The Mars Volta Discography Thread

[hefdaddy42]

Is this still going, or is it over with?

[Zantera]

There's two more albums to go, technically

[hefdaddy42]

There's two more albums to go, technically

Yeah, I know.  But it's been a month since the last post.

[James Mypetgiress]

I have some free time later (after I've finished revising for my music tech exam) so I guess I can do them both at the same time.
This thread is such a fucking mess.

[James Mypetgiress]

Octahedron
Tracklist:
1.   "Since We've Been Wrong"  (7:22)
2.   "Teflon" (5:06)
3.   "Halo of Nembutals" (5:32)
4.   "With Twilight as My Guide" (7:54)
5.   "Cotopaxi" (3:40)
6.   "Desperate Graves" (4:58)
7.   "Copernicus" (7:24)
8.   "Luciforms"  (8:22)
iTunes Bonus Tracks:
9.   "Cotopaxi" (live) (3:26)
Personnel:
Omar Rodríguez-López – guitar, synthesizers, drum machine
Cedric Bixler-Zavala – vocals
Juan Alderete – bass guitar
Thomas Pridgen – drums
Marcel Rodríguez-López – keyboards, synthesizers, mellotron, percussion
Isaiah "Ikey" Owens (He was credited, however, did not actually play on the record)
Reception:
Received a mostly positive reception. A score of 66/100 on Metacritic. The New York Times and Boston Globe gave it mostly positive reviews. Boston Globe stated that  "Guitarist Omar Rodriguez-Lopez and singer Cedric Bixler-Zavala are the creative duo driving the band and once again deliver on a standing promise to blow any mind that is willing to stay open." There were, however, some mixed and negative reviews, for example, The Scotsman gave the album a review of 3/5, saying "it employs stillness as a set-up for all manner of disruption: sharply pealing riffs, phantasmagorical metaphors, convoluted song structures. In many ways it's a typical effort from the guitarist Omar Rodriguez-Lopez and the vocalist Cedric Bixler-Zavala, who make up the Mars Volta's core. But that's not to discredit the more measured side of Octahedron. Presented as an eight-song suite, the album delivers a panoramic range of intensity, sliding along that range in ways both gradual and startling."
Sorry this is short. It's nearly 2AM here. I'm bloody tired, but, hey. At least this thread is back again.

[Zantera]

Even though it's not as good as their first 4 albums, I enjoy Octahedron as more of a laid back album. It's definitely good and a song like "With Twilight as my Guide" really stands out. 

[James Mypetgiress]

Even though it's not as good as their first 4 albums, I enjoy Octahedron as more of a laid back album. It's definitely good and a song like "With Twilight as my Guide" really stands out. 

I remember Cedric said in an interview that it was more pop-orientated as an album. It's the one Mars Volta album I don't own (never got round to picking it up) so I can't comment on it, but I can't imagine TMV releasing an album that is even kinda pop related 

[Zantera]

It's definitely not that progressive compared to their other albums. It's more straight forward structure wise and the songs are more chill. A lot of softer songs.

[BRGM]

This is a huge step up from bedlam in my opinion, not as great as the first three but it's still pretty awesome. With Twilight, Desperate Graves and Copernicus are probably my favorites here. I really like the laid back mood of this album. Oh, and Pridgens drumming is so much better here than on Bedlam.

[James Mypetgiress]

The Final Album...

Noctourniquet
Release Date - March 26, 2012
Recorded - 2009–2011
Tracklist:
1.   "The Whip Hand" (4:49)
2.   "Aegis" (5:11)
3.   "Dyslexicon" (4:22)
4.   "Empty Vessels Make the Loudest Sound" (6:43)
5.   "The Malkin Jewel" (4:44)
6.   "Lapochka" (4:16)
7.   "In Absentia" (7:26)
8.   "Imago" (3:58)
9.   "Molochwalker" (3:33)
10.   "Trinkets Pale of Moon" (4:25)
11.   "Vedamalady" (3:54)
12.   "Noctourniquet" (5:39)
13.   "Zed and Two Naughts" (5:36)
Bonus Tracks:
14.   "The Malkin Jewel" (live) (5:08) (Japan Only)
Personnel:
Omar Rodríguez-López – guitar, keyboards, synths, bass, direction, arrangements
Cedric Bixler-Zavala – vocals, lyrics
Juan Alderete – bass guitar
Deantoni Parks – drums
Note: Marcel Rodríguez-López (Brother of Omar) is credited on the album, but only appeared on the Japanese bonus track.
Summary:
Noctourniquet is the sixth and final studio album by American progressive rock band The Mars Volta, released on March 26, 2012 on Warner Bros Records. As usual, production of the record was handled by guitarist Omar Rodriguez-Lopez, this is also the band's only studio album to feature drummer Deantoni Parks, who later went on to perform in the Omar Rodriguez-Lopez Group. It debuted on the Billboard 200 at #15 with 21,000 albums sold in its first week.
Reception:
The album so far has a score of 72 out of 100 from Metacritic, meaning it received generally favourable reviews.  The Fly gave it four stars out of five and said that the band's narratives "have been stronger before, but 'Noctourniquet' remains abject absurdity masquerading as sexy heroism." Another positive review, from Spin, who gave the album a score of seven out of ten and said it "really does feel like the band's most accessible effort in years." Other reviews are average or mixed, such as Rolling Stone, who gave it three stars out of five and said, "Some songs explore emulsive alienation... but TMV are at their best dabbling in shades of aggro."
Thanks for reading what will (probably) be the last album post on this thread, unless the hoped reunion happens. Sorry there have been so many breaks.

[PuffyPat]

This is a huge step up from bedlam in my opinion, not as great as the first three but it's still pretty awesome. With Twilight, Desperate Graves and Copernicus are probably my favorites here. I really like the laid back mood of this album. Oh, and Pridgens drumming is so much better here than on Bedlam.

i wouldn't say better, just different.

[Zantera]

Never really got into Noctourniquet. Their weakest album IMO.

[James Mypetgiress]

Never really got into Noctourniquet. Their weakest album IMO.

I wouldn't say it's the weakest. Not their strongest either, though.

[Zantera]

It's either Octahedron or Noctourniquet, and I think the first one has redeemable aspects whereas the latter is mostly just forgettable. I've listened to it several times but I don't remember anything really.

[James Mypetgiress]

It's Noctourniquet

Better.