eyes. Rehashed L'via beat: Jon Theodore is dragging is feet on this one: the material lacks the dynamics, or at least antics found on the prior two albums to make his percussion a significant contribution to the compositions as a whole. Lyrics: L'via again, but more focused, which is a plus. Here the studio polishing has actually applied itself to a nugget worth cleaning. A good Frusciante played piece if nothing else. Cedric's vocals and lyrics actually stand up to and surpass the best moments of Frances the Mute.

8. Day of the Baphomets. A very bad joke. Introductory bass solo: muddled doodling with horrific tone. Tetragrammaton take 3, and a nose dive at that. Once more, it only gains a foothold in the last 3 minutes a la the bassist inventing something approaching a groove (a taste of Aberinkula to come).

Summary: Their first prog "stadium-Rock" album, their last Jon Theodore album, their first Frusciante dominated album. The beggining of Spinal Tap and the end of Volta (i. e. change). This album is not cinematically esoteric, it is hermetic eclecticism of B-sidedome and the end of what was at first compelling in the group. FAIL: this synthesis of the first two albums could have so easily have been, should have been so much more. .


RESPECT and ADMIRATION
Who said prog bands can't come from El Paso? Awesome music with outstanding guitar play. Great band from El Paso that have a lot of King Crimson spirit. There is no doubt that they are weird but they are weird in a good and interesting way. I will be seeking out more of their work!.


You can see a complete list of all The Mars Volta discography, or go back to the The Mars Volta tabs. There is also a good guide on how to read guitar tabs here.

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