Album Review: The Mars Volta - Octahedron
To look at The Mars Volta and even remotely grasp their style, one must understand the idea of progressive rock. The constant experimentation, the embracing of techniques like elaborate song structures and musique concrete. This band signifies the very core of its genre, and while the purists might complain about the lack of lengthy arrangements in later endeavors, music enthusiasts should applaud the changes present on both last year’s The Bedlam In Goliath and their latest, Octahedron. Plain and simple, The Mars Volta has mutated and everyone all saw this coming, but unlike past efforts, the changes here should be welcomed.
Octahedron represents a new phase for The Mars Volta, a transition into subtlety and accessibility. The opening track and first single “Since We’ve Been Wrong” is representative of this phase, as the song gently eases out from silence than greeting a signature Omar Rodríguez-López/Cedric Bixler-Zavala accompaniment. “Since We’ve Been Wrong” gives off a Rolling Stones feel a la December Children, channeling “As Tears Go By” during the verses before coming home again on the chorus. It’s acoustically warm in a way only The Mars Volta can provide, and alienates neither newcomers nor long-time fans.
During the course of the album, you get the sense that it was a one-shot recording, as nearly every track seamlessly cross fades into the next. Octahedron is like all the band’s past work in that it is a full-contact album where you either immerse yourself completely, or you lose yourself in the unspoken chaos. The downside with The Mars Volta has always been a polarization of sorts — the listener loves it or hates it, seldom do we see the in between (not counting “The Widow” or “L’Via L’Viaquez”). This album attempts to bridge the gap, giving hipsters and casual fans alike something to discuss on common ground.
Something the band hasn’t abandoned is a cohesive theme for each album. With a title like Octahedron, it makes sense that there’s only eight tracks, as anyone knows an octahedron is an eight-sided polyhedron. But it’s deeper than that, of course. What the overall theme is could be left to interpretation, indicative again of The Mars Volta. Based on the song titles alone, one could assume the link is human nature or the human aspect of seeking control in chaos. “Halo of Nembutals” could be a cryptic sermon on suicide, as Nembutal is the trade name for a barbiturate used in China for the death penalty (in the states for physician assisted suicide); certain lyrics within “Since We’ve Been Wrong” imply questioning the meaning of life; “Copernicus” is named for the Polish astronomer who proved the Earth was not the center of the universe, possibly referring to the human characteristic of wanting to be the center of attention or gaining overall control of one’s surroundings.
As with any release by this band, everything seems left open to interpretation and that adds a certain charm and mystique to each effort, despite moving away from long and complex song arrangements (though one could argue Octahedron as a whole is the lengthy song arrangement). In any event, the heaviest on this release is also the other single, “Cotopaxi”, which brings us back to keeping in touch with a new audience — this one being a subset of those who prefer more bang and crash in their prog rock, such as the likes of Mastodon. This is well suited, since “Cotopaxi” would feel at home on Crack The Skye to some degree, and thereby (probably unintentionally) says to the audience, “Try a little of this too…you might enjoy it.”
The overall sound present on this album plays against all expectations of a band whose line up has been an ever changing one, as the cohesion amongst Omar, Cedric and company present a fluid motion. Not once on this record does a track feel out of place, not once do the well-known essences of Latin and classic rock influences fail; instead, it all shines through the madness that is The Mars Volta. From the beautiful opening to the explosive sounds of “Luciforms”, each song holds its own while simultaneously meshing well with their counterparts — a staple of long form musical pieces, and also of progressive rock concept albums.
Despite how you read the running themes on this album, or your claims about how drastically different Octahedron sounds compared to De-Loused In The Comatorium or Frances the Mute, the fact remains that The Mars Volta has triumphed yet again. Octahedron comes off as a bit more condensed than its predecessors, but only so slightly as to be barely noticeable. If one were to forgo looking at the track list entirely, the number of songs would be lost on the unsuspecting — and in the case of The Mars Volta, quality definitely takes precedent over quantity.
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Octahedron
With the constant onslaught of what is The Mars Volta, sometimes we as fans get caught up in what they should be. It took me a long time to listen to them without prejudice of what is the right kind music. My mind was opened when I started thinking of Cedric’s voice as a trumpet, if that makes sense. Every since then I have thought more in free flowing Jazz, and progressive, when it comes to them.
Although I have only heard 3 songs of this new TMV album, I’d have to say I’m satisfied with the transistion. You can’t always expect the exact same from a talented band full of musical geniouses. They have to expand their creative minds into their own constantly changing styles of music, in their own expiremental way. I’m ready to go buy this new one, and dig the new style. Other than that, I can only wait “almost” patiently till their next album brings us an even more unexpected yet delightful twist…
awesome album it is slower than the rest but i love how dark the lyrics are and the whole way the album flows…amazing
Great album!!!!! the music slips effortlessly from track to track and a complete story unfolds before your eyes. T.M.V. is the most energetic neo-psychedelic prog/rock band there is! no comparison can be made. If you like to get lost in trance and leave reality for a while and are new to T.M.V. then get this album afterwords treat yourself to the ultimate in escape and get De-Loused in the Comatorium you will be hooked!!! enjoy
Mastodon=awesome
Squarepusher=awesome
This album is the lightest of the mars volta albums. If you like 70’s prog rock and maybe didn’t like the other Mars Volta albums theres a good chance this album may be the one that gets you into it…and once your in… you never come back
I thought the record was extremly good. I’m usually not a fan of acoustic music, but this record fucking melted my brain. My favorite part of this whole song (yes, its all one song in my opinion) is the rock opera thing. The lyrics seem more direct than previous efforts. The story tells of a murderer, who may or may not have an accomplice who escapes prison. At least in my interpertation. Go out and by this record its worth the $12.00.
Great album, I enjoyed this way more than their last. Seems alot more composed than the (fantastic) clusterfuck that was Bedlam. When the drums fill in during songs like since we’ve been wrong and halo of nembutals melts my mind. Glad to see the direction they’ve moved, though i agree with anonymous though that this is probably the only album like this
Good review I agree with a lot of the things said in it. I would have given the album 4 stars though but I might be biased because I am a huge fan of the Mars Volta. It’s a damn good album and anyone who doesn’t have it should go pick it up.
What a bunch of imbeciles…just enjoy the damn music!!! These songs are well constructed masterpieces compared to all the other shit out there today. Just take the time to remember in an era where Britney Spears and Chris Brown are hitmakers, that bands like this are able to save us all from that terrible monotony.
So if I think every other Mars Volta album is bloated nonsense that acts as nothing more than a medium for these “artists” show show off their “mad skillz” with little creative or musical value… will I like this one? Because at times in the past it seemed like these guys could actually make something worth listening to if they wanted to, but chose not to.
Thanks brad. Though I think David’s review is deeper than your broad assessment: “It appears that most reviewers are more concerned about getting across the fact that they can be witty and that they have enough knowledge to compare one band to another.”
But that’s just me. ::shrugs::
The Mars Volta I know and love is based on driving, jam/blues/ jazz based songs with an ultimate gratification that seals the deal for the listener. Sometimes you have to earn that gratification buy sitting through 3 minutes of random psychedelic static, but it was well earned and well played. This album to me is like bad sex with no climax. It has it’s moments where one can say “ok, this reminds me of what I like about this band” but there are few remnants of what made us excited for the album in the first place. Their worse yet, but not absolutely awful. “Desperate Graves” is pretty amazing.
“The Mars Volta has mutated and everyone all saw this coming, but unlike past efforts, the changes here should be welcomed.”
What is this supposed to mean? lol. I thought I would read some reviews to see what others seem to think. It appears that most reviewers are more concerned about getting across the fact that they can be witty and that they have enough knowledge to compare one band to another. I have yet to read one review that actually discussed the album - octahedron - as a piece of music. Great Job! Get a real one….
Oh and to all of those that have yet to hear the album. Buy it or steal it and actively listen to it. As with all their others, it is lovely.
mars volta= awesome
mastodon= awesome
Something tells me that last comment isn’t the same Anonymous that precedes it.
did you really just compare the Mars Volta to Mastodon? that is absolutely sickening, i’m literally sitting here with a scowl on my face.
Great Great album and nice review. Definitely a stripped down Mars Volta for this album but a nice change. I bet this will be their only album like this
Oct 20th, 2009 at 5:21 pm
[...] through several tracks off of Deloused in the Comatorium all the way through to this year’s, Octahedron. Opener “Inertiatic ESP” sounded pristine, highlighting every performer that brought it to [...]
Aug 30th, 2009 at 9:49 am
[...] having released this year’s Octahedron, the critically acclaimed return to form, the Volta opted for some older material, with a heavy [...]
Jul 28th, 2009 at 5:00 pm
[...] performance at Bonnaroo last month and continued with the release of its hot comeback album, Octahedron, The Mars Volta shows no signs of slowing down. Instead the afro-sporting jamboree plans to march [...]
Jul 10th, 2009 at 12:15 pm
[...] lyrics with a very layered storyline. Hot off the heels of The Mars Volta’s highly praised Octahedron, Lopez is said to now have embarked on a journey of rebirth and sophomoric souls, reports Jambase: [...]
Jul 1st, 2009 at 1:47 pm
[...] tune was pulled from the group’s brand new record, Octahedron, but strangely enough “Since We’ve Been Wrong” had already showcased two years back during [...]