Most of this information will have been taken (and reworded) from their official site, www.themarsvolta.com)
Formed in 2001 from the former members of emo/punk geniuses, At The Drive In, Omar Rodriguez-Lopez and Cedric Bixler-Zavala, the MV classify themselves as neither a prog rock back or a "concept album band", although they excel at both. In fact, they formed the group in order to escape such oppressive labels.
But their albums ARE based on concepts, and they ARE quite heavy topics. 2003's epic de-loused in the comatorium tells a sci-fi-esque tale of a brilliant man in an imaginary universe created by the band. Its follow up, this year's Frances the Mute also deals with heavy subject matter: the death of a close friend. It transpired in the real world and was inspired by a diary found by one of the band's late members in the backseat of a repossessed car.
Their albums are not light, throwaway material. With average song-length reaching far beyond the normal 4-minute pop standard, the music of the MV should be considered, and listened to repeatedly. The music is full of subtleties and the lyrics can be confounding and confusing, especially if you're not bi-lingual, as it's often in Spanish.
The official biography relates the rather fascinating tale of the stories behind the albums. These albums could just as easily be written into prose and become (albeit rather difficult) literature. Both albums have evaded commercial success, which shouldn't come as a surprise in the fickle, ADD-riddled American music industry. But they are critical darlings, receiving stellar reviews from around the globe (with the exception of pitchforkmedia, but who listens to them??)
They have their own label, Gold Standard Laboratories, on which they released the early Tremulant EP. They quickly picked up steam after that, and found celebrity aide in Rick Rubin, Flea and John Frusciante from the Red Hot Chili Peppers, and the like, for production and musical backup.
If given enough time, the Mars Volta will give you nothing but a rewarding experience in return. They produce vast, lush, epic music that should be enjoyed by oneself, through nice headphones. I don't see them selling out anytime soon.
FRANCES THE MUTE
released: 03/01/05
label:gsl/strummer/universal
producer: omar rodriguez-lopez
running time: 75m (yeah...I know!!)
1. cygnus...vismund cygnus
a. sarcophagi
b. umbilical syllables
c. facilis descenus averni
d. con safo
2. the widow
3. l'via l'viaquez
4. miranda that ghost just isn't holy anymore
a. vade mecum
b. pour another icepick
c. pisacis (phra-men-ma)
d. con safo
5. cassandra geminni
a. tarantism
b. plant a nail in the navel stream
c. faminepulse
d. multiple spouse wounds
e. sarcophagi
The Mars Volta Live EP
release date: 07/01/03
label: gsl/universal
running time: 42m28s
1. roulette dares (the haunted of)
2. drunkship of lanterns
3. cicatriz esp
4. televators
de-loused in the comatorium
release date: 06/24/03
label: gsl/universal
producer: rick rubin
time: 61m 15s
1. son et lumiere
2. inertiatic esp
3. roulette dares (the haunted of)
4. tirame a las aranas
5. drunkship of lanterns
6. eriatarka
7. cicatriz esp
8. this apparatus must be unearthed
9. televators
10. take the veil cerpin taxt
11. ambuletz (import only)
tremulant EP
release date: 04/02/02
label: gsl
producer: alex newport
running time: 19m 27s
1. cut that city
2. concertina
3. eunuch provocateur
