Xenophanes

Omar Rodriguez-Lopez (Artist) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (November 10, 2009)
• Original Release Date: 2009
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Rodriguez Lopez Productions
• ASIN: B002QXINBC
• In-Print Editions: Audio CD  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #12,933 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #65 in Music > Miscellaneous > Experimental Music

Editorial Reviews

The inaugural recording from Omar Rodriguez Lopez's low-profile compound in Zapopan, Mexico, Xenophanes is the first album which finds him at the helm vocally and lyrically, as well as musically. Sung entirely in Spanish, Xenophanes showcases a side of The Mars Volta guitarists rarely seen before, allowing for a much more gestural experience of the man rather than simply the musician, and truly distinguishing this album from its myriad predecessors.Equal parts Volta bombast, El Grupo Nuevo... technicality, and a textural richness unequaled on prior solo releases, Xenophanes is a triumph of imagination and an inspired, concise statement.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Starter for Omar, February 1, 2010

By 

Shared Gum (alexandria, va United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Xenophanes (Audio CD)

I am a big fan of Omar, but mostly in the context of the Mars Volta and At the Drive-In. I love each of their albums, and I think that the man is a genius.

However, his solo work has been all over the place. Calibration is hardly song oriented and combines mostly noise elements and processed vocals that were briefly introduced on Frances the Mute (but were not the focus of that album). It is heavy music and hard to get into. Apocalypse is a great album, but it at times feels like it goes on for too long.

And now onto Xenophanes. This is truly a gem, and I was surprised not to see more reviews here. It is much more song-oriented than the rest of Omar's solo work. The riffs are very catchy while still sounding fresh and experimental, and Omar's vocals in Spanish are quite good and go well with this music. I won't go into a song-by-song review here - they all flow very well together.

Overall, Omar has created an excellent and moody record, but without making it difficult to listen to. Highly recommended!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars a spacey distorted voyage, July 20, 2011

By 

Colin - See all my reviews

This review is from: Xenophanes (Audio CD)

This album is very peculiar; its just as accessible as it is complex. The newest Omar fans as well as the oldest are all able to appreciate this album. I actually delayed listening to this for awhile when I read it had Ximena on co-lead vocals, since I'm not the biggest fan of her vocals. I put it off for a while along with Tychohorizonte, Cizana de los Amores, and Ciencia de los Inutiles. However, when I did spin it, I found out Omar actually did the majority of the lead vocals, and Ximena's vocals were more supporting or harmonizing, and when used in this context, I suddenly found a massive appreciation for her voice. There's a song or two where she does sing lead, but even on these she sounds a little different than on other releases, and I enjoyed her vocals very much. That being said, this is one of his most solid albums, with the whole thing from front to back consisting of great, well-written, well-composed songs that take the listener through an audio journey into your own mind. I don't even have to know Spanish, which I don't, to know what is being sung and what is going on. Definitely a great album and a lot of fun to listen to. 4(1/2) stars out of 5

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Strongest Material Since Frances the Mute, November 11, 2009

By 

Alaric - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Xenophanes (Audio CD)

If you haven't heard Xenophanes, you can at the Omar Rodriguez Lopez Productions' web page in the Catalogue, under the 'Digital' tab that appears below the LP; you can stream the entire thing (along with most of his/defacto/tmv releases!) and decide for yourself.

Mixed by Rich Costey, Thomas Pridgin on drums, Ximena Sarinena (up and coming Mexican pop singer with a unique, pleasant voice; also ORML's lady if I'm not mistaken), art design by Sonny Kay.


In the context of Bedlam of Goliath, Pridgin's fusion chops could be taken as miscellaneous prog shredding of the worst kind --a shame. On Xenophanes OMRL has music that more than meets his drummer's style and strengths half-way, and the result is a great deal more satisfying.

Ximena Sariñana singing ORML's lyrics is the real highlight and pleasure of the LP --Omar's surely auto-tune corrected vocals are unexpectedly tolerable, though Ximena takes center stage and keeps it for the most part (Especially Track 6). Her being listed as an accompanist is yet another ironic, humorous conceit on the part of the uber-producer-arranger-yaddayaddayadda OMRL.


This reviewer's judgement: if not the strongest material since Frances the Mute, then Xenophanes is certainly the most compelling, focused and uniquely stylized release in-itself since Tremulant, this coming from an early admirer of TMV/OMRL's work. The lyrics are especially compelling, being completely in the Spanish tongue; the textures, lush; the percussion and rhythm sections tight and focused. Nothing negative to add other than possibly the mix: loud, loud, loud!