Customer Reviews

Deloused in the Comatorium

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

The album wasn't something I got into immediately. In fact, the first time I heard what I now find to be the best song on the album, I hated it. It's the kind of album that you've got to listen to several times before you actually like it enough to by it (which means you should probably borrow it first). Don't feel too bad if you never grow into them, though, because it seems they aren't one of those bands that are "just okay".

The lyrics are oddly enticing. They hint at the band's insights, perhaps beginning to divulge some sort of message, but then keep things private, not defining anything for sure. Between the songs there is no noticeable pause, adding to the flow of the album, which is especially amazing. The songs by themselves are incredible enough, but the album as a whole is miraculous in the way it ties into itself and just runs through, sometimes making it hard to tell when one song ends and another begins, but never sounding like a previous song.

These guys blow my mind like no one has since Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath, Jimi Hendrix, King Crimson, Blue Oyster Cult, Rush, Rage Against the Machine, Jane's Addiction, Living Colour, Frank Zappa, Santana, Return to Forever, Jaco Pastorius, Weather Report, etc. Wow. Makes most of what's out there seem stunted and impish. Nuf said.

This is the best album I've bought in years.....wait, in my life!
I give it 7 stars.
Also buy the Tremulant EP.

Indie-rock band At the Drive In shattered just as they were starting to make it big. But from the ashes of At The Drive-In came: The Mars Volta. And their full-length debut album, "De-Loused At The Comatorium," is a rousing, blasting, strange and magnificent lump of space rock.

"Son Et Lumiere" is a melodic buildup to the fireball of "Inertiatic ESP," the eerie string-driven "Tira Me A Las Aranas," the haunting drum-laden "Drunkship of Lanterns" with its lamenting howls, the rollicking "Eriatarka," the slightly overlong but very compelling "Cicatriz ESP," the chaotic "This Apparatus Must Be Unearthed," the soft and melodic "Televators," and the At the Drive-In-influenced "Take The Veil Cerpin Taxt."

It's rather rare to have a concept album now. But this full-length debut definitely is one. It tells of a Mexican artist who committed suicide in the 1990s. Here, he falls into a coma and lingers in the world of "De-Loused" for a week. (It sounds depressing, but it isn't) The plaintive, surreal songs make a lot more sense once you know the story.

"De-Loused"'s sound is hard to classify: a combo of rock, psychedelica, a hint of jazz, Latin music, and a few others that are hard to identify. For that matter, it's not really much like several songs, as a single song that bobs into different musical genres. Often the songs will melt into one another, one barely pausing as it dies away before the next melody starts. It gives "De-Loused" the feeling of a big, glorious tapestry.

The lyrics and music reflect this feel; the lyrics are wrenchingly weird ("Nobody is heard/compass wilting in the wind!"), with an undeniably powerful melancholy, dark edge. It's never more evident than in the despairing wail of "Now I'm lost!". The music can switch from shattering guitar riffs to delicate instrumentals tinged with a synthesizer. And though at times they sound chaotic as a thunderstorm storm, it's obvious that they know what they're doing.

Mars Volta is a blast of explosive new rock music that blows away the rubbish. "De-Loused in the Comatorium" is like stepping through a door into a world where the normal rules of music don't apply. Step through the door, into the Comatorium....

To be true, it needs at least a few listens. But I thought the same about OK Computer, not sure at first but it grows with every listen and turns out to be a sublime classic.

The drums are up front in the mix and this can be off-putting, but try to get past that and listen to the superb guitar and bass work with the vocal range exceptional.

All the best albums tweak your curiosity with the first listen enough to play them again and this is no exception.

Style: Unique, hispanic influences, wierd (unlike most everything else, except their previous work), jamming and full-blown rock-out.

If you are a serious collector of music, this needs to be in your collection, it's in mine !

When I first listened to this I knew it was different - not like anything you'd hear on the radio - definitely not like any of the popular bands - a very unique sound - kind of like being in a mosh pit - your constantly being bombarded with different musical styles and sounds - one minute calm and surrealistic, the next it's loud and pounding you ears and senses. Give this one a try . . .

This cd shows the creative side of former at the drive-in members Cedric Bixler and Omar Rodriguiez as they have shown in their other band, Defacto. This musical masterpiece is the best new release of 2003. But one correction to a reviewer on this cd, Jim Ward has never been on the mars volta, he formed the band sparta which is not as good as The mars volta. This cd is worth buying, it also features a bonus track that the American version does not aqquire.

The Mars Volta, made up of Cedric Bixler, Omar Rodriguez, the late Jeremy Ward, Flea, and guest John Frusciante (3/5 of At the Drive in, and 2/5 of the Red Hot Chili Peppers) seem set to change rock music as we know it. They will never be accepted on mainstream radio, so if that's what you listen to, skip this review.

The album, while being mainly psychedelic seamlessly blends just about every form of music you can think of into a truly sublime hodge-podge of sound. Loud? Yes. Bombastic? At times, yet the guitar work is simply genius, and Mr. Bixler exhibits shades of Geddy Lee from Rush, but in a good way.

The album may be chaotic, hectic, and fevered, but they know how to make it all work together to create something absolutely unique. If they can keep this up, 10 years from now, they may be truly appreciated as the ingenious innovators they are.