The Mars Volta Thread (the band has un-broken up)

[pain of occupation]

None of the TMV side-projects have ever excited me nearly as much as this band, The Mars Volta is probably one of my favorite bands ever and I'm still trying to fill the void...

Seriously, try Closure In Moscow's Pink Lemonade, post haste.

[Train of Naught]

Yes, great album! I found that one in early 2016 and its one of my favorite finds, definitely has some strong tmv vibes in Technochrist and title-track amongst others

[Zantera]

I think At the Drive-in holds up well, and I'd put Relationship of Command in the same tier as Frances or Deloused, but what the members have done since leaving TMV just feels kinda zZzZzZz.

[Pragmaticcircus]

My favorite band of the present

[SoundscapeMN]

bump.

2 things I found in my YouTube feed some may find worth checking out.

1st: Cedric did a "What's in My Bag?" at Amoeba Records. Some cool choices in there..Syd Barrett, Van Dyke Parks and The Flaming Grooves
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TV0ldjAKiLo

Also a channel I subscribe to "The Downfall Network" did a "Retrospective" about the history of TMV. Not too in-depth or anything, but it's a decent overview for 23 minutes
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uqAfenDccQE&t=0s

[SoundscapeMN]

bump.

https://consequenceofsound.net/2018/02/cedric-bixler-zavala-teases-return-of-the-mars-volta-we-will-be-back-soon/

"We will be back soon"

[SoundscapeMN]

bump.

kind of cool analysis/opinions of The Volta history

Understanding The Mars Volta Part 1
Understanding The Mars Volta Part 2

Part 3 is coming soon i guess.

[SoundscapeMN]

bump.


check out this video game

https://steenstn.github.io/game/new/index2.html?fbclid=IwAR3gVuZ27vZ13jsEtTxf50luYcraisMrxEYnrPVuC1TOa_BJBHDDAaR-ROo

[lucasembarbosa]

bump.


check out this video game

https://steenstn.github.io/game/new/index2.html?fbclid=IwAR3gVuZ27vZ13jsEtTxf50luYcraisMrxEYnrPVuC1TOa_BJBHDDAaR-ROo

Good news, nice promotion. Absolutely loved the 8-bit version of the songs!

[SoundscapeMN]

bump.

Cedric alluded to working with Omar in the studio ("Puerto Rican Bernie Sanders")[url]

[SoundscapeMN]

bump.

https://consequenceofsound.net/2019/05/the-mars-volta-reunion/

"Early Saturday morning, frontman Cedric Bixler-Zavala hinted at the band’s impending comeback in a tweet. Responding to a fan who said “I dream with you guys giving TMV a new chapter,” Bixler-Zavala replied, “It’s happening.”

[King Puppies and the Acid Guppies]

Hopefully whatever new stuff they do is more in line with Deloused, Frances, and Amputechture.

[Crow]

Hopefully whatever new stuff they do is more in line with Deloused, Frances, and Amputechture.

yeah, otherwise i ain't even interested tbh

[Sebastián Pratesi]

Here's another tweet by Cedric, in the form of a picture. I guess this makes it official then.

https://twitter.com/cedricbixler_/status/1132678925539090432

[ThatOneGuy2112]

Whatever form this takes, I'm here for it. Hard not to be at least a little excited considering they are one of my favorite bands of all time. Every album they've put out has been at the very least pretty good (yes, even Octahedron).

Now, considering the passing of Ikey, I wonder how this is actually going to pan out. Either way, im definitely keeping my eyes out for this.

[King Puppies and the Acid Guppies]

Octahedron wasn't even the worst. That award goes to the steaming pile that was Bedlam in Goliath 

[Nel]

Octahedron wasn't even the worst. That award goes to the steaming pile that was Bedlam in Goliath 

  I freaking love the first half of Octahedron. It's like a 1-2-3-4 punch of greatness.

[Sebastián Pratesi]

Now, considering the passing of Ikey, I wonder how this is actually going to pan out. Either way, im definitely keeping my eyes out for this.

You know Ikey wasn't a member towards the end of the band's lifetime, right? For all we know, they could be planning to return with the Noctourniquet line-up.

By the way, I just noticed Cedric deleted some of these recent posts earlier today.

[Crow]

Octahedron wasn't even the worst. That award goes to the steaming pile that was Bedlam in Goliath 

yeah bedlam is nigh-unlistenable. the last album whaetver it was called wasn't much better. octahedron's fine, just a bit dull iirc

[ThatOneGuy2112]

Hot take: Bedlam in Goliath is their 3rd best. So much of that album is pure fire.

[SoundscapeMN]

if it could get remixed and remastered, I might agree with you.

The songwriting is really good on Bedlam, but most of it is still unlistenable for me due to hot production and mixing.

[ThatOneGuy2112]

Yeah, there are definitely spots where the constant clipping and overall compression are a bit much. I won't lie though, there are some tracks that are so wild and face melting I just turn up the volume and don't care sometimes.

[Train of Naught]

Ranking time!!!

1. Frances the Mute
2. Amputechture

3. Deloused in the Comatorium
4. Bedlam In Goliath
5. Noctourniquet

6. Octahedron


Noctourniquet was such a big grower, for me all except Octahedron have the ‘masterpiece’ status. One of my favourite / probably my favourite band of all time
I’m not sure how I feel about the thought of a reunion.. I feel like if the magic is gone it might just sound like Antemasque which was pretty boring in comparison

Re: Bedlam That’s such a manic and unique album in their discography, I looove how crazy/reckless it sounds, and towards the end it’s just trippy/psychedelic to the max. On the odd day that could beat Deloused and crack the top 3 for me

[ThatOneGuy2112]

1. Deloused in the Comatorium
2. Frances the Mute
3. The Bedlam in Goliath
4. Amputechture
5. Noctourniquet
6. Octahedron

In only 6 records, I love how pretty much each one scratches a very different musical itch than the next for me, part of what keeps me coming back to their discography no matter what. It took me a while to come around to Noctourniquet as well, but when it clicked for me, it definitely clicked. I like Octahedron well enough for sure, and it has its place in their catalog that stands out, but it does lack the memorability that all their albums have in spades of, if only just a bit.

[BRGM]

In only 6 records, I love how pretty much each one scratches a very different musical itch than the next for me, part of what keeps me coming back to their discography no matter what.

And this is why it's impossible for me to rank their albums, any given album could be my number one on any given day (except for Noctourniquet, though it has some Great songs as well). I for one love both Bedlam and Octahedron to bits!

Wow, interesting to see what they come up with if there's new music in the making.

[SoundscapeMN]

bump.

very sad news, Bassist Juan Aldrete was in a bike accident and is suffering from a Brain injury 

https://www.facebook.com/JuanAldereteBass/photos/a.146765125457270/1817890465011386/?type=3&theater

[ProfessorPeart]

bump.

very sad news, Bassist Juan Aldrete was in a bike accident and is suffering from a Brain injury 

https://www.facebook.com/JuanAldereteBass/photos/a.146765125457270/1817890465011386/?type=3&theater

I literally just saw this thanks to Paul Gilbert and Racer X doing something to raise money for Juan. They now had a GoFundMe for his medical expenses.

https://www.gofundme.com/f/fundraiser-juan-alderete-brain-injury

[SoundscapeMN]

bump.

new album coming soon?

https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=10159119718502560&id=8755222559

[twosuitsluke]

Looks like is a huge vinyl boxset, not a new album.

Who knows, if this sells well maybe they'd release a new album. We can only hope.

[Fritzinger]

It's 18 LPs in a huge box (I would have to know the format of this box and if it will fit on my shelf). But it's like 500 bucks  I hope they rerelease the albums one by one as well.

[twosuitsluke]

It's 18 LPs in a huge box (I would have to know the format of this box and if it will fit on my shelf). But it's like 500 bucks  I hope they rerelease the albums one by one as well.

Yea same. I'm not fussed about owning everything on vinyl and I'm certainly not in a position to spend $500 on it! Not without compromising my marriage 

They may wait a good year before selling individually though. I only want Deloused and Frances.

[Fritzinger]

I might be captain obvious saying that this is just too expensive, but 18 LPs costing 500 bucks, that means every single LP costs around 27 dollars. Frances The Mute has 3LPs, so basically, that album alone would cost over 80 dollars. A 2LP album is pretty standard nowadays and usually costs somewhere between 20 and 30 bucks. Here, every 2LP set would be over 50 dollars. Sorry, but nah. There are a bunch of other boxsets that I have yet to purchase. I haven't even bought the Steven Wilson remixes of the classic YES albums, and that one was reasonably priced.

[SoundscapeMN]

https://us.cloudshillshop.com/collections/new-upcoming-releases/products/the-mars-volta-la-realidad-de-los-suenos-vinyl-box-set

April 23rd - La Realidad De Los Sueños

US STORE NOW SOLD OUT!

lol. Only 5,000 copies and a rabid fanbase, can't be too surprised.

Let's hope they come to their senses and issue at least all the proper studio records individually at an affordable price; although I wonder Cedric and Omar like how rare/unique and collector's item-like their vinyl records are, they may not want to.

But that only encourages more Unauthorized/Bootleg pressings like the 1 I bought of Frances a few years ago (not realizing it was unauthorized at the time).

[Fritzinger]

Wow, already sold out. I'm not used to that in prog  Sometimes prog bands issue vinyl versions limited to 100 and they can still be bought months after their release for 25 euros at the official store.

[darkshade]

Wow, already sold out. I'm not used to that in prog  Sometimes prog bands issue vinyl versions limited to 100 and they can still be bought months after their release for 25 euros at the official store.

TMV may be prog, but they are also a crossover band, they have had some mainstream success, the band's origins come from a totally different scene, and their fan base goes beyond prog circles.