OLD MONEY

Supposedly, this album was originally intended to be the follow-up to The Mars Volta's Amputechture. The line-up is the same (almost certain) except there is no Cedric, whose vocals are almost missed. This is one of those instrumental concept albums where the cover art and song titles have a theme. The theme here is big money and those who control it. From watching interviews with Omar it is very clear he is into conspiracy theories, specifically the ones about a small, elite group who control the world.

Even though this is generally in the same territory as TMV, there are some moments of what I call 'solo Omar': music that you would hear on one of his many solo albums but not necessarily on a TMV album. Album opener "The Power Of Myth" is very Voltian. Features great guitar playing and drumming. Love the altered guitar sound in the middle. Parts of this song almost sound like symphonic prog. Gets very spacey after 3 minutes. Some backwards effects near the end. The title of "How To Bill The Bilderberg Group" is a reference to an annual meeting of rich and influential people from North America and western Europe, including bankers, politicians and heads of multi-national corporations. The attendees of each meeting are kept secret from the public.

The music itself is some jazzy dub reggae. Lots of spacey altered voice samples. The title of "Population Council's Wet Dream" is a reference to the Population Council, established by a Rockefeller. It was based in the eugenics movement of the late 19th/early 20th century which lead directly to Nazi Germany. Conspiracy theorists accuse this group of 'population control' by trying to prevent the birth of 'undesirables.' The music is again more TMV sounding. An almost siren-like sound from guitar at one point. Features the obligatory spacey sounds to be found on Omar's solo albums.

"Private Fortunes" sounds more like Omar solo with the percussion and symphonic string- synths. Good guitar soloing here. The title of "Trilateral Commision As Dinner Guests" refers to the organisation founded by David Rockefeller as a way of bringing the USA, Europe and Japan closer after WWII. Conspiracy theorists believe this group is trying to form a one-world-goverment. This is more Omar solo with sax and compressed drums. Cool spacey synth sounds at the end.

"Family War Funding (Love Those Rothschilds)" refers to the Rothschilds, who are a powerful European Jewish banking dynasty and are related to the American Rockefellers. They are often accused of influencing goverments and funding both sides of a war. This song is musically the most TMV sounding. It actually sounds sort of familiar; Omar sometimes recycles riffs. This song just grooves and is one of the highlights of the album. There are two references in the title of "I Like Rockefellers' First Two Albums, But After That..." One is of course to the Rockefellers themselves, who are based in the banking capital of the world, New York City. The second one I believe is a mocking of those who say that only the first two TMV albums were good.

The song itself features talking in Spanish at times. Musically this is similar to TMV and one of the stronger songs here. The title track is the longest and best song. Great guitar playing. Some parts are more spacey and mellow while others are harder rocking. For the most part the track consists of a main groove while Omar plays some great altered guitar sounds over top. Love the echoed effect near the end. This album very well could be the strongest of his 34,768 albums...but I haven't heard them all. Highly recommended if you like TMV but not Cedric's vocals and lyrics. 4 stars.