Reviews (page 8 of 9)
The best part of 'At-The-Drive-In' breaking up was the subsequent formation of this band. Experimental and energized they assault the listener but in a great way.
Am I into psychedelic rock? Not really. Did I dig this album? I did! Three stars for an interesting listen. Cedric Bixler-Zavala's vocals are fantastic, but not enough for me to want to make whole albums a frequent listen (or four stars).
A proggy rock album. I imagine I would have liked this in my late teens. Now I don't really feel it. I played it through yesterday, listening to it again this morning, nothing is striking me as memorable.
Ok
New and great
Mistenke at da kan bli litt slitsomt i lengden, men enn så lenge va da bra
Very 2003, but love the progginess of it all with the interconnected tracks.
The bleeds of the outros into Intros were great and sounded cosmic? Really different from other shot I’ve heard lately. Not bad
My friends loved this in high school. I still don’t get it. It’s interesting, crazy paces, lots of highs and lows, intense vocals, erratic. Definitely unique and definitely interesting but I think a little too unconventional for me liking.
Band and their music all new to me, so it was interesting to give this a listen. Frenetic and jarring at times, lots of chaos at times as well, yet definitely intriguing art here, enough so that I'll want to give this one another listen or two and explore some of their other work.
bad
An enjoyable ear journey.
Needlessly excessive. Other than that, I loved it.
Album left me a bit confused and I'm not sure whether I like it or hate it. It definitely has some good elements, but also a lot of noise.
Another favorite
Very good but too dense
The Mars Volta is what was leftover after the breakup of At The Drive In. Two members remained, and this was their first album. Very frantic and experimental.
By coincidence I just listened to this album a few days ago. It's great!
Hated this when I first heard it 18-ish years ago. It’s still a difficult album to get through, but I appreciate what it’s trying to do a bit more now.
Learned about this band through Flea and John Frusciante playing on their albums, haven't listened to it in a while and frankly forgot how much I like their music. I don't think I've heard mars volta music I didn't like but it does require me to be in a certain mood but when I am it's brilliant!
Mostly cool sounds with some noise inbetween
Sounds decent but seems very overrated. Top review gave me a chuckle
Rating: 10/10
Brilliant in every way: song writing, palpable energy, performance of every instrument, vocals for the ages. This album and band have long been an obsession!
Well, this was awesome. I don’t recognize a single bit of it, although I should have been exposed when it was new back in 2003. I don’t think I would have been ready to like it then, but I love it now. I’m still never a fan of the screamo voice. But I could look past it, and maybe after repeated lessons I’ll get over it. That’s really the only drawback!
I know a lot of people I know loved this album back in the day, but I never bothered with it at the time... I think this is what you'd call math rock. Beloved of drummers. It's technically so smart it hurts. Like a hard rock/jazz fusion. I can admire the accomplishment and skill that went into it, but I will never be able to love it - sounfs a bit toouch like the inside of my head on a bad trip, or a musical version of ADHD.
Unrivaled. Don't think it's their best album (I have a weakness for France The Mute) but definitely a 5-start
De-Loused in the Comatorium (commonly referred to as De-Loused) is the debut album by American progressive rock band the Mars Volta. It is a concept album about a man who entered a week-long coma after overdosing on morphine and rat poison. The music on this album is primarily progressive rock and art rock, but it also contains influences from psychedelia, Latin jazz, heavy metal, and punk rock. De-Loused was a critical and commercial success, becoming the band's biggest hit. However, it's not a great album to listen to in the background, as it requires a listener's full attention to really absorb all the intricate details. For this reason, I may have to give it another listen, but for my first time through it sounded pretty good.
Not bad at all
Cool progressive rock album with heavy metal elements. The album gels well song to song and is cohesive. This album might be just a tad to hard for me. Its a cool listen though. Recommend, but only if you have listened to this kind of music before. Great vocals! Tight group. Really cool arrangements for the songs. A lot of the songs felt arbitrarily long just for the sake of being long. I will probably listen to this album again as it seems like the kind of album you need to listen to many times to fully appreciate. 3.25/5
Kuuntelin tän kerran kunnolla läpi, ja jo silloin se tuntui vähän työläältä. Kun palasin tähän albumiin uudelleen arvostelua varten, niin jouduin pitkälti vaan skippailemaan kappaleesta toiseen. Löysin tästä kyllä paljon hyvääkin etenkin kahden tai kolmen ensimmäisen kappaleen aikana, mutta niissäkin kertosäkeet meni välillä vähän oman ärsytyskynnyksen yli, kuten kävi monen muunkin kappaleen kanssa tällä levyllä.
Did not like, annoying rock
I see why people find interesting, but it is grating
Make it stop....PLEASE!!!! 1.5 stars
Well, another band I have had a lot of reservations about - to me the Mars Volta are rather overwrought - from the name, to the lyrics, to the 8 min songs. On paper they should have been one of my favourite bands - being that I was a big fan of At The Drive In... but.. anyway.. back to this album My first reaction at revealing this album was of dismay, however, I actually enjoyed most of it - a lot of it stuck from previous listens, oh so many years ago, and it still holds up after all these years. I actually liked it quite a bit especially given I started with a negative precondition. All in all it has a lot to sink your teeth into, and the intricacies of the songs aren't going to turn up within 24 hours - however, it's a solid record, despite its length, it's never boring, and merrily steam rolls through its 1 hour of length easily. One thing about this 1001 album exercise - it gives you perspective - I've now hear albums which have the traits I had disliked about Mars Volta, amplified many times over, so in comparison, this is almost feels like a Ramones album in terms of lean-ness - only relatively.
streak of very good shit
No idea what is being sung, but it's ok
Some machine gun riffs a la at the drive-in, but an awful lot of incomprehensible rock singing and unnecessary "atmospheric" noises. Starts well, especially the first ESP, but could be more succinct and tighter.
Really a lot of noise. Some of it better than others, but I’m learning I’m really into harmonies and singable songs. Not for me (although Eriatarka got close for a minute). But bonus points for titles in Spanish.
Well I did not enjoy that. I think if I was captured behind enemy lines and they said tell us everything or we will force you to listen to Mars Volta…with no skips! I would buckle immediate and tell them everything
Very rocking and much like At The Drive-in. Not at all like 30 Seconds to Mars.
I like prog rock but this album is a bit to frantic for my taste.
I just knew Rush and Dream Theater. This wasn't an easy listening, it took me a few plays, and even though I have mixed feelings about the nonsensical lyrics, I can't get out of my head that exoskeletal junction at the railroad delayed. Love the complexity, the changes in tempo, and especially the drums. I'll be checking out their other albums soon.
😒
Recuerdo haber escuchado este disco alla cuando fue lanzado y no lo entendi mucho, no entendi la propuesta ni la idea ni la musica. yo estaba ahi por las guitarras y las melodias, pero todas las complejidades me pasaron por alto. Supongo que nunca es tarde para recuperar un disco, para volver al pasado y escuchar aquello que se ignoro. Mas vale tarde que nunca. Al final, este disco es toda una sorpresa, un rock progresivo lleno de ideas y recovecos, un album que se puede escuchar una y otra vez.
I've listened to it twice and I'm still not sure whether I like it or not.
what is this? prog metal? it sounds pretty cool I don’t like metal but I love bands that make the most out of the genre, Mr. Bungle is probably the best example anyway, this was really enjoyable I’d say it’s a solid 8/10
Maybe wasn't the right day for me to listen to this intently, so it was more in the background. Music is solid if a little stretched out, lyrics more conjuring up a mood l guess? Idk having a companion book to explain the album is weird. Seems like a dumb story anyway Fave tracks: inertiatic esp,eriatarka
The start was extremely strong but the tail end of the album blended together
Muse als schrille, viel zu hektische, junge Progressiv Rock Band
weird not sure
Meh
Pleasantly surprised. Fast paced songs. Heavy rock on a lot of songs. Sounds a bit like Rush without the long hippy nerdy interludes, and with maybe some Rusted Root percussion thrown in on some and some fast System of A Down or Tool type patterns on others. Definitely some tricky drum rhythms. There are some slow filler type songs mixed in that I would rather skip, but the fast ones hit pretty hard.
Interesting instrumentation and good guitar, not a massive fan of the vocal style unfortunately.
no thx
10/03/2022 Playing a lot of catch-up today. This album was a fucking monster. The instruments go so fucking hard, they step on your chest, and don't take their weight off of you for the entirety of the album. I really love the singer's voice. There seems to be some kind of ominous, dark energy surrounding this album though, so I'm not sure if it was good enough to pull me back in for another listen. I'm very particular about my sad and brooding albums They remind me of so many different bands all at once. Muse was the first that came to my mind. I would typically give an album like this 3 stars, but the instrumentation on this album is just so incredible and so tight that I have to bump it up to four stars even though it's unlikely that I would ever listen again.
Excellent band, unique sound and excellent album.
Me gustaron los climas sonoros, lo progresivo, el estilo de tocar la guitarra de Omar Rodríguez-López, pero no me gustan las canciones.
This is something between 2 and 3. Some moments are pretty prog-good, but it's not my style.
Not bad
Not exactly an easy listening; I like certain kinds of progressive rock but this is a tad too much for me. Roulette dares was the one song I kinda digged, the rest is okay to meh.
Got some Tool vibes from this one that I really enjoyed. I kinda scoffed at a "prog rock" album at first, but I actually dug this. Flea is cool.
This was really good. Trippy, creative, hard driving and free-ranging. Lyrics are completely obtuse, but I don't even mind. A lot of subtle moving parts in these songs. I imagine you'd hear something new every time you listen to it. Fave Songs: Roulette Dares (The Haunt Of), Inertiatic ESP, Drunkship of Lanterns, Eriatarka, Son et lumière, Televators
Would have been 4 stars but I don't care for some of the vocals
I was not familiar with this band prior to listening. I judged the album by it's cover and name. I did not have high hopes but I listened. The lyrics are a mess and nonsensical. The music itself was generally ok but it also got a little eccentric an unnecessary. I didn't skip any songs so that's a plus but the album didn't need to be an hour long. No need to listen to again. It is better than a 1 but not really a 2. I will round up but it was a close call.
Pleasantly surprised by this one as well. Definitely not within my general listening sphere. A chaotic listen and blend of different genres.
Didn't get it first time hearing it, but I really enjoyed it after listening to it a few time afterwards.
don't like it, trying to be catchy High voices, empty riffraffs
Impressive modern prog rock, notes of Rush and King Crimson with some touches of modern rock like My Chemical Romance. Liked it but lyrically it overly reaches to be something nuanced
Fun one. Tapped into my 70’s prog rock concept album pleasure center. A little like Muse making The Wall.
Incredibly weird at points but I think it makes the record a fun experience. The lyrics are fine, the vocals are cool, the guitars are great and the drums are so active. The production was incredible and the album was comprehensive which is a great thing for any album. No song sticks out in a bad way, they're all interesting and fun to listen to. Favorite Track: This Apparatus Must Be Unearthed, Inertiatic Esp Least Favorite Track: Tira Me a Las Aranas
Very good must listen again. It’s like MCR meets prog rock
A reminder I didn't need for why I dislike most of the rock music that originates in the USA (and for why I don't like Muse that much, either).
Unrelenting and whip-smart
One of the best! Prog rock with fresh sounds, still feels cutting edge 20 years later.
This is one of those albums that took me a few times to really get into. Which I've luckily done already a few years ago. If I had heard it for the first time today, I might've written it off as prog rock that is trying too hard to make as many sounds as possible. The whole fusion of jazz, experimental, latin, sound manipulation and straightup hardcore matches so remarkably well that the whole album feels like a storytelling. The switching between spacy, balladlike singing and fullblown machinegun drumming keeps you on your toes the whole time.
Classic prog weirdness. Love this album.
Just yesterday I typed in my Aqualung review how Mars Volta is one of my exceptions where I can ignore the obscurity and abstrusity of the lyrics. And here they are on my doorstep. What makes them different then? Maybe it's the conviction with which Cedric belts out his cryptic lyrics. Perhaps it's Omar's beautiful guitar work that accompanies the whole thing. Or the fact that they really just throw you into the deep end of their fucked up fantasy world with no life preserver, while other prog bands offer you the occasional respite in the kiddie pool. You either learn to swim and love it, or drown, but you're never going to find yourself surrounded by a bunch of kids with pool noodles splashing and peeing in the water (peeing in the water is my analogy for prog bands that get a little too sybaritic). In other words, I appreciate that Mars Volta have their vision, and go all the way with it, holding nothing back, no subtlety, no pandering, this music is theirs and on their terms. And damn if it doesn't sound great! As much as I dislike this ugly cover, and don't want to see it muck up my flawless summary page, I can't deny that this is as good as prog-rock gets in my book. 5 stars!
7/10 this is dope
The Mars Volta is a band I've heard of but never listened to. I know they're popular with NERDS though. ONE HOUR LATER: I thought the singer was a chick until Wikipedia said it wasn't. It was alright out of the gate but became very long by the end. It's pretty far up its own arse. Wouldn't listen again, but I did enjoy the first 20min or so. 3/5.
An album I probably would’ve liked had I hear it when it came out. It’s noisy, inventive, dramatic. Lyricism leaves a lot to be desired. Didn’t finish the whole thing
A solid prog rock album. It has some great moments on it
this is definitely what King Charles III is listening to to come to terms with the death of his mumsy. i never got the mars volta before, probably because i was a simpleton indie centric tosser, maybe its the death of a monarch that has opened my Rudi van DiSarzio style 'Door of Kukundu' and allowed the light in. some of this is brilliant.
I once had to be deloused before entering a kindergarten. It was so undignified and really embarrassed me in front of all the kinders. I went a hot shade of crimson and two of the cooler boys pointed and laughed at me. I got my revenge.
Even Scott Davidson likes this
It's impossible to review this album without sounding like a pretentious twat...so I'm not going to bother. Listen to it yourself you lazy sods.
It’s not for me. It has a lot of good stuff going for it, early aughts prog revival, Flea performed on a few tracks, band member dies tragically of a drug overdose before the album release. I’m just not able to meet it half way.
Wow what an amazing album - every song was great
Surprisingly good rock! Musical and heavy when it needs to be.
This album was odd and I liked it.
OK album but worth noting that it doesnt have any singles on it. Its a good listen but its very much the kind of album that you have to listen to the whole thing all the way through in the order they recorded it. Its not one that I plan to listen to again or anything. 2/5
Amazing!
Interesting sounds. Maybe shouldn’t listen to it at 8 in the morning.
Didn’t hate this one nor did I live it. Some good high paced jam but just not the music for me
Pretty interesting album although I would definitely not say I enjoyed it very much. Its creative though I'll give them that and its better than a ton of shitty albums we've heard on here. The mid volta 3/10
Dudes voice kind of annoying
Classic
They're definitely doing something. Not really sure what it is but it's not nothing. Something like the thing that Radiohead does but way less like that thing. It's definitely not nothing. Certainly made me think about what the thing is a lot. Still not sure. For the amount it's made me think I'm technically bound to give it a five star by my universal rating rationale but it doesn't feel like the right thing to do in this instance. Getting toward the end now, Cicatriz Esp starting to bring it together. Holy fuck what a bring back! Nah five stars.
ALBUM GRADE: B ALBUM RATING: 3.89 TRACK RATINGS: 1. Son et Lumière - 4.0 2. Inertiatic ESP - 4.0 3. Roulette Dares (The Haunt of) - 4.0 4. Tira Me a las Arañas - 3.5 5. Drunkship of Lanterns - 3.5 6. Eriatarka - 4.0 7. Cicatriz ESP - 4.0 8. This Apparatus Must Be Unearthed - 3.5 9. Televators - 4.0 10. Take the Veil Cerpin Taxt - 4.0
Heavier than what I usually listen to. Great voice on singer, can be so gentle then so strong. Band reminds me of something that I can’t put my finger on, but it is also a style that I don't listen to too much. Very math rock and prog, like heavier Porcupine Tree. First tune definitely hooked me.
Very fast and very technical, but not very interesting.
Pleasantly surprised. Fast paced songs. Heavy rock on a lot of songs. Sounds a bit like Rush without the long hippy nerdy interludes, and with maybe some Rusted Root percussion thrown in on some and some fast System of A Down type patterns on others. Definitely some tricky drum rhythms. There are some slow filler type songs mixed in that I would rather skip, but the fast ones hit pretty hard.
4.5 this shit is good
Very original, although a bit exhausting to listen to because of the constant rhythm changes and the many layers of sound. Since the tracks do not feel like cohesive pieces, the transitions between tracks are not as noticeable. As a result, the album feels like one hour long piece, which is too much, in my opinion.
These mfs go hard on this one you best believe. They're playing like their lives depend on it!!!
I generally liked the music, even if it got a little heavy-handed. Apparently there was some kind of story in the lyrics but I couldn’t make out one word in ten so that part was lost on me.
Favorit
6 star
This is not the object to change any opinions about prog or the Volta, but it seems to arrive in one's life precisely where it's most needed. It's a quick hour, but contains enough tricks (very lush for Rubin) to establish itself as a 21st century prog album, a load of ambition, plenty of meaning-evading. Put that way, the record sounds like a mixed bag, and I suppose it is: Something brimmeth over, certainly. But I still can't shake the feeling that De-Loused is something special, and it makes me grin.
meh. sounded a bit like an emotionless evenescence :') and thats not a high bar. I'm sort of a fan of this kind of prog rock so i dont totally hate it but not exactly a big fan either.
Unique, and they really go for it, not sure what I think.
It’s just noise.
I can't listen to this again (5 times so far) to try and work out what it is or whether I like it. This is why I'm not a music journalist, my views changed depending on my mood, and not normally for the better
Experimental rock, sounds like newer Jack White. It's pretty good.
This is very modern in a retro way- has all the ingredients I like (musicianship, weird oddbeat things and wailing vocals that make no sense). It borrows from lots of other sources (in a good way) from Muse to Rush and even way back to 70's Prog and Psychadelic Rock. The only thing I would level at it is that it feels very contrived ( which may be their intention?). I do like it.
Thematically and musically reminded me of "The Black Parade" by My Chemical Romance (one of the most baffling exclusions from this list, by the way). You could tell me the singer is Gerard Way's older brother and I would honestly believe you. I really love it. The completely batshit lyrics, the guitars, vocals, drumming.. it all works so well together. "Track-marked amoeba lands craft, cartwheel of scratches, dress the tapeworm as pet, tentacles smirk please" I have absolutely no idea what you're saying my guy, but it sounds cool so I'll let it slide.
They try so hard, but its solid stuff
As many have noted, the lyrics meaning is just incomprehensible (as a non-native english speaker I found myself questioning sometimes if what I was listening was actually english). Other than that, the music is just not interesting, sometimes repetitive, like there's not many ideas coming out from the band and they can only achieve the sound they're proposing at a surface level.
Not for me
Ég hafði aldrei hlustað á Mars Volta áður og var alveg spennt fyrir fyrri helmingi plötunnar. Svo fór mér að leiðast. Ágætis lög mörg hver, en ekki nógu áhugavert fyrir athyglisgáfur mínar.
Liked it more than I expected.
Half the album’s sound is the type of rock I enjoy, a sort of alternative and hardcore mix, the other half is a progressive and unconventional use of sounds and noise that made it hard to listen to. I will say overall it’s a cool album and definitely interesting to be exposed to. The production is perfect.
Early 2000s alternative rock with a progressive edge. Starts out quite good but at the end of the day, the rather long runtime and the fact that a lot of songs have instrumental parts or not a classic song structure prevent a higher rstingy
A record I can listen intently in my headphones or cranked in the car. Vocal slayings and solid grooves throughout. Beginning to end a great work from beginning to end.
Who is The Mars Volta? A greatly under-rated and amazing band.
Has a energetic powerful ambience. The instrumentals remind me of TOOL but the sometimes the irrational lyrics remind me of some of SOAD works like “Peephole” where they seem nonsensical but are anything but. Very fun album.
Such a cool album, the driving fast tempo is fantastic.
It was very interesting. I like the escalation and de-escalation of the volume, etc. The guitar was also nice (most notably present during track 8). The album was very ominous and dark at times, which I also liked. The singing reminds me of punk-rock, which I guess it is, but I just wasn't expecting it from someone who rarely listens to that type of music. I feel like the singing came in too randomly from the long instrumental portions of the songs. Overall, it was pretty good. Televators was my favorite track.
Didn’t get it
Album started with a bang and kept my attention through most of it. Kind of a contemporary Prog rock sound, that I'm sure would grow on me more with repeated listening. I don't love it, but I certainly would listen again. We'll see...
You know ‘The Song That Doesn’t End’… well, this felt like the album equivalent. It all sounded the same and none of it was enjoyable.
Shrill, sprawling and squalling – and excessively nu-metallic for one’s taste. The “everything at once and at high speed” vibe is grating and the breaks (e.g., the first part of “Eriatarka” [whatever TF that means]; the last part “Cicatriz Esp [whatever TF that means]) are far too few. One’s limited genre knowledge means one can’t judge all the virtuosity (which seems pretty extensive). Bonus points for crystalline production and the “let’s throw it all on the wall and see what sticks attitude,” though ultimately this feels like much ruckus with little merit. 2.7/3
Absolutely loved At The Drive-In, so I'm not sure how this passed me by. It's great though, lots of scope and variety on top of ATDI's distinctive sound.
Not quite my thing but it’s really well made. The whole vibe of the album from the title to the song names kinda made me roll my eyes with how self serious it is but it was alright to listen to
Aggréablement surpris, album concept très intéressant, définitivement à réessayer et aussi jeter un coup d'oeil au reste de leur discographie.
I really couldn't get into this music. It's unique yet sounds like generic prog rock in lots of places. It lacks melody and consistent rhythm while having strong virtuosity from the musicians (except maybe the vocals).
Sort of terrible but sort of good? Seems to be a love it or hate it type record, so both emotions seem valid. Suppose I'll land in the middle but I'm really reconsidering my rating strategy.
As much as I love prog's first wave in the 70's, I’ve always struggled with the genre once the influence of metal crept in. Steven Wilson or Tool never worked their magic on me, and The Mars Volta have always sounded like noise. To this end, "Deloused in the Comatorium" feels completely impenetrable. It’s a prog album through and through: indecipherable concept, weighty fantastical narrative, instrumental wizardry, even a Storm Thorgerson designed-cover. The problem? For me, "…Comatorium" possesses all of prog's inherent snobbery and loftiness without any tongue-in-cheek humour, any heart, or any soul. Consider “The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway”. While it also fits my initial description above, it is full of memorable melodies, a recognisable character arc and theatrical humour. Good luck finding any of that here. Just a quick glance at the album’s lyrics reveals the tone: "Last night I heard lepers flinch like birth defects, its musk was fecal in origin as the words dribbled off of its chin." If it weren’t for the band’s explanations or Wikipedia, there’s absolutely no hope of understanding the shape of the narrative, which is a pity because it seems the band had a moving story to tell about Cedric Bixler-Zavala’s friends’ death. Ultimately, though, this storyline becomes a limp framework for an hour of instrumental posturing. To the album’s credit, there's absolutely no possible argument against the virtuosic musicianship on show here: the guitar playing is varied and cinematic, alternating between blistering lead parts or expansive soundscapes in "Eriatarka". Jon Theodore’s drumming throughout, and particularly in "Drunkship of Lanterns", is frantic and exhilarating. Bixler-Zavala has an impressive vocal range, with a startling belt to cut through the noise. The problem is that it's all style and little substance. The most melodic we get is in the standout tracks "Eritarka" and "Elevators" (the latter in particular serving as a much-needed breath of air). I also enjoyed the evolution of "Take the Veil Cerpin Taxt" (whatever the hell that means), which dials back the metal influence for a jam session that feels equal parts funk, new-wave and Latin-inspired. But this aside, “Comatorium” is either indulgently flashy and discordant, or dissolving into ambient nothingness. The ending, "Ambuletz", feels insulting to anyone who has sat through the one hour "storyline" with genuine investment: it hardly provides satisfying closure. It’s a real effort to make it through the whole album, and I’m not sure I’ll be managing it again any time soon.
To prog or not to prog, that is the question. I really like some prog, although much tilts towards the bombast or endless noodling. Complex isn't the same as good and merely throwing stuff against the wall isn't complex. It is not a lack of musicianship. More like a sprawling novel in need of an editor
Because they opened for RHCP this was technically the first band I saw in an arena. We did not like it. This was fine but not really for me. I think this band has some great musicians but only a few of the songs had real grooves so it reminded me of prog rock in that way.
Another of those that feels like it needs way more than one day to properly digest (I listened to it once before, years ago, but even TWO days isn’t enough time to really know it…) I respect the proggy experimentation; it’s a pretty unique blend of math-rock, emo, latin, helicopter sounds and god knows what else. There are moments when an epic chorus or mighty riff breaks out from the chaos and it sounds very nice indeed. I can’t say that I enjoyed all 67 minutes of it to the same extent, but with more listens maybe that would change. For now: 3.5 stars.
This feels like the kind of thing I would like but for some reason it doesn't really appeal to me. Not sure why but something just felt a little off.
wait what the heck....this is SO good. I love prog rock!!
I saw another hour long album after so many in the last few days and thought god damn it. But this hit me in the right spot. I absolutely loved it. Heard the name but didn't know what to expect. This just scratched an itch that I absolutely love. Just some really great music and I'm going to explore the rest of the catalogue.
Pierwszy raz slysze o bandzie, a to progresywne rokowanie z 2k03 i to dodatkowo z influencjami ameryki lacinskiej patrzac na czlonkow, nazwy trakow, czy wsluchujac sie w granie zespolu, Deloused in the Comatorium jest debiutanckim krazkiem bandy The Mars Volta, na ktorej czele stoja wokalista i teksciarz Cedric Bixler-Zavala i Omar Rodríguez-López odpowiedzialny za kompozycje instrumentalne, z dodatkowych postaci ktore kojarze w skladzie przewija sie basista z RHCP, Flea, pomimo tego, ze krazek jest konceptowym albumem nie wciaga lirycznie i nie potrafi zbudowac porywajacej opowiesci, na co pewnie ma tez wplyw to w jaki sposob jest ona przedstawiona, bo historia czleka spiaczkujacego po przedawkowaniu jest wrecz momentami wykrzyczana zamiast spiewana i bardziej przypomina to wokalnie rocka stadionowego nowej daty, wykorzystujacego efekciarskie efekty na przestery wokalowe, nie wiem czemu ale jednoczesnie nie potrafie zrozumiec o czym jest spiewane, a takze w pelni skupic sie na instrumentalach, ktore sa mocniejsza strona 60 minutowego materialu, zwlaszcza jesli chodzi o pare gitara + bas i wolniejsze momenty gdzie slychac gitary przesterowane do granic mozliwosci dodatkowo echujace w polaczeniu z bebnieniem recznym, buduje to magiczna atmosfere jak w endingu czy openingu traku televators, na plejke dodam Inertiatic ESP, ktory jest najlepszym streszczeniem tego co jest grane na plycie
C’est l’fun. C’est comme si Porcupine Tree et I Mother Earth avait un bébé coké. En fait, on est dans l’excès ici. Ça va vite, il y a plein de notes, il chante très aigüe, c’est très compressé/reverbérisé. C’est un peu envahissant comme musique. Par contre, je me vois très bien en écouter par-ci par-là, mélangé avec des trucs plus tempérés. C’est aussi un bon cours de drum.
Quand cet album est sorti, j'avais de grosses attentes parce que je venais de découvrir At The Drive-In, groupe précédent dans lequel figuraient Omar Rodriguez-Lopez et Cedric Bixler-Zaval, et l'album Relationship of Command était une grosse claque au visage. J'adorais cet album et j'avais hâte d'entendre la suite. Puis il y a eu la dissolution du groupe. Mars Volta est un des groupes né des cendres d'At The Drive-In. On retrouve ici la voix vraiment intéressante de Cedric et l'énergie qu'on avait dans At The Drive-In. On est moins post-hardcore et un peu plus rock progressif/psychédélique. La production de Rick Rubin sur ce premier album complet est impeccable comme à l'habitude. Les manipulations sonores, notamment sur la voix et les rythmes latins amènent un vent frais sur ce rock très énergique. Encore aussi bon aujourd'hui. Pièces préférées: This Apparatus Must Be Unearthed, Drunkship Of Lanterns
Here's an album that I hated when it came out and liked this time around. I don't know that it's the album that aged well. I think it's more that I've become more open to weird shit as I've gotten older. And this is definitely weird. It's a post-prog concept album which... well, it would have been a hard no for me except that the drum work here is exceptional. Jon Theodore absolutely crushes and manages to keep everything on the rails even when the rest of the crew is skewing into chaos. So many bands in the same vein end up sounding like the musical equivalent of the guy who gets so high, walks in the kitchen, forgets what he came here for, and starts trying to bake a cake without a recipe because "that sounds awesome right now, dude." Jon Theodore's strong rhythm backbone keeps everything coherent. The music never forgets what it was doing. The biggest issue with "De-loused in the Comatorium" is the same thing that plagues most concept albums. The songs make no damn sense. In attempting to tell a story that spans a whole album, none of the tracks say anything of substance. Add on the fact that the "concept" is itself kind of a disjointed fever-dream and you're left with mostly nonsensical vocals. And that's a real shame because the musicianship is exceptional, the production is fantastic, and the performances are powerful. But the end result is just... mostly good.
Not on Apple Music 🤷♂️
Nice
2.5
Good
Great but at the drive in is sorely missed
Man... it took me some time to get used to the vocal and style, but when I did, I found lots of depth. Sophisticated compositions, playing with tempo and rhythm but at the same time maintaining the scale of an opera. It was an experience.
Mimo wszsytko tekst jest integralną częścią piosenki i nie można go tak po prostu zamienić na losowo brzmiące słowa i dograć do nich trzeba przyznać nie najgorszą nutę. Czasem dobre solo, lub jak w jazzie "rozmowa" instrumetnów może nam zastąpić warstwę liryczną. Z moich przypuszczeń to celowali coś w stylu jak angielska piosenka brzmi dla ludzi niemówiących po angielsku. Podobny feeling mam słuchając niektórych openingów anime, pojedyncze słowa kojarzysz, ale nie do końca wiesz o co chodzi. Jeśli rozpatrzymy to w takich kryteriach to wyszło nie najgorzej.
Aż musiałem przeskoczyć żeby odsłuchać (nie pierwszy raz). Kocham ten album całym serduszkiem, na liście moich albumów 10/10 zdecydowanie ma swoje miejsce. Bardzo ciekawy głos, drastyczny acz pasjonujący koncept, szalone koncepcje liryczne, wszystko tu jest niesamowicie tripowe i wciągające. Brzmi kosmicznie - i to nie w stylu "tania space opera", tylko naprawdę niepokojąco obco. No i widać duże umiejętności techniczne artystów. Nawet nie wypada mówić tu, jaki utwór jest highlightem - tego albumu się słucha całego lub w ogóle.
Feels like pre pop punk goodness -- Chiodos wishes they sounded like this. I'm so happy I got a throwback album out of this.
This is only after one listen (don't feel like another) but just found it wearing and samey. The singer just yelling all the time, math rocky guitars, long songs, though listening on a Monday morning after a 4 day bank holiday probably doesn't help!
Wild album! Still feels pretty modern. Highly recommend!
Mixing the weird and the noisy. Not me
God, I love this album, I could listen to it every day.
Listened some time ago: recall it as a math rock fused with certain emoish/punkish tendencies as well as more arty/jazzy things. It was alright but hasn't stayed with me.
Альбом интересный, как и прогрок в целом. Какие-то вещи даже King Crimson напомнили.
My kiddo saw this on the list and reminded me that we recently listened to this album on a car trip. Which I guess means my kiddo has awesome taste :). Very cool album, fave is probably Cicatriz Esp, I do love me some 12 minute epic songs. But the whole album is great.
Found this more interesting than especially enjoyable or ‘good’ but I liked it
This is another of those albums I would like considerably more if there was a different vocalist. There's just something about the tone of this guy's voice that grates on me. The music is actually pretty good, and definitely something I could enjoy.
Yet another band I’d heard of but not heard. A good listen, though I’ll admit my idea of progress sits more on the Yes side of things than this.
I know of Mars Volta, gun to my head, can't name a thing of theirs. So when I saw prog rock and concept album was fairly excited. In the end, not something I am going to be rushing back to, interesting, but not Yes or King Crimson...This might have hit me differently if I heard it in my teens but now. not so much.
One of my favorite albums. Glad they re-pressed it
trippy as hell still, really holds up. those soaring vocals
Aha, I know this one. This is one of those pure gems of an album that always gives you something new every time you listen to it. The concept is dense, the music spans from metal to prog to Latin-inspired to jazz and everywhere in between, the performances are unreal, and it basically just goes hard as fuck for 70 minutes straight. I love this album
Didn’t get it then, don’t get it now
This is a band I had heard of but knew nothing about. Didn't even know what kind of music they play! Turns out it's kind of a meld between NuMetal and Pop Punk. Aka, it's probably not for everyone but I really enjoyed it. Love the weird song names and the wild long guitar solos.
Killer album from a very unique band
Really slow and melancholy
First time of listening, sounds like early 21st Century Faux 70's Prog Rock to me. Intellectual navel gazing, with their backs to the audience. Or am I just a biased old punk! Cedric Bixler-Zavala sounds like Jon Anderson in his Yes heyday. Clearly very good musicians, just wished they had chosen a different style. I can of course see the quality here just don't particularly like the music. Never really liked "Concept" Albums as they are usually more important to those writing/playing them than to those listening (Exceptions to the rule here both Tommy & Quadrophenia by The Who). Hard to pick a favourite track on this one but I suppose "Take The Veil Cerpin Taxt" is the most listenable although as always with Prog Rock it's length (8 mins 42 Secs) means it overstays it's welcome! Not on my list I am afraid.
not sure what this is but i like it. Rock, avante guard, shoutness with plinky plunky bits.
Is it a bad thing to have too much polish and poise? The thing that I like about Daft Punk is it's two white French guys pretending to be robots, with the Mars Volta, it's six robots pretending to be aggressive music artists. This music is devoid of heart and feeling and any humanistic quality except for maybe ambition. Even the cold blast of air to the face on Inertiatic Esp, the opening track, goes directly into a quick drum wrap and operatic vocals. Which, I might add, the operatic-infused vocals throughout this album were likely pulled directly from American Idol. The Mars Vota and this album in particular embodies everything wrong with early 2000s major label music. It's this overproduced, spot-on perfection of prescripted anger and carefully placed melodies. Just because it's loud and quick doesn't mean it's real. I'm calling bullshit on the band's artistry and 'passion' for creating music. You can't be an artist if you're a robot.
I kinda figured I'd be the only one in the group with a positive view of this one. I really dug this album when it first came out, and still mostly do. While I think I prefer At the Drive-In, the previous band from The Mars Volta's driving creative forces, I like "Deloused in the Comatorium" and "Frances the Mute." I totally get why they can be too much though. To many, the vocals are probably polarizing, or just straight-up off-putting. But I don't mind the frantic, high-energy shrieking. The pace shifts are also off-putting to many I believe. Something about time signatures? I kinda know what that means musically, but will probably sound ignorant trying to describe it. The songs quickly accelerate or decelerate, and sometimes devolve into chaotic noise or meandering background sounds. I don't know, but I dig it. And I listened to ATDI's "Relationship of Command" again, and like it even more than "Deloused."
It’s not boring…
This album is the musification of manic depression. It has two gears: I) RAT-TAT-TAT-TAT-TAT-TAT-TAT-TAT!!!!!!!!! and II) Snuffleupagus (“Heeeyyyyyy Biiirrrrrrrrrd”. With respect to the first gear, there is a saying that goes: don’t confuse motion with progress. The corollary for this album is: don’t confuse notes with music. Rapid motion does not result in progress necessarily just as rapid fire notes do not mean music is being made. It applies to the whole band, but is best noticed in the drumming. Also the singer’s falsetto in the first gear is annoying. Completely annoying. The second gear seems to exist to give the band a rest in between their bursts of machine gun fire playing. In the manic phase, everything is a good idea and a diarrhea of thoughts and ideas come spewing out. In the depression phase, there are no ideas left worth conveying. Suddenly something clicks and the manic is back, RAT-TAT-TAT-TAT-TAT-TAT-TAT-TAT!!!!!!!!! I’m not giving this a one star because the first gear stuff (with no vocals) is impressive technically and somewhat enjoyable, but only in very very small chunks.
Pretty good stuff at times
Barasta ansi hressandi og skemmtilegt, hæfilega tilraunakennt og kröfugt. Fjarki, nær fimmu en þristi.
I’ll admit; I was going to leave a snarky, one-star review indicating that I didn’t know where my migraine ended and this album began after initial listen, but I read some other reviews and decided to give it a second listen. There are still some tracks that evoke pain, but I’m feeling new things and the second listen-thru. Perhaps a third listen will give me something to chew on. Three stars in optimism for that. Oh, and for Flea.
Classic! I bought this album the when it came out on a whim cause I thought the cover was cool .
Ah fuck, I don't want to listen to modern prog rock today. What frustrates me about this band is that they are clearly talented, and I can hear bits and pieces of what I loved so much about Relationship of Command. However, this band is not that band, and for all of the good elements of this album, it's never going to achieve the raw power of Relationship of Command. On the other hand, this album is a good listen overall. I want it to be something that it is not, but that's on me. The vocals and the instrumentation are very good on this album. It's also less proggy than other stuff I've listened to from Mars Volta. Guess I got to give it 4 stars, especially since listening to this album improved my shitty mood moderately 4/5 4/5
A little too emo-experimental for my taste
Hi ha una diferència notable entre el rock experimental que tracta d'obrir nous camins fet per ments artístiques i inspirades i el perpetrat per wannabes amb ambicions. Gran part de la tradició, que a les últimes décades s'extén amb bandes com Butthole Surfers als '80, Super Furry Animals als '90 o The Icarus Line als '00, per posar tres exemples distanciats entre sí, es basa en la intenció d'acumular sons i la pretensió d'epatar a l'oient, sense pràcticament res aprofitable en les seves propostes. The Mars Volta és una altra cosa, molt diferent. Rock visionari, amb textures úniques, mutacions de géneres i melodies identificables. Aquest primer disc tras la ruptura de At the Drive-In ja deixa veure tota la màgia que portaven al seu interior, i que gairebé mai va deixar d'assecar-se fins la seva dissolució
Like a Texan Biffy Clyro - which is intented as a massive compliment! I loved At The Drive-in, but hadn't listened to much of The Mars Volta before - I am now regretting that. Added all their albums to my list off the back of this one. Loved every second of it, wish I could give it 6 (or 7) stars!
Yea this was best. Before omar started controlling everything
Best Song: Inertiac Esp. The true kickoff to the album, this song launches like a rocket and never slows down. Worst Song: Roulette Dares (The Haunt Of). Very atmospheric, but slower than I want from this group. Overall: Chaotic music with a progressive edge, constantly cutting in with fits and starts. Complex enough to always be interesting and nostalgic enough for me that I have a sweet spot for it.
Yet another prog album brought down by it's singer
I have to be in the right headspace for The Mars Volta. This album seems ambitious and technical. The end result isn't especially listenable, imo.
Not for me.
A pretty good album that I have not heard before. I enjoyed the various genre bending this album provides. Some various levels of prog rock, alternative creates an enjoyable album that feels modern and important for future bands. 6.6/10
6/10 has not aged terribly well, but has some cool drumming
6/10. Loud, but some bits were pretty interesting
I guess some of the music was cool. Pretty long though. 7/10
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOooooooooooooooooooooooooooo My earholes squeezed themselves shut
Not a fan.
Like At The Drive In but without any tunes. Painful.
It is an ambitious and creative work, reinventing prog-rock for the post-"rock" generation. (7/10) FT: Inertiatic ESP, Roulette Dares, Televators
It was ok, didn't love it
Most of the music I enjoyed. There were only a couple of moments where I thought the "new tech sounds" were a bit forced in the music, but overall, enjoyable.
Have you ever met a dumbass sporting an afro? Me either.
One of those albums that just explodes your head the first time you hear it. Unlike anything else. Unbelievable talent on display and killer, weird tunes.
Did not know what to expect and was still surprised. Not my thing but not bad.
Love this album! I have no idea what any of the lyrics are about and the song titles make no sense. I could listen to this album over and over again. Tangent: I had about a 2 year period between the start of my last semester of college before I met my wife. I was pretty lonely and that's the period of time when I started running. This album came out during that time and I would listen to the MP3's on one of those goofy mp3 players that strapped around your arm all the time. Music from this era always reminds me of that goofy time in my life where I was really lonely, but kind of really found myself through running.
Fuck there's a lot going on here. I dont pick up much on lyrics but the music hooked me after I initially thought "No". But then reading up on the album on Wikipedia I now feel I need to go through the lyrics. Needs a full re-listen again
A Beloved Roy album Favorites: Drunkenship of Lanterns Televators
It's his voice. I just don't like it. I feel like if be a huge MV fan if it weren't for his voice.
Need to listen more but enjoyed it a fair bit.
Weird but superb, a couple of spine tingling moments. Who knew that weird guitar jam with latin beats and a lunatic would be so compelling
Really love this album. I understand why people complain about the wailing, it is pretty intense, but I love it. It's funny to hear people call them pretentious. Isn't ratting someone's art with your anonymous internet opinion a tad on the pretentious side? Either way this album screams. Songs are interesting and engaging. Peaks and valleys. Light and dark. Enjoy with an open mind.
Pretencious shit.
Melodic in parts
Fun prog rock entry to start the week.... Would listen to again
Another nope. This has been a weird week of music.
Meh. I didn't connect with this at all
I'm awake now
Remember when Chris and Mark became friends over their experience of...um... experiencing this band live?
One of my alltime favorite albums. Such an intense blend of post-punk, prog metal, jazz, synthy stuff. One of a kind. Also big words that may or may not mean anything. Favorite Tracks: Televators, Cicatriz ESP, Son et Lumiere/Inertiatic ESP
Huh. I actually enjoyed this!
Oh post-prog, dammit. So weird that this is only two years after At the Drive-in‘s Relationship of Command. So from the ashes of that band came this band, and just like that was an incredible record and pushed the post Hardcore genre up to another level this album kind of does that too. I feel like I would need to sit down with the lyrics and really give this and attentive listen to find out what is truly going on.
Album #17 (1001 Challenge): "De-Loused in the Comatorium" by The Mars Volta (2003) I've been dreading the day when this album came up. I guess get it over with early. Some people obviously love this album. Hence, it being on the list. I really, really tried with multiple listenings, even before today, to find something. The only thing I find this album to be is annoying. A less-focused, more sci-fi version of Muse. Metal Prog...that even sounds bad. Most of these songs sound like they were written for the sole purpose of being boss battles for Guitar Hero or Rock Band, which may not be a bad thing. But, not here. The drums or drum loop sounds like a machine gun or video game. No noticeable melody. The singing and overall tone is so overly dramatic. I didn't bother trying to figure out what's he singing about. Song titles like "Drunkship of Lanterns" don't really motivate me to find out more. Ughhh!
I was really surprised how much I liked this, even with a minor headache at the time. Don't think there was a track I didn't like. Inertiatic Esp was my favourite of the bunch. I must say the drumming and guitars are all top notch, made me air play those instruments in the car. The vocalist is really great and I particularly like how some of the songs are interrupted by the sound effects. Gives the intensity a nice break.
I get it but I don't get the music. I have just never been a fan of speed any style of music. I can definitely hear the influence in latter bands. I am thinking Linkin Park and Evanescence. I could only sample this album. I just don't care to listen to an entire album of this genre. All that being said, they belong on the list and have more talent then some of the other artist chosen for this book.
down with this sort of thing
Mad neo-prog rock. Quiet, spacey intros, then crash! In come the drums and guitars. All the same. Unlistenable racket.
O álbum começa super animado e vai ficando mais psicodélico pro final, mantendo o virtuosismo. Deu vontade de casar com esse álbum kkkk
The most insane prog rock album since the 70s. Fast and loud with a vocalist that reminds me of Tool's Keenan's vocal style, they utilize such a dynamic and atmospheric use of sound that keeps you on your toes for every minute. You could hear the prog influences all over, King Crimson prominently in "Roulette Dares," while "Drunkship of Lanterns" shows characteristics of Yes, Pink Floyd, and contemporary math rock. It's very modern... not only is it well-polished, but it uses state-of-the-art production techniques I recall hearing in prog metal and post-rock of the era. It's a wild ride from start to finish you couldn't feel bored by... there's so much to like about each track. I'll be revisiting this one often.
Saved Prior: None Off Rip: Inertiatic Esp, Eriatarka, Televators, Take The Veil Cerpin Taxt Cutting Edge: None Overall Notes: Quite a moving background to these songs that would be damn near indecipherable without research, which seems to have been exactly what they were going for. Mission accomplished The Mars Volta!
Voor mijn gevoel symfonische rock met heel grappige elektronische geluidjes. Ik vind het wel heel leuk klinken. ***
Bruh, je reconnaissance seulement le groupe de nom. Mon dieu que je me suis prit une claque dans la face à matin! Je sais pas trop comment décrire le style, un genre de radiohead moins depressif pis plus jazzy/prog. Bref, je kiff
This is one of those records that I don't necessarily dislike but I don't completely like either. It manages to get my attention in some parts, but in general I find it overly long and cerebral. I honestly would have preferred to see Relationship In Command by At The Drive-in in here.
The year 2003 was a great year for post hardcore. It saw the rise of emo and its nerdier sibling, prog-emo. Spearheaded by bands like Circa Survive and Coheed & Cambria, prog-emo was almost antithetical to its punk rock roots, epically long tracks, experimental musical soundscapes and grandiose concepts, all filtered through power chords, acrobatic vocals and a one-two gut punch. Glorious. The Mars Volta were another band that were a fixture to this subgenre, and Deloused in the Comatorium cemented their place in the pantheon of unsung heroes of this oft overlooked subgenre of 2000s punk/emo. From the way opening track Son et Lumiere begins, with the hypnotically frantic guitar tapping and urgent vocals, leading into Inertiatic Esp, you know you're in for a dynamic ride, with heavy hitters interspersed with post-rockesque interludes like Tira Me a Las Aranas and Televators. The rest of the album is an hour long journey of spazzy-yet-precise drums, textural keyboards, and guitar styles that run the gamut of angular stabs, echo-y strums, to melodically dissonant lines. What allows this album to stay rooted in its punk roots is the fact that each of the instruments, virtuosic as they are, serves the song, and that, to this writer, is what warrants multiple listens of this album. Truly a masterclass in the balance of technique, experimentation and all out emotion.
A neoprog classic. Frantic guitar riffs and drumming are littered throughout this one, all setting a stage for the electrifying vocal performance. Mars volta really caught lightning in a bottle on this album - it's progressive but not indulgent or plodding. Technical without being wanky. A lot of sonic and tonal shifts and inventive songwriting.
even at its least comprehensible, i get why people like this album so much. probably would have been huge to my teenage self.
This was pretty inflated and incoherent but it didn't pop. Difficult to see a reason to revisit.
2/5
fucking sucks
good
Un album assez difficilement appréciable tant la tête dont il est ici question ne cessera de nous cracher sa lumière à la figure du début à la fin du projet. On en sort totalement ébloui mais surtout très énervé.
Le lundi n'est pas une journée que j'apprécie particulièrement, c'est pourquoi la qualité de mes reviews tent à diminuer en cette journée. En effet, dès mon reveil, j'ouvre le générateur après 3 jours de pause comme chaque semaine. De là, je me retrouve systématiquement noyé sous une multitude de commentaires de mon camarade d'écoute robpellemèle, qui accorde des notes ahurissantes à chaque album que Robert met gentillement à notre disposition. Cet effet s'estompe progressivement au fil de la semaine, d'où le regain en qualité de mes reviews courant mercredi.
Интро отдаёт криповым вайбом, если весь альбом будет таким - я буду знатно рад. уже не отдаёт..... но переход был крутой, да и трек его бодрость не портит. Мне уже нравится альбом, он дико разъёбывающий и бодрость и агрессив из него прям прёт! При прослушивании этого альбома я вижу какую то погоню в лесу. Альбом прям бодрячок, вот прям бодрый бодрячок. Окей, как минимум переходы звучат крипово... и даже индустриально, но это скорее всего я просто еблан. This Apparatus Must Be Unearthed - пока что мой любимый трек. Прекрасная работа. 8/10.
Somehow not
I had barely discovered the last At The Drive-In record(at the time) and fallen in love, only to find out they would split shortly after. I was wearing that CD out when this one came out. It was familiar in it's chaos but it was totally different. It felt like they had hit puberty and decided they wanted to be mature and to be artsy. It worked. This album is awesome. It has a lot of what I liked about ATDI, the manic feeling to the tempo, the ridiculous lyrics, the ENERGY. It's like they said to me "We saw you liked that and decided to turn everything you liked up to 11".I have done my best to wear this album out over these 20 years, but it still holds up. Its comes across so emotional and I honestly have no clue what he is singing about when I'm listening to it.
this is so 00s. I was a teenager in the 00s and I didn't like the mars volta, but now listening to their first album, I see it was consistent with the type of music that was being done in the 2000s. It feels nostalgic to listen to it in the 2020s.
boreeed
One of the best albums in my lifetime. Every song is a masterpiece
Was into this band quite a bit back in the day but kinda fell off after the third album. This one still mostly rips though
Fine album. Gets boring near the end. The drums are great
Lite rock version of At the Drive In?
I'm singing high. I'm singing low. -this album It's not a bad album but I'm not going to be extolling its virtues on high.
Años de no escuchar este disco, oda al atasque. Aún así, tiene momentos muy atmosféricos aunque discordantes por lo que no es un disco fácil de escuchar completo. Tocan brutalmente, las letras son indescifrables. Está pesado pero es muy bueno. Es muy bueno pero está pesado. Songs: Televators, Inertiatic Esp, This Apparatus Must Be Unearthed
Este disco no lo oía completo desde que era nuevo y en aquel entonces no fue totalmente de mi agrado, pero ahora que le di sus tres o cuatro vueltas seguidas me sorprendió que se va como agua. Las canciones entre ellas tienen mucha cohesión e incluso esos interludios de efectos de sonido son una parte excelente del disco que no se vuelve aburrido en ningún momento con excelentes músicos y una voz que, aunque es chillona, cuadra perfecto con todo lo demás. Si existe un detalle que no me gusta, es que de pronto Cedric canta en un español pronunciado con las nalgas, que alguien (un pariente que en serio hable el idioma) debió haberle corregido.
Ist mir zu rockig/punkig.
Way ahead of it's time.
My brother got this on CD when it came out. I must have been 12 or 13 at the time and always listened to all of his CDs. I didn't get this one. It seemed sort of weird and then I never listened to it again. Seeing the album here made me think "Oh yeah, there was an album like this! I heard it. Some strange alternative rock or something like that." Listening to it yesterday and giving it a second spin today, I've been loving every moment of this album. Progressive rock and alternativ rock get together for a twist that still sounds fresh and original almost 20 years later. I can't claim that the lyrics seem much more than associative stream of consciousness, but that's OK. As is not uncommon in alternative rock, the vocals are frequently off-key and sound whiny at times. I'm not the biggest fan of this style of singing, but here it fits quite well. The bigger draw, for me, is the undeniable instrumental virtuosity on this album and the elaborate and unpredictable structuring of the tracks. This one really caught me by surprise but I will be sure to revisit it and check out the other Mars Volta albums as well. Favorite tracks were the two Esp songs.
This is really interesting. Reminds me of a harder rock version of Yes at times with the sudden, loud staccato outbursts. Definitely worthy of further listens. 3 stars.
Their heads barely out of the ashes of At The Drive-In, Omar Rodriguez López and Cedric Bixler-Zavala did not waste any time to rebound by forming The Mars Volta, sprinkling seventies psychedelia, latin rhythm inflexions and Zappaesque circumvolutions in their already charged post-hardcore formula. *Deloused In the Comatorium* is the result of this quick mutation, and akin to a phoenix rising over its former shell's self-implosion, the new band does a very fine job setting up high expectations for what was to come. Standout tracks "Inertiatic Esp", "The Roulette Dares (The Haunt Of) and "This Apparatus Must Be Unearthed" are especially convincing, flaunting a technical prowess that is in service of songs sporting roaring choruses like so many badges of honor. None of the digressions in those tracks are unnecessary, and the overall production is neat and on-point, displaying very clear and panoramic vistas of the multi-layered mess so as to help the listener make sense of it. Bixler-Zavala's lyrics are cryptic as ever, digging the exact same surreal trench as the one he had dug as the At The Drive-In frontman, and his crystal-clear, energetic vocals are reaching new heights, even though he never forgets to also bring emotion and subtle nuance when needed. It's a little unfortunate, however, that the Mars Volta could not apply the same self-editing principles and direly needed restraint for a bunch of tracks across the middle of the record. See for instance "Eriatarka" and "Cicatriz Esp", where mastermind Rodriguez López desperately--and often vainly--tries to reach a full-on psychedelic scope the band would only really attain for their second LP, the criminally underestimated *Frances The Mute* (which is probably the best homage to seventies prog-rock madness ever penned this side of the 21st century, and a piece of work far more sweeping and ambitious than their first effort). In comparison to its successor, some of the tracks in *Deloused In The Comatorium* are either too short or too long, or maybe even *both*, oddly enough--too short for the ambient meandering interludes inside them to really stick and go somewhere--and too long for the *exact same reason*, mainly that those aimless interludes should have probably been better left off on the cutting room floor so as to give a little muscle to the overall songs If *Frances The Mute* avoided those pitfalls by giving its most experimental moments much-needed conceptual and atmospheric points, such miracles only too rarely happened in the rest of the band's career. After their second album, The Mars Volta even quickly got lost into their own free-jazz proclivities (read "ass"), spawning a handful of albums that did not add anything genuinely meaningful to the initial formula. And when that string of records ended, Rodriguez López and Bixler-Zaval even resorted to a reformation of At The Drive-In which turned out to be a half-baked stylistic avowal of defeat instead of the glorious reunion everyone had hoped for. Heroes fall hard sometimes. In *Deloused In The Comatorium*, the phoenix was still on the rise at least. [Number of albums left to review or just listen to: 995 Number of albums from the list I find relevant enough to be mandatory listens: 0 Albums from the list I *might* include in mine later on: 3 (including this one) Albums from the list I will certainly *not* include in mine (as I think many others are more important): 3 ]
I mean, this is high-intensity noodling and the melodies are pretty strong, but it just feels like it goes on forever and I start to tune it out.
It ain't At the Drive-In, but I've always loved this band. Proggy, punk-ish, pretentious; they cover the three P's in spades on this one. I hadn't listened to this in forever. I like all the weird horns and shit they got into on the record that followed, but it was nice to hear this one again. Definitely more focused than most of their discography, for better or worse. Anyway, I remember that reading Pitchfork was pretty much a daily must for me back in the early 2000s. And then they just completely eviscerated the 2nd Mars Volta record, if memory serves. Just an absolutely brutal review and it occurred to me at that point that I didn't need to read Pitchfork any more.
An amalgamation of Led Zepplin, QOSTA, My Chemical Romance and Ricky Martin has produced quite satisfactory results.
Very decent although very samey - the singer has a good voice.
Meh, did nothing for me
my chemical romance - esque emo rock 3.5
Panic Attack Simulator, the album. This cathartic combination of Prog and Punk creates a record that, while alienating for sure, I find to be an extremely rewarding listen. Favorites: "Roulette Dares", "Eriatarka", "Cicatriz Esp", "Take The Veil Cerpin Taxt"
a few seconds of dreadful
Gran disco!
Masterful production, technical, visceral, cohesive. Takes a few listens to fully grasp, but once you're hooked and listening between the lines and notes, it's a masterpiece.
Genre: Progressive Rock 5/5 A debut album from a band I was familiar with by name only, from a genre I’ve grown quite fond of since I was young, and good grief this thing was an instant love for me. I had initially been apprehensive, having read that the vocals were hit-or-miss and the music itself could prove too dense for some. But, man, I was absolutely floored. And also to the harsher critics out there, there is WAY more progressive shit that you would absolutely HATE. This is almost easy listening. In the same way you can hear Radiohead’s OK Computer write the careers of their contemporaries (Coldplay, Muse, etc.), De-Loused in the Comatorium (ugly name and ugly album cover aside, lol) is proto-screamo in the best way, and Attack, Attack, Of Monsters and Men, and Coheed and Cambria (among others), owe a huge debt to this project. Technical, talented playing, Rick Rubin’s essential wall-of-sound production, vocals that ascend to the heavens in nearly every track, and relentless pacing, this album seemingly helped forge the path for where rock would go over the coming years. Really impressed, absolutely loved this. If you like rock music, this is for you. Sending Drunkship of Lanterns to my dad right now.
Sounds like a mix between Tool and Muse, to me there was some nice things attempted just doesn't hit the mark for me.
Emo flavored prog rock - as the genre might suggest, it is a very pretentious album! However, it's so unself-conscious about it that it circles back around to being delightful in the same way that an all-out campy halloween display is delightful. I'm charmed. Don't get too distracted by the nonsensical lyrics because each instrumentalist is impressive and essential in their own right. Favorite track - Cicatriz Esp, Televators
This is an absolutely crazy debut album from a band that I've never heard of before (even though it was released during my lifetime unlike most albums on this list). I was skeptical before and during the first set of songs, but the album *slowly* hooked me more and more throughout. It is not something I would want to listen to all of the time, but I can definitely appreciate it for what it is. The album is finely crafted from an instrumental perspective with everyone giving it their all here. If I had to describe it to someone who had never heard of this band before, I would say it is My Chemical Romance if they made experimental rock in the 1970s. The MCR vibes mainly come from the lead singer's vocals which sound nearly identical to Gerard Way's and from the overall emo feeling present on every track. While I enjoyed the vocals for the most part, it was hard for me to understand what he was saying at some points which led me to focus more on the instrumentals. From that perspective, the progressive rock staples are all here which is both a good and bad thing. While this style allows for more freedom and expression through instruments, it also tends to allow for a bloated feeling due to long tangents during songs. For example, Cicatriz Esp's outro last way too long for what it is (incoherent noise with distorted ocean-like noises in the background). This eventually leads to more great guitar and drum work, but it leaves me wondering how much of the album could be trimmed down to make for a more cohesive and focused listen. In short, although I don't think this album fully clicked with me, I still respect it and had a good time listening to it. 3/5. NOTE: I was pleasantly surprised to see that Flea, one of my favorite rock stars of all time, played bass on the majority of this album due to the original bassist leaving the band before the album's recording. This makes complete sense and definitely sounds like him upon further inspection (Drunkship Of Lanterns features some of his craziest work on bass even when including all of the RHCP discography).
Too frantic…not my style…like earlier prog rock(70’s/80’s)
Deloused in the Comatorium is the kind of progressive rock that I like. It's complex, raw, naughty and exploratory, but not overthought and full of jerkoff solos. To quote an review of Uncut: "Imagine a jam session between King Crimson, Fugazi and '70s Miles. Now imagine it working. That's the Mars Volta."
Sounds pretty good.
This is one of the albums that made me pivot in my listening styles. The story telling is awesome and the music always keeps you on your toes. Really good stuff.
My ears hurt from how hard this is going! Fav song: Eriatarka
Weird one. I bounced between hating it and kinda liking it. Very unlikely to revisit.
2000s prog. better than much (a bit less clever clogs, and a certain willingness to rock). Lots of echoes of Fripp. The inclusion of latin percussion does not make it Santana-like. I like the noisy sound design, which give it a rough and atmospheric edge than I find lacking in much prog (which tends towards clean production to show off the chops). Good vocals, but don't get me started on the meaningless lyrics. I enjoyed it well enough while listening, but don't feel the need to listen again. Hal might like it, though. I like the Fripp-like guitar work, but, honestly, aren't there plenty of King Crimson albums that I would prefer to listen to? Yes. Yes, there are.
Just OK
-This album is pretty sweet. The guitar is shredding and the drums are awesome throughout the whole album. Definitely need to do more listening
Unlistenable. I got to the third song, then started FFwd'g and listening to as much of each song as possible to see if I was wrong. Nope. Clearly, didn't add. Also, entire oeuvre is filled with meaningless edgy song titles.
I audibly groaned as soon as the screen refreshed and this loaded after voting for the last album ('The White Album/The Beatles'). Maybe not as bad as I remembered but so much wailing.
This is just a more inscrutable version of Muse.
3.5, very enjoyable, extremely talented
Interesting music
Got this one on CD. Perfect album as far as I'm concerned.
Rock progresivo raruno. Ni fu ni fa.
Didn't like at first, started to like it at the third heard
The description of this album sounds exponentially more awesome than the album itself. A concept album about a dude in a morphine-induced coma influenced by Miles Davis, Fela Kuti, and Santana? Sign me up! Then you pop it in and the vocalist is doing a Fall Out Boy impression while those influences rarely come to the fore. I haven't been this disappointed by an album in awhile. Best track: Cicatriz ESP
Nice, but it wasn't able to deeply deliver its mood to me.
4/5
decent alternative album but doesn't add enough for me to rate it higher
Meh
something to listen to if you like broken bells and wished they yelled more
Eksperimenterende psykedelisk rock, Imponerende lydunivers, velkomponeret
Ew what was that I hated it. Horrible emo music. Listened on low volume just to get through it