The Mars Volta- De-Loused In The Comatorium

APCTOOL91 · 04-15-2010, 02:03 PM

The Mars Volta
De-Loused In The Comatorium
Gold Standard Laboratories/Universal Records
June 24, 2003
60:59

If you've never taken LSD, acid, or any other illegal upper or hallucinogenic before and don't want to risk being caught, just buy The Mars Volta debut album and they will be your dose. With enough energy to create a whole 'nother Big Bang, The Mars Volta takes you through an epic 60 minute story of Cerapin Taxt. (If you want to read the whole short story you can find it online). With Cedric Bixler-Zavala's energetic, enigmatic, and high range vocals and lyrics packed with Omar Rodriguez-Lopez's

sporadic, latin and jazz infused guitar playing make for one of the best albums to appear in the past ten years.

The album starts off with "Son et Lumiere" and transcends perfectly in sync with "Inertiatic ESP," with drumming to make you have a heart attack and some of the highest range singing I've ever heard. Cedric's "Now I'm lost!" echoes through the song and really shows the panic Cerapin is experiencing. The 7 minute "Roulette Dares (The Haunt Of)" delves deeper into Cerapin's twisted adventure through his own mind, as Cedric narrates and the rest of the band plays some intense and somewhat haunting music. "Tira Me A Las Aranas" is a banjo meets latin infused segue but leads into one of the best tracks on the album.

"Drunkship Of Lanterns" is truly the whole embodiment of the album, it's energetic, diverse, musically,and lyrically impressive. It details a climactic moment in which 747's and Cesnas are crashing around Cerapin into the sea. Cedric show's some of the best singing on the album, really capturing the panic and hysteria felt by Cerapin, Omar's guitar playing is beyond exceptional, and Jon Theodore is a drumming GOD in this album with polyrythyms to die for. "Eriatarka," is an enjoyable track, it seems to mirror the drumming from "Inertiatic ESP" but all around its a good track picking up during the chorus.

"Cicatriz ESP" is easily my favorite song off this whole album, it clocks in at 12:29, but I wish it could last a half an hour! Yes, after the first 4 minutes there is an ambient 5 minute "break" if you will, but as it picks back up Cedric shows in my opinion, the best singing on the album. With a solo from John Frusciante (RHCP), killer bass, and some really good rythym from Jon Theodore it's a excellent track. On the flipside though "This Apparatus Must Be Unearthed" is a let down in my opinion, it has potential, but its really hard to try and up "Cicatriz ESP."

"Televators" is a good balance of soft and progressive, with some acoustic bass provided by Flea. It notes the end of Cerapin's journey as he committs suicide ("Just as he hit the ground") its a very relaxing song and contains one of my favorite lyrics ("Soon this chalk outline will circle this city/ Was he robbed of the asphalt that cushioned his face?") "Take The Veil Cerapin Taxt" is a great way to end an album, frantic, energetic, and a great bass solo from Flea really puts the icing on the cake.

There is no doubt De-Loused In The Comatorium shows just how well Omar and Cedric have shedded the Post-Hardcore label of At The Drive-In and have become on of the most repected and talented Progressive bands this decade. It is a beautiful concept album, and believe me it takes awhile to warm up to The Mars Volta.

Rating: 9.0 stars out of 10
Key track(s):
"Drunkship of Lanterns"
"Cicatriz ESP"
"Take The Veil Cerapin Taxt"

P A N · 04-15-2010, 03:28 PM

one my fave albums of all time, for sure. groundbreaking, to say the least.

MagicMan · 11-11-2010, 08:26 PM

TMV's second best album. I find Frances the Mute to be a more cohesive album that De-Loused. Nevertheless, anything by The Mars Volta is bound to be something I enjoy. The only album I can't get into is Amputechture.

My favorite song on this album is "Televators" for me. "Inertiatic ESP" a close second.

~~hausdemusik~~ · 11-12-2010, 12:46 PM

I just discovered this album a week ago and I haven't put it down since. its a 9 out 10 in my books

musicsnob · 12-09-2010, 11:47 PM

Weird, I thought Roulette Dares was The key track.
It's the only song of theirs I really got into, but I loved it.
Especially the chorus about exoskeletal junctions somewhere.

Legspin · 03-23-2012, 02:24 AM

Quote:

I thought Roulette Dares was The key track.

It is a good one. I also enjoy Drunkship of Lanterns and Eriatarka.
I actually also really like the intro Son Et Lumiere

Legspin · 03-23-2012, 02:24 AM

...Frances is better though. I agree

Howard the Duck · 03-23-2012, 03:46 AM

ok, because of all the hype, i finally procured a copy

haven't yet given it a spin

Frances the Mute is extremely patchy to me, though i love the full 16-minute version of L'Via L'Viaquez

Unknown Soldier · 03-23-2012, 06:31 AM

De-Loused and Frances the Mute are fantastic albums but Amputechture is their masterpiece, mainly because the Yes influences are most obvious here.

supertroopjenn · 03-26-2012, 09:43 AM

cedric bixler is the only good thing about this band.

04-15-2010, 02:03 PM	#1 (permalink)
APCTOOL91 TOOL's biggest tool Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Posts: 57	The Mars Volta- De-Loused In The Comatorium The Mars Volta De-Loused In The Comatorium Gold Standard Laboratories/Universal Records June 24, 2003 60:59 If you've never taken LSD, acid, or any other illegal upper or hallucinogenic before and don't want to risk being caught, just buy The Mars Volta debut album and they will be your dose. With enough energy to create a whole 'nother Big Bang, The Mars Volta takes you through an epic 60 minute story of Cerapin Taxt. (If you want to read the whole short story you can find it online). With Cedric Bixler-Zavala's energetic, enigmatic, and high range vocals and lyrics packed with Omar Rodriguez-Lopez's sporadic, latin and jazz infused guitar playing make for one of the best albums to appear in the past ten years. The album starts off with "Son et Lumiere" and transcends perfectly in sync with "Inertiatic ESP," with drumming to make you have a heart attack and some of the highest range singing I've ever heard. Cedric's "Now I'm lost!" echoes through the song and really shows the panic Cerapin is experiencing. The 7 minute "Roulette Dares (The Haunt Of)" delves deeper into Cerapin's twisted adventure through his own mind, as Cedric narrates and the rest of the band plays some intense and somewhat haunting music. "Tira Me A Las Aranas" is a banjo meets latin infused segue but leads into one of the best tracks on the album. "Drunkship Of Lanterns" is truly the whole embodiment of the album, it's energetic, diverse, musically,and lyrically impressive. It details a climactic moment in which 747's and Cesnas are crashing around Cerapin into the sea. Cedric show's some of the best singing on the album, really capturing the panic and hysteria felt by Cerapin, Omar's guitar playing is beyond exceptional, and Jon Theodore is a drumming GOD in this album with polyrythyms to die for. "Eriatarka," is an enjoyable track, it seems to mirror the drumming from "Inertiatic ESP" but all around its a good track picking up during the chorus. "Cicatriz ESP" is easily my favorite song off this whole album, it clocks in at 12:29, but I wish it could last a half an hour! Yes, after the first 4 minutes there is an ambient 5 minute "break" if you will, but as it picks back up Cedric shows in my opinion, the best singing on the album. With a solo from John Frusciante (RHCP), killer bass, and some really good rythym from Jon Theodore it's a excellent track. On the flipside though "This Apparatus Must Be Unearthed" is a let down in my opinion, it has potential, but its really hard to try and up "Cicatriz ESP." "Televators" is a good balance of soft and progressive, with some acoustic bass provided by Flea. It notes the end of Cerapin's journey as he committs suicide ("Just as he hit the ground") its a very relaxing song and contains one of my favorite lyrics ("Soon this chalk outline will circle this city/ Was he robbed of the asphalt that cushioned his face?") "Take The Veil Cerapin Taxt" is a great way to end an album, frantic, energetic, and a great bass solo from Flea really puts the icing on the cake. There is no doubt De-Loused In The Comatorium shows just how well Omar and Cedric have shedded the Post-Hardcore label of At The Drive-In and have become on of the most repected and talented Progressive bands this decade. It is a beautiful concept album, and believe me it takes awhile to warm up to The Mars Volta. Rating: 9.0 stars out of 10 Key track(s): "Drunkship of Lanterns" "Cicatriz ESP" "Take The Veil Cerapin Taxt" __________________ “We all die. The goal isn't to live forever, the goal is to create something that will.”- Chuck Paluhniuk http://www.last.fm/user/RogueS7a7us

11-11-2010, 08:26 PM	#3 (permalink)
MagicMan Groupie Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Canada Posts: 37	TMV's second best album. I find Frances the Mute to be a more cohesive album that De-Loused. Nevertheless, anything by The Mars Volta is bound to be something I enjoy. The only album I can't get into is Amputechture. My favorite song on this album is "Televators" for me. "Inertiatic ESP" a close second. __________________ The problem with now is no matter how much we want it to, it doesn't last forever.

04-15-2010, 03:28 PM	#2 (permalink)
P A N DO LIKE YOU. Join Date: Feb 2010 Posts: 629	one my fave albums of all time, for sure. groundbreaking, to say the least.

11-12-2010, 12:46 PM	#4 (permalink)
~~hausdemusik~~ Account Disabled Join Date: Nov 2010 Posts: 19	I just discovered this album a week ago and I haven't put it down since. its a 9 out 10 in my books

12-09-2010, 11:47 PM	#5 (permalink)
musicsnob Groupie Join Date: Dec 2010 Posts: 10	Weird, I thought Roulette Dares was The key track. It's the only song of theirs I really got into, but I loved it. Especially the chorus about exoskeletal junctions somewhere.

03-23-2012, 02:24 AM	#7 (permalink)
Legspin Groupie Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Melbourne Posts: 17	...Frances is better though. I agree

03-26-2012, 09:43 AM	#10 (permalink)
supertroopjenn Groupie Join Date: Mar 2012 Posts: 15	cedric bixler is the only good thing about this band.