Amputechture
Entry posted by Avey
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<div style="float:left; margin-right:5px;"><img src="http://www.scarletpage.com/images/recent23.jpg" width="254" height="150"></div>The Mars Volta were born out of creative frustration by guitarist Omar Rodriguez-Lopez and vocalist Cedric Bixler-Zavala after tiring of doing 'straight-forward' rock with El Paso band At the Drive-In.
Musically, the band mix multiple genres of music together to form a distinguished, unique sound. Album tracks often exceed the ten minute mark and live renditions can last up to thirty minutes with excessive ad libbing. Consequently they have a die hard fan-base who see the band as musical revolutionaries. Countering the fans are a large number of critics who find their music to be nothing more than musical masturbation. Something Awful did a rather good review of the album, with the latter opinion on the band!
I have been eagerly awaiting the new album since the release was announced way back in the distant past, and I also feel good that I didnt succumb to temptation and download the album months ago when it leaked. The first album was accessible and contained "songs", in the traditional sense of the word. Frances the Mute, the second studio album only contained five tracks (split up to make 12 and thus be an LP and not an EP) making it harder to understand and digest. Amputechture is supposed to bridge this gap; be both accessible and diverse.
Unlike the other albums, Amputechture starts of with three minutes of dexterous guitar and softly-spoken/sung words. Different from what I expected - I was waiting for it to 'explode' and hear Cedric shift up a gear - but its all good. The rest of CD continues in typical Mars Volta style with layered guitars and vocals combing with bass, drums, sax, keys and no doubt several other instruments all twined together to form a wall of immense sound.
<div style="float:right; margin-left:5px;"><img src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/4/47/Mvcasm.jpg" width="175" height="179"></div>Keep an eye (or ear?) peeled for the single 'Viscera Eyes' which I am sure will be under appreciated by both Radio/TV stations and the public. Probably the most accessible work The Mars Volta have put on tape, it contains a simple guitar part mixed with English and Spanish vocals, capped off with a sing-along chorus "Come on and give it to me, come on and die. In your Viscera Eyes!"
Day of the Baphomets deserves a mention and stuck out as one of the best on my first listen this morning. Starting slowly but ending with a flourishing jazz and bongo explosion, it sums up The Mars Volta. You never know just what is around the next corner.
I have only listened through the album once, but I think I will have to let it replay itself so I can pick up some sounds I may have missed on the first listen. Frances The Mute is one of my favourite studio albums, so Amputechture had a lot to live up to, however, I think it may have done more than live up to it.
Rating: 
Some of the best music I have ever heard, Cedric and Omar are true geniuses. If Amputechture can stay in my CD player as long as Frances did, it will be awarded 5 stars.
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