Review of the Mars Volta album
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URL: http://www.progarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=6289
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Topic: Review of the Mars Volta album
Posted By: Sweetnighter
Subject: Review of the Mars Volta album
Date Posted: May 17 2005 at 19:13
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This is actually pretty funny: http://www.somethingawful.com/articles.php?a=2825 ------------- I bleed coffee. When I don't drink coffee, my veins run dry, and I shrivel up and die. "Banco Del Mutuo Soccorso? Is that like the bank of Italian soccer death or something?" -my girlfriend |
Replies:
Posted By: NetsNJFan
Date Posted: May 17 2005 at 19:26
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I HATE the Mars Volta, great review, my sentiments exaclty! ------------- 
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Posted By: JMCecil
Date Posted: May 17 2005 at 19:39
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ROFL, that's pretty much what I thought of the CD. He describes it perfectly. |
Posted By: Fantômas
Date Posted: May 17 2005 at 19:47
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Well, I don't like many aspects of Mars Volta either. But that was a
goddammit prejudiced review! I agree with some things he said, but this
review isn't funny enough to leave MV fans crazy, neither good enough
to some rational avaliation by the readers of the album. Not because you agree with it is a good review, and not because you desagree with it is a bad review. ------------- And above all, is punk 
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Posted By: NetsNJFan
Date Posted: May 17 2005 at 19:49
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He really was able to put into words my disgust with the noise they passed as music. -------------
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Posted By: Guests
Date Posted: May 17 2005 at 19:50
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Reading that review, two things happened to me 1, I must listen to Mars volta more, the album seems very intresting 2, The reviewer is exactly the kind of cynical, ill-minded bastard that used to write down prog and finally destroy it in the seventies, therefore I'm willing to accept the hole new wave of prog (even if it isn't) just out of pure, holy anger towards people like him and everything he stands for.
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..Posted By: Fantômas
Date Posted: May 17 2005 at 19:55
I'm sorry, but what's "music" and what's "noise"? ------------- And above all, is punk
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NetsNJFan wrote:Posted By: Ben2112
Date Posted: May 17 2005 at 19:56
| After reading through some of the stuff on that guy's website, it is obvious his opinion means nothing. |
Posted By: Guests
Date Posted: May 17 2005 at 20:05
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Posted By: Yams
Date Posted: May 17 2005 at 20:18
| Something Awful is all about pushing people's buttons. Serious or not, the actual review isn't supposed to have any merit. It's fun and has some truth to it. |
Posted By: frenchie
Date Posted: May 17 2005 at 20:22
haha, i am the biggest TMV fan you'll ever find, i just thought it was hilarious and well reviewed! its an insignificant and negative view, he has clearly tried to take a negative spin on every aspect of the album omn purpose, good stuff!  ------------- The Worthless Recluse 
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Posted By: NetsNJFan
Date Posted: May 17 2005 at 20:25
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quite a debate which i'm not entering, it's for a different thread fantomas. -------------
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Posted By: Guests
Date Posted: May 17 2005 at 20:32
No, I actually thinks that he's serious and that troubles me. What troubles me isn't what he's thinking of the album, it's his attitude that bothers me. People with that attitude was a big part in the ruin of classic prog, and it hasn't recovered yet.......u see, every time a band comes up with someting intresting, "they" attack it like haws..it is almost sick how these peolpe function. What is it that makes them carry on???????? Can't thay just leave us be and enjoy whatever music we wan't??????  Or does it HAVE to be Michael Jackson or some hip-hop and perhaps U2 and R.E.M. being as far as they will accept??? Anything more progressive or challenging from that point, they attack, like hawks! Do u see what I mean, folks?????
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Posted By: frenchie
Date Posted: May 17 2005 at 20:46
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well if that guy was a real reviewer he wudda been fired long ago, hell he wouldnt have been appointed the job! ------------- The Worthless Recluse
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Posted By: Guests
Date Posted: May 17 2005 at 20:48
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Sure hope you're right, but I've seen worse in my 40+ years, believe me |
Posted By: NetsNJFan
Date Posted: May 17 2005 at 20:52
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i agree. his attitude is very troublesome the total disrespect. since i tended to agree with his assesemment i found it humorous here, but it was an awful review (though funny). He did have MANY legitimate complaints against MARS VOLTA though, and voiced more respectfully would have made a good review. -------------
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Posted By: Guests
Date Posted: May 17 2005 at 21:03
Agreed |
Posted By: geezer
Date Posted: May 18 2005 at 02:34
| I don't like TMV that much (I have only heard six mp3s) but I think that review is very exaggarated. They are perhaps the best alternative sounding stuff I have heard. I just don't think that they represent the best 'modern prog'. |
Posted By: spectral
Date Posted: May 18 2005 at 04:10
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TMV are amazing. The review is funny, but the guy who wrote it is a complete idiot. TMV are the best thing to have happened in years and Frances the Mute is by far the best album released this year. ------------- "...misty halos made visible by the spectral illumination of moonshine." |
Posted By: Gloryscene
Date Posted: May 18 2005 at 05:08
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Well as ever TMV divides everyone right down the middle! I think that review is not even worth reading because it is obvious after the first few lines the guy is blantantly not into listening to challenging music, which TMV most certainly is. Anyway reviews IMO are just one persons thoughts and shouldn't reflect on a readers views on a record until they listen to it. If you haven't listened to Frances the Mute then you should hold back on your judgement but if you have and don't like it then peace out -rubbish and riches blah blah blah. But for me Frances is the best album out so far in 2005
------------- "The Beautiful Ally Of Your Own Gravediggers" www.gloryscene.co.uk |
Posted By: Sekkyoku
Date Posted: May 18 2005 at 05:45
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I don´t like The Mars Volta all that much, I find them a bit too noisy and messy, but they are progressive in the actual meaning of the word; they make personal and interesting music, that push boundaries a little. He who wrote the review didn´t like any kind of progressive rock, so why care about him. Just the lines "Some people think it’s dull, overwrought, pretentious crap, but some people think it’s a work of prog-rock genius. I would contend that there’s no difference between the two" and "filled with the sort of sh*t that hack music reviewers would call 'shifting textures' and 'mutating structures.' Basically, that means that the album is not made of real songs, like real albums are" say it all. He is narrow minded and a bit stupid. /Sekkyoku
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Posted By: Guests
Date Posted: May 18 2005 at 05:47
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Posted By: Pavel
Date Posted: May 18 2005 at 07:19
| He reminds me of Maddox, funny at times, but always being a cynical asshole who criticizes every possible thing as if it were his main purpose in life. His opinions mean nothing and are just there for mild amusement. |
Posted By: mirco
Date Posted: May 18 2005 at 08:04
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I have read some critics about 19 - 20 century painters, now considered geniouses, made by their contemporaries, so acids and cinics as this one about TMV. So i'm not worried about it, the time will give its real measure. ------------- Please forgive me for my crappy english! |
Posted By: The Hemulen
Date Posted: May 18 2005 at 08:26
| For all those who are confused... SomethingAwful is only semi-serious at the best of times. It's a website that's deliberately narrow-minded, jaundiced and bile-ridden, the reason being to a) amuse people who laugh at such antics and b) wind up people who are easily outraged. Whether or not that's commendable it's not my place to say, but those of you getting upset by that review - stop. It's exagerrated. The reviewer probably enjoyed bits of the album but has glossed over this fact, and even if he didn't... so what? He doesn't like TMV. He doesn't have to appreciate them any more than I have to appreciate the latest Indie pin-ups. |
Posted By: Geee
Date Posted: May 18 2005 at 08:28
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For Progressive Music Album reviews look at this site - nowhere else. I am not saying this because in this site all prog albums are given 5* just for being prog. No Way. Even bad marks are given to albums. However the reviewers in this site (which I am not one of them - so don't tell me that I am speaking about myself) know something about prog better than this dude on this site. Look nowhere else for reviews - you're right there! Cheers ------------- "Just as a bell that has been rung cannot be "unrung", the annoying problem with the Truth is that, once you learn it, you can not "unlearn" it." |
Posted By: Gaspy Conana
Date Posted: May 18 2005 at 09:06
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Hahaha, you guys are morons. SA is awesome. They say bad things about every band on that section, he just wrote it to inspire hate mail. ------------- i no wuts proggeir and u dont so their |
Posted By: KeyserSoze
Date Posted: May 18 2005 at 09:09
I'm listening to The Mars Volta right now and I LOOOOVE IT!!!!!! 
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Posted By: frenchie
Date Posted: May 18 2005 at 09:13
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I agree with Geee, our prog reviewers usually write very accurate and fair reviews, giving well balanced arguements/opinions and commenting on the good and bad parts of an album, with detailed descriptions of what you hear on the album, with comparisons to other artists works or other albums from the same artist. I have read some very good non collaborator reviews of course, some people who arent prog reviewers officially deserve to be! Keep up the good work everybody ------------- The Worthless Recluse
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Posted By: Logos
Date Posted: May 18 2005 at 09:20
No it's not. |
Posted By: Guests
Date Posted: May 18 2005 at 13:04
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Posted By: JMCecil
Date Posted: May 18 2005 at 13:13
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You're right, it wasn't funny...it was accurate |
Posted By: spectral
Date Posted: May 18 2005 at 15:55
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JMCecil, you actually think that was an accurate review of TMV? If you're being serious you're are either tone deaf or yet to listen to Frances the Mute. Irrespective of the reviewer's intent, the fact that some people agree with the comments is more ridiculous that the review itself. ------------- "...misty halos made visible by the spectral illumination of moonshine." |
Posted By: goose
Date Posted: May 18 2005 at 16:06
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I dunno, I thought stuff on SA was pretty funny when I was about 14 and I haven't looked at it for a couple of years or so. Either he's run out of funny things to say or my sense of humour has changed. |
Posted By: NetsNJFan
Date Posted: May 18 2005 at 16:15
that is such an ignorant comment. TMV is not for everyone, like I'm sure you do not like every prog band i like spectral. the reveiw did make some good points, since many peopel are turend off byt eh weird noises and wailing vocals and repition in the album. After hearing Frances the Mute i got the impression that Cedrix Bixler-Zavala was tone deaf, not JMCecil -------------
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Posted By: JMCecil
Date Posted: May 18 2005 at 16:40
I purchased the CD based on the rediculous ratings on this site. I took it back the next day. Horrid noise is about as nice as I can be. I'm not going to criticize anyone who likes it. But, #1: it isn't even close to prog #2: it's terrible sounding. Whoever recorded it should be fired and never be allowed in a studio again #3: the lyrics are stupid beyond belief. So, in general I think he reviewed it both fairly and fairly well. |
Posted By: spectral
Date Posted: May 18 2005 at 17:02
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We've obviously been listening to a different Frances the Mute! Are you aware of the ideas behind the record? If you get that, you can understand the lyrics more. As for Cedric's voice...go see their live show and you'll realise that he's far from deaf! I take the point that not everyone likes TMV, but to concur with such an absurd review is pretty darn incredible IMO! ------------- "...misty halos made visible by the spectral illumination of moonshine." |
Posted By: iscariot
Date Posted: May 18 2005 at 17:09
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i have a feeling i would like the mars volta quite a bit more if the
vocals werent so much... like they are. i can see myself enjoying them
more if i forced myself to listen to them, but the fact of the matter
as far as im concerned is that talent and taste do not always
necessarily go hand in hand. and this is just such a case. for what brief periods ive listened to their music though, i enjoy this album much more than de-loused; although id owe both more inspection if i were to really say. on the other hand too, though, i never really got into atdi (or sparta for that matter) for more or less the same reasons. ------------- matters of taste are not open to critique |
Posted By: spectral
Date Posted: May 18 2005 at 17:12
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I've always found the best records, the ones that endure, are the ones that don't necessarily hit you instantly. They take more considered listening to fully appreciate what the band is trying to achieve. ------------- "...misty halos made visible by the spectral illumination of moonshine." |
Posted By: JMCecil
Date Posted: May 18 2005 at 17:17
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Whatever they achieve will be done without me ever buying another one of their CDs, unless of course someone I know buys one and says "Hey, this new TMV CD is great and it doesn't sound anything like the previous crap they did". If on the other hand they say "I just got Frances the Mute pt 2" I'll leave the building before they get the shrink wrap off. |
Posted By: iscariot
Date Posted: May 18 2005 at 17:17
i might agree to that. but its a shame when we expect this of an album and listen to it repeatedly only to find out that it still sounds as terrible as the first time :) ------------- matters of taste are not open to critique |
Posted By: JMCecil
Date Posted: May 18 2005 at 17:19
| Seriously, I'm not trying to be offensive or anything. But that is one of the worst albums I have ever heard. It ranks right up there when someone told me I ABSOLUTELY HAD TO GET LONDON CALLING. Which is maybe the worst poplur album of all time. |
Posted By: NetsNJFan
Date Posted: May 18 2005 at 17:20
agreed. god that album was painful. -------------
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Posted By: spectral
Date Posted: May 18 2005 at 17:21
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variety is the spice of life, if we were all the same it would be a dull old world. at the very least you guys listened to the album. ------------- "...misty halos made visible by the spectral illumination of moonshine." |
Posted By: JMCecil
Date Posted: May 18 2005 at 17:22
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That is %100 the truth. I'm even glad you like it. Diversity always leads to something new and creative. We might disagree when "THAT" happens, but at least we can look forward to our version of "IT" |
Posted By: NetsNJFan
Date Posted: May 18 2005 at 17:29
wow all three o us in agreement, yes I am willing too try anything at least one time, or in the case of dream theater, half a time (i just couldn't get through images and words, too heavy). Anyway, I've found the people without varied music are the most intolerant and thick on this site. -------------
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Posted By: spectral
Date Posted: May 18 2005 at 17:34
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You're right, insularity is an unfortunate afflication! If you can get through it, it opens up a whole new world. That's why I like this site, you get to find out about music you didn't even know existed. ------------- "...misty halos made visible by the spectral illumination of moonshine." |
Posted By: NetsNJFan
Date Posted: May 18 2005 at 17:39
yea like ITALIAN PROG and CANTERBURY still haven't been able to figure out R.I.O./Zeuhl yet -------------
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Posted By: spectral
Date Posted: May 18 2005 at 17:42
I'm only just getting started, I've got it all to come!! ------------- "...misty halos made visible by the spectral illumination of moonshine." |
Posted By: NetsNJFan
Date Posted: May 18 2005 at 17:43
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yea.......prog's the best, over the last 7 months i've gotten into soooo much prog -------------
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Posted By: spectral
Date Posted: May 18 2005 at 17:44
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once you've tasted prog, there's no going back! ------------- "...misty halos made visible by the spectral illumination of moonshine." |
Posted By: NetsNJFan
Date Posted: May 18 2005 at 18:09
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no going back to commercial crap and plain rock, but it definately helps you further into other great genres epsecially classical music which is also AMAZING. -------------
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Posted By: Yanns
Date Posted: May 18 2005 at 22:25
| OK, you guys obviously can't know too much about the album, because no one pointed out that that reviewer got the tracks wrong. Miranda That Ghost Just Isn't Holy Anymore has 4 parts and is over 13 minutes long, and Cassandra Geminni has 5 parts and is over half an hour. Those individual tracks don't exist, they're part of the longer songs. Why didn't anyone else pick up on that? |
Posted By: JMCecil
Date Posted: May 18 2005 at 22:45
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I didn't own it long enough to memorize the tracks. I listened 1.5 times and took it back and traded it in for In Absentia DVD version. Memorizing the track names would have been like learning the name of a sh*t covered, mangy, mut dog with rabies you are about to put a bullet through its brains. There is no point in doing either. |
Posted By: Yanns
Date Posted: May 18 2005 at 22:47
Hmmmmm.... nice. |
Posted By: NetsNJFan
Date Posted: May 18 2005 at 23:22
nice imagination..............i hated it but it wasn't thaaat bad -------------
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Posted By: JMCecil
Date Posted: May 19 2005 at 07:36
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ok, maybe it was a bit over the top.
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Posted By: goose
Date Posted: May 19 2005 at 13:01
If TMV are too noisy, I can't see any RIO going down too well |
Posted By: Hangedman
Date Posted: May 19 2005 at 13:05
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Yeah it is, goddamn were a humorless lot. |
Posted By: Logos
Date Posted: May 19 2005 at 13:12
I enjoy good humor. |
Posted By: Zargus
Date Posted: May 19 2005 at 13:25
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Well i dident laugh so i gues it was not fun, but my god what a asshole Why dont he yust put on one of hes britney spears CDs and shut up about real music he will never understand. ------------- 
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