New Mars Volta ups voltage
Tom Holzerman
Issue date: 3/11/05 Section: Entertainment
Back in the days when progressive rock was still nascent, artists like King Crimson, Yes, Pink Floyd and Genesis pushed the boundaries of song length into unheard-of territories outside of the radio-friendly two-to-three minute ditties that were the standard of the time in rock. At first, they experimented with mid range time songs that went anywhere between seven and 10 minutes.
Songs like "21st Century Schizoid Man," "Roundabout" and "The Musical Box" were revolutionary in terms of their sheer length, and even those songs gave rise to 20-minute epics like "Tarkus," "Close to the Edge" and "Supper's Ready." However, the excess and self-indulgence of prog artists turned people away from the genre and towards the simpler, rawer elements of punk rock.
However, as with any style of anything that was popular in the '70s, prog rock has once again come back into style with a new breed of bands like Porcupine Tree, Dream Theater and The Mars Volta especially.
The Mars Volta's first full-length album, De-Loused in the Comatorium, turned many people's heads and not just for John Frusciante and Flea making guest appearances; drawing comparisons to Pink Floyd, TMV was seen as the return to real theatric and druggy music that bands like Floyd churned out in the '70s.
That first album was full of those middle length suites. Their latest album, Frances the Mute, much like the olden prog bands, takes that to a whole new level.
The album consists of five tracks and is over 80 minutes in length. Among those tracks is the oddly titled "Miranda That Ghost Just Isn't Holy Anymore," which clocks in at over 27 minutes. Folks, this is prog at its most classic levels, but TMV still manages to sound modern and progressive.
Musically, the album contains many of the tape effects and Carlos Santana influenced-guitar solos that were present on the first, but with this album, an entire other wall of sound has been added. Horns, strings and even a flute- something that would make Ian Anderson and Peter Gabriel quite happy- were among the instruments used on this album. Frusciante and Flea make another appearance for TMV with their talents. Flea shows he's as adept with a trumpet as he is with the bass guitar.
All in all, this sophomore effort is about as solid as you will find. Prog is alive and doing quite well with The Mars Volta. Pick up Frances the Mute right away, as right now, it's the early favorite to be album of the year.
Rating: 4 triangles
Songs like "21st Century Schizoid Man," "Roundabout" and "The Musical Box" were revolutionary in terms of their sheer length, and even those songs gave rise to 20-minute epics like "Tarkus," "Close to the Edge" and "Supper's Ready." However, the excess and self-indulgence of prog artists turned people away from the genre and towards the simpler, rawer elements of punk rock.
However, as with any style of anything that was popular in the '70s, prog rock has once again come back into style with a new breed of bands like Porcupine Tree, Dream Theater and The Mars Volta especially.
The Mars Volta's first full-length album, De-Loused in the Comatorium, turned many people's heads and not just for John Frusciante and Flea making guest appearances; drawing comparisons to Pink Floyd, TMV was seen as the return to real theatric and druggy music that bands like Floyd churned out in the '70s.
That first album was full of those middle length suites. Their latest album, Frances the Mute, much like the olden prog bands, takes that to a whole new level.
The album consists of five tracks and is over 80 minutes in length. Among those tracks is the oddly titled "Miranda That Ghost Just Isn't Holy Anymore," which clocks in at over 27 minutes. Folks, this is prog at its most classic levels, but TMV still manages to sound modern and progressive.
Musically, the album contains many of the tape effects and Carlos Santana influenced-guitar solos that were present on the first, but with this album, an entire other wall of sound has been added. Horns, strings and even a flute- something that would make Ian Anderson and Peter Gabriel quite happy- were among the instruments used on this album. Frusciante and Flea make another appearance for TMV with their talents. Flea shows he's as adept with a trumpet as he is with the bass guitar.
All in all, this sophomore effort is about as solid as you will find. Prog is alive and doing quite well with The Mars Volta. Pick up Frances the Mute right away, as right now, it's the early favorite to be album of the year.
Rating: 4 triangles
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