The Mars Volta - De-Loused In the Comatorium

[Titan]

The Mars Volta - De-Loused In the Comatorium



Prescript:
I know this is a long intro, but the actual review is short. I know there are fans of this band on the board, and they’ve been discussed before, but there isn’t an actual review of their album, so here ya go. The Mars Volta is made up of Cedric Zavala and Omar Rodriguez-Lopez, the former vocalist and former guitarist of At the Drive-In. Also Jon Theodore on drums, Juan Alderete on bass (Flea from RHCP plays bass on the record, John Fruisciante also helps out on Cicatriz E.S.P., and coincidentally enough, Rick Rubin produced the album) and Isaiah Owens on keyboards. De-Loused In the Comatorium is a conceptual album based on thus:

“Julio Venegas, an artist from El Paso, Texas, committed suicide in 1996. A free spirit and noted provocateur, "He was definitely someone who lived life to the fullest," remembers his friend, Cedric Bixler Zavala. "Toward the end, he acquired a really bad limp from being in a coma. He had tons of scars all over his body and some of his closer friends used to call him Frankenstein. He had big cut marks on his throat, welts and bruises and bumps, and his arm had been shriveled up from shooting up rat poison. He acquired so many scars it was like a walking map."

When Cedric sang for At The Drive-In, he wrote a lyric--‘Embroglio’ on 1996’s Acrobatic Tenement--about Venegas, who had killed himself while that band were rehearsing. "I didn’t feel it really did him justice," he continues, "I felt like a whole record should be dedicated to him."

That record is De-Loused In The Comatorium, the astonishing first album by The Mars Volta. De-Loused In The Comatorium is an iridescent, fearless, brain-busting hour of music, a fictionalized celebration of Julio Venegas’ life. Based on a story written by Cedric, it is a concept album in which the hero tries to commit suicide by overdosing on morphine. Instead of dying, he falls into a coma for a week, and experiences fantastic adventures in his dreams, elemental battles between the good and bad aspects of his conscience. At the end, he emerges from the coma, but chooses to die.”

01-Son et Lumiere 1:35
A short intro track, which actual is basically the beginning of the next track. But it’s split into two parts so that the beginning of Inertiatic E.S.P has a big impact. I definitely prefer listening to the two of them together personally. ‘Cuz you get the buildup and whatnot. It’s quite nice, a great intro track.

02-Intertiatic E.S.P. 4:23
Now I’m lost! Now I’m lo-o-o-o-o-st! A great song to start of the album with. Very fast-paced (like most of these). Very catchy and very innovative vocal lines on top of precise guitar and piano. Tiny changes in forms of the parts of the song make it so you have to listen to it a few times before you can totally follow along. This is probably the catchiest song on the album though, and a real inspiration. Download this for your first preview of this band.

03-Roulette Dares (The Haunt of) 7:30
A bit more laid-back than the last one, though you wouldn’t know by how it starts out. More mellow verse and chorus type-things. Beautiful vocal lines spouting out haunting lyrics, A half mass commute through umbilical blisters. Specter will lurk, radar has gathered midnight nooses from boxcar cadavers. Exoskeletal junction at the railroad delayed. Crazy sound effects found everywhere in this song, a prevalent and productory theme in this album. Yeah, this album has a lot of depth in that respect, which is another reason it’s a great long-lasting album.

04-Tira Me a Las Arañas 1:28
A cute little segue track. It’s not too fancy, kind of random, plenty of strange notes and more of those crazy sound effects. Though I’m sure it would just sound stellar if you’re an avid fan of Phish.

05-Drunkship of Lanterns 7:06
Crazy percussion perks it’s head up at the beginning of this song. Then we get a glimpse of why Flea is one of the best bassists in the world. Beautiful vocals on top of crazy rhythms. These are the types of melodies that are ten times more beautiful the tenth time you listen to them. Excellently odd guitar/drum break down after 2 minutes and then we jut ourselves into a short little chorus type deal. Towards the end: supercrazy fun heavy rock-out guitar outro. Cock=out.

06-Eriatarka 6:20
I cannot get over the beautiful melodies in this song. The curling guitar mixed with the strolling vocals, excellent, very good balance musical and moody. And then we kick into the chorus where the guitar and drums make for a fun rhythm atop the spouting vocals. This is a pretty strong track all around.

07-Cicatriz E.S.P. 12:28
Fucking A man. And the goodness keeps coming. Excellent, excellent grooving rhythms brought out by the bass and drums. Great vocals delivered again as well. This is definitely a head-bobber. Well, my kind of head-bobber. We do a couple verses and choruses before we plunge into this really ambient part that goes on for about 7 or so minutes. This part kind of lags if you’re listening to just this song, but if you’re listening in the context of the album it feels much more appropriate. Ah and then when the rest of the song finally comes back in, ah, it’s great.

08-This Apparatus Must Be Unearthed 4:58
We’re led right into the next song by some ambient reverbery plucking guitarage. And then, lo and behold, it gets crazy again as the guitar squeals. Then we’re plunged into one of the weirded sounded choruses every attempted by a rock band. Just wait 'til the next time it goes into the chorus, it’s an odd transition at first, love it. A weird pitch-shifting-vocal-doubler effect is placed on the vocals for part of that too, which really sounds odd. Post-production crazy outro. So many crazy effects on everything on this album. Have you counted the number of times I’ve said “crazy”?

09-Televators 6:18
Ah, peace at last. A much more mellow laid-back track. Though that does stop Cedric from belting out halfway through. I highly recommend if you’re going to listen to this album, that eventually you look up the lyrics for it. Intrepid. This is one of my favourites of the album simply because it’s so amazing moody. How anyone could listen to emo music after hearing this is beyond me.

10-Take the Veil Cerpin Taxt 8:41
Yeah, and we’re back into the swing of things again. You must have been phlegmatic in stature, the gates of thanos are spread eagle wide. This is definitely a head-bobber. Bobbing. A body-convulsor if willing. Then, wow, an amazing chorus with hauntingly inspiring background vocals. All types of moods going on in this song, and all nicely compact. Eventually a screeching guitar cuts us down into another ambient like downtime. It slowly builds back up with plenty of percussion and into a few different guitar solo areas. Four minutes until we’re introduced into a new full-band section. And yet again that screeching guitar rears it’s head and cues us into one of the most amazing outros ever. So... oh... man... an amazing end to an amazing album, really. I highly encourage you to get this and listen to it all the way through... Chills. Who brought me here? Forsaken, deprived and wrought with fear. Who turned it off? The last thing I remember now, who brought me here? Forsaken, deprived and wrought with fear. Who turned it off? The last thing I remember now, who brought me here?

Titan’s Ranking:
So difficult to rank, except for the intro and segue tracks, all of these are probably in between a 9 and a 10, so note that ranking them is almost useless, I’m just following my normal format. If you want songs to download first, get Inertiatic E.S.P. and Eriatarka.

1. Drunkship of Lanterns
2. Inertiatic E.S.P.
3. Eriatarka
4. Televators
5. Take the Veil Cerpin Taxt
6. Roulette Dares (The Haunt of)
7. Cicatriz E.S.P.
8. This Apparatus Must Be Unearthed
9. Son et Lumiere
10. Tira Me a Las Arañas

Postscript / Titan’s Rating: 98%
This album is an amazing album. By that I mean it’s a great thing for you to listen to all at once. Some of the songs sound much better in context that by themselves. It’s one of the best albums to listen to all of the way through. This album comes highly recommended. It’s easily in my top ten albums ever, and might just make it’s way into the top five. Respect to the Butcher for having the foresight to promote such a great band oh-so-long-ago. Anyone who's heard the album, please don't hesitate to grace us with your opinions. This is a great album for people that are obsessed with music. I think you should all get it, or download it, listen to it all the way through, and then listen to it again. It took me about 5 listens to really know it and be able to follow along. It’s probably my 10th time all the way through now, and I’m absolutely drooling.

The Mars Volta - De-Loused In the Comatorium

poop

[ January 26, 2004, 02:19 PM: Message edited by: Titan ]

[Pliedes]

I can still remember vividly the day when the Butcher and I found this album and picked it up never having actually heard the band, only considering all the amazing pieces that came together to comprise the album.

One of my favorite all-around albums.

Rock. Roll.

[Titan]

I remember when you called me to tell me about said event and you were like "Dude, get this, this band, they've got two guys from At the Drive-In, Flea plays bass, John does some guitar, and Rick Rubin produces it". I was like, huh, that's gotta be crazy. Lo and behold.

[Ugly Bastard]

I like Intertiatic E.S.P. which is the only one on this album I've ever heard.

Someday, when I am in God's grace, and this firewall is lifted....I will steal this album.

Thanks for the review Titan.

-Ugly Bastard

[ninjaface]

I obtained this album.. however the mp3s are low quality. Still a great cd though.

[Titan]

I had some mp3s myself, they were pretty shit quality and I wanted to buy it so I did. It's only $9.95 from Amazon and I found it at the local record shop used but renewed for $7. Fucking A+.

[the Butcher]

Yeh, I had a fucking huge review for this, but then my browser instantly went to another page. Fuck everything, I hate you all.

The Mars Volta can and will amaze you if you give them the chance. However, fuck you all ahead of time, because you don't deserve them.

[Fruitacious B]

Originally posted by Pliedes:
I can still remember vividly the day when the Butcher and I found this album and picked it up never having actually heard the band, only considering all the amazing pieces that came together to comprise the album.

One of my favorite all-around albums.

Rock. Roll.

That's almost precisely what I did. I hadn't really heard any of their songs, I just knew the story behind the band....and upon a suggestion by the Butcher, I ended up just buying it for the hell of it.

This needs restated as well...

Originally posted by the Butcher:
fuck you all ahead of time, because you don't deserve them.

I saw The Mars Volta live in concert, and it was the most awful piece of shit that ever entered my ears... it was obnoxiously loud and lacked any musical... anything. Then my friend started throwing his pocket change and missed the lead singers head by a couple inches and Flea came out and scolded the crowd for that, that was cool.

Side note... I wasnt alone in my oppinions, almost the entire crowd was pissed off that The Mars Volta continued to play despite everyone hating them. There were maybe 2 or 3 people who seemed to enjoy them (and they were rocking their nuts off... so apparently they really really really dig shitty music).

[Pliedes]

I hate you.

[Titan]

Originally posted by DJ FC:
so apparently they really really really dig shitty music

That reminds me of this guy I know that was obsessed with DJ Tiesto.

[silver and cold]

I really like them, and the weird thing is they were playing when I logged on here, and then I saw the review, and my eyes got as big as bowling balls.

I would die to see them live!

[Pliedes]

Originally posted by silver and cold:
I would die to see them live!

Or you could just buy a ticket

[silver and cold]

That would include me having money though, and thats not something you come acrossed to often..

[Pliedes]

You could always get a job. I heard there is this one that is for girls where you're always hired and you make great money... all you have to do is pick a street corner...

[silver and cold]

I have a job, and no it does not involve any street corners! But all the lovely bills I pay cause a shortage on cash.

[long-since-forgotten]

For all you mars volta fans I just checked their site and they will be playing in chicago on march 16 at the UIC pavillion. They just don't have ticket or door prices up yet.

[Titan]

Dammit long, if there are a punch of pussy-licking, ass-wiping Warsaw-dwelling shit-faces at that show now I'll be holding you personally responsible (and that's not a good thing).

[Dr. Seuss]

Actually, they're not playing March 16th to my knowledge, but they are playing April 16th. With A Perfect Circle. AWESOME.

[Constance]

This is a weird fucking album. But I liked it.

[Titan]

Originally posted by Dr. Seuss:
Actually, they're not playing March 16th to my knowledge, but they are playing April 16th. With A Perfect Circle. AWESOME.

Kay so now I'm holding both of you equally responsible. But seriously are either of you going? We have a party of... eight so far I think. It's going to be the best show ever.

Originally posted by Constance:
This is a weird fucking album. But I liked it.

Constance, again, you rule.
Oh by the way, how do you feel about John Mayer?

[ January 27, 2004, 09:25 PM: Message edited by: Titan ]

[Dr. Seuss]

There is a good chance I'll be going. Maybe. Possibly. Yeah.

[Titan]

They recently announced that Televators is going to be the next single. Could have sworn they'd pick Drunkship. I lose.

One day this chalk outline will circle this city. Was he robbed of the asphalt that cushioned his face? A room-coloured charlatan, hid in a safe. Stalk the ground.

Fucking brilliant.

In other news, my De-loused In the Comatorium storybook just came in the mail, and it's actually longer than I thought it would be. I'm very excited about this.

[ January 27, 2004, 09:56 PM: Message edited by: Titan ]

[Dr. Seuss]

So I saw the Mars Volta and APC in Indianapolis on the 17th. The Mars Volta were one of the most boring bands EVER. After 45 minutes of them playing, I was trying to fall asleep standing up. Fortunately, A Perfect Circle was awesome so the show wasn't a waste of money. I know you all wanted to know this so I brought this thread back from the dead to share it with you all. Your welcomeeeeeee.