After listening to an advanced copy of The Bedlam in Goliath for about a week, I am ready to release my opinion of the record, and the band as a whole. This comes at a perfect time, for the album will be released tomorrow. This may help you save money and rather indulge in something that may not leave you somewhat annoyed.
It is important to begin with my proclamation of being a huge At The Drive-In fan. Having said that, I have been on The Mars Volta's side of the battle after the band's split. Sparta, in my opinion, are nothing to call home about. Deloused in the Comatorium, their debut album, was absolutely amazing. It was love at first listen. At the time, I was so relieved that the Mars Volta was just as good, if not better, than At the Drive-In.
It wasn't long after that the band released it's second record Frances the Mute. The CD was definitely a breath of fresh air - something unique and completely innovative. At the same time, however, some of the band's musical qualities were left behind; replacing therir overall musicianship with shock value.
Only a year later, the workaholics released Amputechture and a live album called Scab Dates. Scab Dates was excellent because the band is an entertaining and exuberant live force. Amputechture, however, seemed like it was produced by extraterrestrials. If I was unfamiliar with the band, I would have guessed the album was recorded on an intergalactic spacecraft. It was peculiar, yet still somewhat charming. They hadn't lost me yet. I was still intrigued.
Now, another year has elapsed and the Mars Volta are releasing The Bedlam in Goliath tomorrow. The album serves as the band's fourth full-length studio album, but the first sans Jon Theodore. Jon Theodore, for those unfamiliar, was the rhythmic drumming force behind the Mars Volta's intricate and sometimes overwhelming time signatures. Theodore made everything human and kept everything cohesive within the music.
The Bedlam in Goliath is sorely missing the presence of Theodore on this record. While the CD is straight-to-the-point compositions without much between song noise and nonsense, the music is lackluster. There are a few catchy, well constructed tracks on the record, of course, but it seems that the Mars Volta have fallen from their throne and have become "just another eccentric rock band."
Bedlam offers nothing special or out of the ordinary for avid Volta fans. If you were anticipating this record all year, you may want to reconsider purchasing it. Coming from a huge Mars Volta fan - I suggest the band take a little more time writing and crafting their tunes in the studio the next time around. This release has seemed to fall under my head, while the others have gone a little bit over.
My Trusted MOGs
very thoughtful points on this. this album has been highly anticipated for awhile now. i'm certainly going to still pick this up today, i'm still curious.
My Trusted MOGs
i'm not a 'huge' fan, but from what i have heard of 'bedlam', i would have to agree with you. i had to stop the track i was playing after about 2 minutes. there's something not there in the musical quality.
My Trusted MOGs
how can you call yourself a fan of a band and then in the next breath tell people not to get the cd? those two things do not go together. a real fan would tell people, "hey, i like this band but i prefer their earlier music, check it all out and come to your own conclusions." telling people to stay away and trying to help them save money by not trying something out is ridiculous coming from a "fan." pop in relationship of command and stick with ATD-I, punk music is probably more suited to you if you don't like the direction Omar and Cedric have taken TMV.
nevertheless, i think you are way off on most of your opinions, but respect them anyways. the thing i most disagree with is your characterization of the band as being worse off without jon theodore. i'm sorry, but Thomas Pridgen, a drumming prodigy who has won contests and been renowned for his skills with the sticks, is a fantastic addition to the band, If you need proof of his prowess and superiority over Theodore, check out youtube for their performance in australia of Cygnus... Vismund Cygnus. It's incredible what Pridgen can do behind a set, and Theodore, from all accounts, was a cancer to the band who was causing them to cancel sets early frequently.
I advise you to continue to listen to the new cd, which i find to be a welcome change of pace from previous material, and then make up your mind as to whether or not you are actually a fan of the band. if you don't like the product, just move on to something that suits you and save your own money next time. that way you don't have to worry about where the rest of us spend ours.
My Trusted MOGs
Just when I thought that MOG was a place for "real people to share real music," I am struck with a verbal attack by someone that may or may not understand the meaning of the word "opinion." Your deposition on my post was not only ill-mannered and unnecessary, it was false and border-line arrogant.
First of all, I am a fan of TMV. I never stated that I wasn't. A review of a CD is simply that - a review. Quality album reviews from individuals require strong opinions in order to be worth reading. This is coming from someone who has made a career as a music critic and journalist for the last five years. I am sorry if it was unclear to you, but saying that one should not waste their money buying this CD, is not a completely negative statement. In fact, it actually doubles as homage and praise toward all of the smaller and deserving undiscovered acts that are struggling to make a dime from CD sales right now.
As for the drumming argument, I respect your opinions about it. As a drummer, I appreciate both of the individuals' talents, but still view Theodore as a superior match to the band's overall sound.
My Trusted MOGs
I think you are missing the conundrum in your own words, to be frankly honest. To start, I acknowledge that you claim to be a TMV fan. I must still emphasize that you saying you are a fan and actually being a true fan are not one and the same. My original point was this: Music is relative to the listener. Everyone can give comments, opinions, and thoughts about music and they all can very well be true. But to tell people to not buy something and completely shut it out from their senses is crossing the line from critic to basher. Your two statements about it being an homage and the necessity of strong opinions are incomprehensible to me.
The former statement is based upon the assumption that people will read your review and spend their money on a "smaller and deserving undiscovered act" instead of on TBiG. We both know you can't prove that in any way shape or form. Further, it IS a negative statement about the band and its new album. The fact that the statement may or may not have an ulterior motive of promoting other music (which somehow I missed the first time through) does not mean it's diminished in force. I could say, "George Bush sucks as President." To which you could respond, "That's ridiculous, false, and negative." According to your reasoning, I could very well respond, "It's not a wholly negative statement because it doubles as both an homage and praise towards the lesser known, deserving politicians out there who should get your vote instead." We aren't talking about other politicians/bands! We are talking about George Bush/The Mars Volta!
I apologize if I offended you, but I can hardly see how my response was a "verbal attack." Furthermore, I am pretty sure that I went out of my way to tell you more than once that you are entitled to your opinion and I respect them. I felt the desire to respond because in your goal to be read you are infringing upon a deserving artist's ability to get paid in the difficult CD sales market by saying to skip out on them (or in the alternative, implicitly encouraging illegal downloading so people don't waste their money). How was I ill-mannered? I understand that perhaps you felt I may have been attacking your livelihood as a journalist. However, the first paragraph of your response is littered with rhetoric of the victim of a hate crime. As a music critic on a forum that is supposed to be for "real people," you come off sounding surprisingly fake.
Finally, like I've said, music is relative. I love Pridgen's drumming but see your point about the band's sound with Theodore. He was more of a salsa guy (he was in De Facto, after all) and it fit well with the Latin tinges of the band's music. Whether or not the band moved away from that on TBiG because of the new drummer or a thought out plan is unknown to me. So far, I've really enjoyed the new album in the same way I liked the old ones (De-Loused is and always will be my favorite, however). I recommend putting on a pair of expensive headphones and turning out the lights before listening to any TMV album. It's worked so far for me, and maybe it will for you,
My Trusted MOGs
For some reason my previous post was messed up in translation. That middle are went as follows:
The latter statement about the necessity for stong opinions strikes the chord that is being heard around the world today: oversaturation by the media is destroying the reasonable man. What the world needs is straightforward, truthful reporting that does not feel the heat of the advertising dollars that drive media members to write and report things for shock value in order to gain attention. Your remark that "quality reviews" need strong opinions flows in this vein of modern day media. However, I don't blame you. We all need to eat somehow.
My Trusted MOGs
You are very good at resolving an issue. I thoroughly enjoy your diction. I look forward to reading more about what you have to say. As for the topic at hand, however, I have reviewed my previous posts and came to the realization that you are accurate in some of your observations. For this, I would like to thank you and clarify that I respect your opinions greatly. At the same time, I hope you can understand the purpose of a CD review and respect it for what it is in the future.
My Trusted MOGs
LOL frances isnt the second. thomas is amazing that was stupid. IN MY OPINION :)
i wish you would never talk about the mars volta ever again.
My Trusted MOGs
Okay, though I see your point loganlenz although the quote "but it seems that the Mars Volta have fallen from their throne and have become "just another eccentric rock band.'" In using that same logic, it could be said that their former albums have become just another "prog rock band" following in prog rock cliched shoes (see forefathers founded in Yes, Rush, ect.) where the indulges and of excessive song lengths and sometimes mind numbing lyrical poetry based on ayn rand novels or journal entries from a dead person ect. - that is the expectation in my eyes for the typical prog rock band.
The question is then: how can a band expand these cliches without allowing audiences to realize these cliches and at the same time of course they took these ideas to the excess to the point of obscurity (frances the mute) and then...where do they go? Bring Ornette Coleman on to play every track on the record? No - they could have done that but they decided to expand through saying less and focusing on hooking a reader in 5-9 minutes instead of 10-20andsometimes30 while still kicking the listener in the teeth.
That being said - did they achieve this? I feel kicked in the teeth every time I listen to Goliath in particular. Maybe that's the only one so far that's done that for me every time I've listened. Aberinka kicked me in the face live and yadiyadi I could go down the list and mention the particulars but on the whole it did although I am certain they could do better - how they can do that, well that's not for me to recommend or to justify in my recommendation, I'm merely a peeping tom in the volarizon of music-house experience that is the mars volta but I'm sure as hell looking forward to whatever comes out next and enjoying the record at this moment. With bands changing comes change in fanbase and its expected for some to jump on or off.
My Trusted MOGs
In response to SarahinSpace's comment...
If Frances the Mute isn't the Mars Volta's second full-length album, I would like to know what you think is. Tremulant, which was released in 2001, was an EP and not an LP. After that, Deloused was released in 2003, followed by Frances the Mute in 2005.
Like you, I also believe that Thomas is amazing.
Thank you for your insights.
My Trusted MOGs
i was actually disappointed with the last record. i think this one is pretty good, especially the first 4 tracks. regardless of how good or bad it is, though, it's just good to see new material from these guys.
My Trusted MOGs
Wow, logan, you've been getting a little bit of a beating here...not good. I've heard so many mixed reviews on this album. I'm nowhere near as big of a fan as you are. I love De-Loused, liked Frances only a little bit less, and have not gotten around to Amputechture (But judging from what you said, I don't think I will). I'm probably going to buy it, just for a listen, but thanks for warning me in advance.
My Trusted MOGs
This is some pretty crazy, dense stuff -- a week may not cut it. A friend has been listening pretty obsessively for a few weeks and believes it's their best album. I think it's definitely better than their second and third. Comparing it with their debut, the music is obviously less immediate, but I do think they've grown.
My Trusted MOGs
"writing about music is like dancing about architecture" - Frank Zappa
lol