There are some bands that just don’t fall into any pre-conceived box, and just exist in their own realm. Mars Volta are that band and who would have thought that At The Drive In would have spawned something so amazing.
This is the band’s debut album, even though there was an EP released before. The creative partnership that is Mars Volta comprises of Omar Rodriguez Lopez and Cedric Bixler Zavala and the other musicians join to form The Band. This is not music that you just put on for a quick listen while consuming your breakfast. This is a commitment to make yourself comfy and grab some snacks because it’s gonna be a while.
The term progressive was made for music just like this, and the concept album is alive and well, and long may it be so. Based on a short story written by Cedric and Jeremy Ward (who was a a founding member) about a man named Cerpin Text who is in a coma for a week after overdosing on morphine and rat poison (alluding to a friend of Cedric’s). Side note: Jeremy Ward was found dead of a heroin overdose just before the recording started for this album. So, the whole vibe running up to this album wasn’t the most positive. Well you know what they say, “out of adversity,” positive things happen.
This is an incredible piece of work and I do admit it’s not the easiest of listens, but just immerse yourself in it. I don’t really have a favourite as I look on this as a whole.
9/10 from The Grooveman.
