I've listened to this album 3 times today, and will probably go for a forth. I really like it, and it's apparently just the sound I'm looking for in a Mars Volta record.
I'm far from a huge fan, and if anything I find the band fairly overrated. I really like Deloused, and there are songs on Frances that I adore (The Widow and L'Via L'Viaquez³) but other than that I find the album overrated. As for their others, I enjoy them but can't say they come anywhere near all time favourite records.
I'm not gonna sit here and say I miss their old sound because I'm really not that invested. But, I do really like their new sound, and I'm wanting to spin this 4 times in a day, so it must be doing something right. I've seem a lot of people on reddit moaning about the change but I'm along for the ride and having a grand time.