QUE DIOS TE MALDIGA MI CORAZON

I know in my Lucro sucio; los ojos del vacío review that I said The Mars Volta has no bad albums. Well I wasn't wrong, but I wasn't entirely honest either. They don't have any bad albums, but also, why does Que Dios te maldiga mi corazon need to exist?

Now I get making acoustic versions of tracks previously released. I mean, look at Marillion's Less Is More, or Nine Inch Nail's Still. There is a market for acoustic renditions of tracks, so I don't mind the fact The Mars Volta made an acoustic record. What I do mind though is that this came out one year after their self titled returnal album, featuring all the tracks from that album. So really, they didn't have time to let the new album ferment before releasing this, which is?weird.

I mean, I like it. I like the focus on the salsa aspects that their self-titled had, and I think the acousticness it has does make it feel a bit more personal. But at the same time this feels like it would fit more as a bonus CD for a deluxe edition of the original album.

Also I find it so bizarre that this has a generally higher rating than its former release. Like I know the new Mars Volta sound was a bit divisive for a lot of people but?I cannot in good conscience say that this album's version of Que Dios te maldiga mi corazon or Equus 3 is better than the previous ones.

This doesn't feel like a canon Mars Volta album, but the fact it is just confuses me. I like the album, but it just?exists. Which is weird to say for something by this legendary band.

Best tracks: Blacklight Shine, Graveyard Love, Vigil,

Worst track: Que Dios te maldiga mi corazon