The Mars Volta: Frances The Mute

You have to be really patient to even think about getting into this record. For real, seriously, like there is no other way to put it. Normally, this kind of thing really excites me but it literally took me about three weeks of repeated listens to be able to determine if I even liked this record and this is coming from a dude who loves their debut De-Loused In The Comatorium.

I just personally happen to think that the art of the 30-minute jazzy rock passage is something that is better left in the ’70s although The MV do a pretty good job here of holding this shit together.

But truthfully, I really didn’t want a record from them that sounded like another near car accident waiting to happen. In fact this one sounds more dangerous than the last as at times, it comes so dangerously close to veering off the edge that you can feel the air from the cliff coming up on your skin.

Jazz, metal, prog, alternative and Spanish overtones all make their way to the party here and though always inspired for the performers this masterpiece is a very heavyweight fight for a listener to get through.

But if you make it through the light you will come out on the other end a true fan of this band and perhaps it will be worth it. To me it most definitely is because I love to be challenged and this is as challenging as we have out right now but at some point they will have to reel themselves in a bit which for them will be the real challenge.