Album Reviews: Frances The Mute by Mars Volta

[converguenza]

haha u2 cover band.... spot on

[dejohnette]

your review sucks, Frances The Mute it´s a Masterpiece.

[sergiofutbol123]

Man I am not going to read all this comments but dude, The Mars Volta is like the best band I know its muscians all of them have different projects going on if you see Omars projects he cant stop making music! Well I love Mars Volta at an extreme I had to listen to them in depth before getting to how i feel about them now, but man theyre amazing and their music is sick just sick it makes go out of your mind i have gotten like high to this music and without even lighting a joint. Just amazing!

[napkinshower]

lol this guys goofy. i like him. why is he so shaky though?

[ShocknTerror]

Our whole idea of western music has revolved around major and minor scales for hundreds of years, which is why bands like The Mars Volta won't sound good to many people the first listen or two. The more you listen to it the more you become accustomed to different sounds and realize how it all melts together. It just doesn't make sense to our ears if we've never heard it before, but music like this holds it's value over time since you notice more and more with every listen

[ShocknTerror]

So Mars Volta fans don't condemn people for not liking them they don't understand it. That sounds pretentious as fuck but it's true. If you've never heard certain types of rhythms and scales it can be perceived as dissonance to you. The more and more you listen to something dissonant the more you become accustomed to it and the more pleasing it becomes. As for the people who bash this music why don't you open your mind and ears and give it a couple chances instead you may enjoy yourself.

[napkinshower]

@ShocknTerror perfect words.

[Diao7]

U2 COVER BAND CALLED SPARTA!!!HAHAHDJFJVFGG;GG!!!!

[BRGBud2001]

Does this guy have a third arm that he's jerking off with?

[dracield]

@BRGBud2001 lol genius comment

[p5suckchode]

tool sucks. Mars Volta rules

[napkinshower]

@p5suckchode the fact that you mention tool..im giving you a thumbs up!

[cordell2311]

Omar doesn't sing.

[clipcalhoon]

dude are you tripping in this vid?

[TheCompound27]

Amputechture kicks ass. All of their albums do.

[rob5000x1]

you should do a review of amputechture, seems no one recognizes the genius of that album

[salmonphatshoes]

@rob5000x1 Yeah. That one is amazing. Deloused, Frances, and Amptutechture are the best Volta album imo.

[salmonphatshoes]

@rob5000x1 Yeah. That one is amazing. Deloused, Frances, and Amptutechture are the best Volta albums imo.

[RickyShoreSings]

hm, this volta band again, eh? these young lads seem to be cranking up the rock music again.

[MrCotopaxi]

young lads?

[NotGabeNewell]

Very fair review. I love this album though.

[tdscotland17]

u think u can tell i feel strongly about it?!!

[tdscotland17]

I wish i was better at explaining things because this spam (which i apologise for!) doesnt convey how i feel about it very well, im just rubbish at it! But all im trying to say is i havent heard any valid reason why TMV are bad and im not saying everyone should like them, just give me a good reason and il accept it. Hope i dont piss too many people off!

[YoureWrongImRight]

You explained yourself a little too well. lol

[tdscotland17]

its CRAZY to not like something for being complex and elaborate. People just dont understand it or cant be bothered listening to it enough to try and get to grips with it, the proper music lovers are the people who like bands like TMV. This might sound harsh but its like people show some stupidity with some of the comments ive heard.If u were into reading you wouldnt read childrens books that are easy to understand and say The Lord of the Rings was rubbish because it was too elaborate would u?

[YoureWrongImRight]

Oh, man. I hate Lord Of The Rings. I never watched the last 2 until I went on a date to this LOR marathon pyjama party.

It was awful, thank god someone brought weed.

[tdscotland17]

To me, it is just ignorance. I had to listen to the album at least 5-6 times or more before i properly loved it but thats why the true fans of mars volta go on about it so much. Because theres so much in it and because its so dense it makes it 10 times more satisfying than anything else. Moreover, i cant understand the logic of people. Why should TMV's music be criticized for 'being too elaborate'. For me, it shows they have put a massive amount of effort into it and are extremely talented..

[YoureWrongImRight]

I guess not everyone enjoys dense musical tapestries. Some people like Ciara and Jonas Brothers.

Volta has a pretty fan base, so they must be doing something right. I guess they just go over some peoples heads or kids just hate having to put effort into trying to like something.

[rickman33]

I think what turns people off is when they have to sit through 5 minutes of static or some other looped noise (intros to some songs) on their albums. Also, some of the material DOES sound like some sort of filler-improv-noodling. I think it's that stuff that initially turns people off where they then eventually seem to discard the rest.

[tdscotland17]

Ive spent so long trying to get people to listen to this album and get into the mars volta and most people have all said its pretentious, over the top etc etc. I can understand why they say this because it is nothing that anyone is used to. We are subjected to and spoon fed so much drivel by radio and media that anything we hear that is different is immediately dismissed as rubbish. However, although i can understand this mindset of some people i cant see how it can be justified.

[YoureWrongImRight]

I think people rag on Volta because their music is somewhat inaccessible and some kids think making proggy concept albums are lame.

Some people have low IQs and can't deal with far out sounding thang a langs.

I didn't dig THIS album at first, but after a few years, I learned to like it. The first one I got into right away. Maybe they had too much in commen for my taste at first, but now it's 09 and I don't give a shit.

[shiggityshwo]

This is easily my favorite album by anyone, probably because it completely changed my taste in music. It did take me a couple of listens to get over the length of the songs, though, especially with all of the ambiance.

[YoureWrongImRight]

Have you heard anything from the new album yet ?

[shiggityshwo]

Yeah, it's definitely different with it being so mellow and simplified, but I'm enjoying it a lot. To me it's kind of like a novelty, it's good to listen to for one of their albums, but you wouldn't want to see them stay with this style

[shiggityshwo]

France The Mute is easily my favorite album by anyone, probably because it completely changed my taste in music. It took me a couple of listens too before I could really appreciate it, especially with all the ambiance in between songs, but then it blew my mind.

[WolfataDoor]

They are my favorite band of all time. Well for now at least. But I love their music because it's something completely different and diverse. I think more people should give them a chance, because they don't need a camera and press and radio to get them recognition. Give them a chance, because it blows any of that mainstream bs rock on the radio today. I'm glad you got into it.

And for the record, the album is about Cygnus finding his birth mother, or something of that matter.

[YoureWrongImRight]

Yeah, I liked Volta's unconventionalism. The only radio is listen to is crappy college radio.

I think giving Volta just one chance isn't enough though. I disliked this at first but after a few years, but then I gave it another chance, a close listen and it was actually quite thought provoking.

[WolfataDoor]

Yeah, at first their sound is quite alarming and sounds like a giant clusterfuck of noise. But there are tons of layers and everyone in the band has so much talent. I hate how people call them pretentious, that term gets thrown around more than a rag doll in a pack of pitbulls. Have you heard their other albums?

[YoureWrongImRight]

Just the first one, which I enjoyed right away.

And what isn't pretentious these days, anyway, right ?

I think what initially turned me off was the sensory overload and not knowing exactly wtf was going on or what it was about. It was offsetting.

This is the type of music that takes a few listens to appreciate.

[BrendanW]

De Loused was a great record, this is nothing more than pretentious bull-shit "art rock". Can't stand this band. Been very disappointed by all their work except the first EP and record. Too bad seeing as ATDI is one of my all time favorites (rumors of a reunion!).

[YoureWrongImRight]

I bet it would be awkward backstage at an ATDI show.

I didn't listen to this album for years because I found it annoying, so I decided to review it to get some views, but it didn't bother me anymore.

I don't know what happened.

[ashleyanne007]

I love Francis the Mute :)

[YoureWrongImRight]

This album has divided a lot of people.

I thought I hated it, but I guess I don't.

I guess music taste sometimes change as you get older.

[drumsex]

this album is EPIC!!

[attaxwrongnes]

i used to have a smoke then listen to this album with my eyes closed it definitely enhanced it. i think this was there high point as the marz volta the two albums after this are rather meh. But yeh bring back at the drive-in i say.

[YoureWrongImRight]

Yeah, man !

This album is probably best heard with headphones on and bong in hand. For sure.

[crazyrokk696]

Yeah, TMV is really fucking pretentious...Deloused in the Comatorium is really good though. I think they pull the lyrics out of their ass.

Btw, thanks for showing the booklets in your reviews cuz I'm a CD packaging freak

[YoureWrongImRight]

Yeah, cool album art always enhances the listening experience.

[bazookafluke]

Frances the Mute, my least favorite TMV album. You should have reviewed any other album of theirs. If I would have started with this album, I would have never given TMV another shot.

[YoureWrongImRight]

Nice counter statement.

What didn't you like and which TMV album do you like best ?

[bazookafluke]

Nah I wasn't trying to counter anything just stating an opinion. IDK why I disliked this album so much, it just never grew on me like all of their other albums did. My favorite is De-loused.

[YoureWrongImRight]

I used to hate Volta, then I listened to it the other day and it didn't bother me at all.

I think I'm just getting lamer with age. I have De Loused, maybe I'll give it another spin a roo.

[fijberto]

you know what Philip? grab a spoon and eat my ass. Mars Volta schools 95% of your music collection. GOOD DAY SIR!

[YoureWrongImRight]

Hahaha.

I think that just comes down to preference, friend o' mine. But I did underappreciate this when it came out. Some of the weirder passages sounded a little contrived, but Voltas ambitions are admirable.

You should let me know how the later albums made you feel.

[fijberto]

the first 2 are by far my favorite. The 3rd was okay and the 4th didn't really tickle my fancy. I implore u to listen to this on drugs. The more, the better!!!

[YoureWrongImRight]

I only have the first 2, so that should be good enough, eh ?

Did you ever give At The Drive In or Sparta a listen ?

[fijberto]

I gave at the drive in a listen and it didn't do much for me. I felt like it was basically volta with a huge void in it.

[fijberto]

omgomgomogmogmomg mars volta!!!!