Alfred

Yeah, not a fan of that new song. Still excited for this album though, I know there'll be at least a few bangers based on what I've heard so far.

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James

I have been getting into them recently, Deloused has become my on the go album.....especially The Apparatus Must Be Unearthed. That song kicks ass.

Alfred

I still say Bedlam is criminally underrated. It's every bit as good as De-Loused.

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MoonlitSunshine

I'll give it another try then. It just seemed a little too much like noise for the sake of noise the few times I've tried to listen to it.

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"I found it eventually, at the bottom of a locker in a disused laboratory, with a sign on the door saying "Beware of the Leopard". Ever thought of going into Advertising?"

- Arthur Dent

Alfred

It's a wild album for sure but there are some amazing melodies and hooks if you take the time to look for them, and plenty of softer, subtle moments as well. On paper, De-Loused is the better album, but Bedlam's crazier experimental edge makes it better for me.

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duga

Bedlam starts off amazing...the first half of the album goes down with some of the best the Mars Volta has ever done. It just starts meandering after that, though. Still, I think I might place it as my second favorite Volta album after Deloused.

For some reason, I just can't seem to give Octahedron a fair shake. Whenever I stick it on, it sounds like it would be good but I eventually stop paying attention and before I know it, I can't even remember what's on the damn thing. I know it's a slightly different direction from their other albums, but it still has a sameness to it that I'm getting kind of tired of. Deloused stands on its own, Frances the Mute stands on its own, and then Amputechture/Bedlam/Octahedron all seem to be tied together with a very similar sound. I'm hoping they change it up for Noctourniquet. The cover is very different from what I am used to, though so maybe that is a good sign.

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Confusion will be my epitaph...

Alfred

I don't know, I think the first half is just more accessible.

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duga

Sure, but I feel the difference between accessible TMV and experimental TMV is a bit too extreme to be able to just say "Oh, it's just accessible". I respect the progressiveness, but there still has to be some semblance of structure for me to enjoy it. I also feel like odd time signatures and crazy chord progressions stop losing their value once it all starts sounding the same... And that is exactly what happens with these guys. If they can write something as amazing as the first half of Bedlam, why not see it the whole way through? I know they are capable o another Deloused because of that... Don't they ever get tired of noodling?

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Confusion will be my epitaph...

Alfred

I think Bedlam's second half has an almost equal amount of solid vocal hooks and instrumental sections, they just dress it up more with the 'weird' stuff.

These tracks, for example, are some of the more memorable songs from Bedlam... they're just longer and more expansive than the more single-worthy songs like "Wax Simulacra" or "Aberinkula"

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metalheadmike

Liked At The Drive IN. But The Mars Volta are a great band