44
comments
The Mars Volta - Cotopaxi (single)
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
The Mars Volta presented the world with some severely different music when they first hit the scene. And they still do. The problem is, it's just not as good as it used to be. I heard the new single, "Cotopaxi", from the upcoming Octahedron album.
Reviewed by
Brad Cook
The Mars Volta - Cotopaxi (single)
Of course, that was back when Rick Rubin was at the helm. Everyone knows that with Deloused in the Comatorium, The Mars Volta basically 1000'd the music industry like it was a 360 game. I can still marvel at the boundless creativity displayed on that album today. Its successor, Frances the Mute, was equally mind blowing, but in different ways. It had fewer, longer songs, and much more ambience, off-beat time signatures, and almost played out like a musical movie. The difference was, instead of Rick Rubin producing it, it was helmed by main song-writer/guitarist Omar Rodriguez-Lopez. At that time he must've still had some sense in him, some semblance of bounds and limits.
Amputechture was the next release, which found the band with an entirely new sound. It was faster, slicker, and hugely different in some hard-to-pinpoint way. For a while I loved that album, and there are even a few songs that I still enjoy on it, but it got old way, way too fast, unlike their previous two albums. It's at this time that The Mars Volta started to slip as a contender for craziest, most awesome band I know.
The album that followed Amputechture was... well, if having to look up the title of their most recent album doesn't let you know how I feel about it, I dunno what will. Oh yeah, it was The Bedlam in Goliath. This album took everything that was wrong about Amputechture and amplified it by five. At this point, The Mars Volta's playing such frenetic, all-over-the-place songs, that Deloused is barely noticeable as them anymore.
It saddens me to say this, because it's a point I argued strongly against a mere two years ago, but at this point The Mars Volta may have become what all their critics have labeled them since the beginning: too noisy, too much snare, either meat-headed, simplistic guitar riffs or non-sensical, masturbatory guitar sprinkled in all over the place, incessant wailing from Cedric, and a loss entirely of a sense of atmosphere and subtlety.
The release of "Cotopaxi", their newest single, is perhaps the nail in the coffin. For all of the reasons I just listed. It's like they're all on speed, now. I know Racer X was a big influence (the bassist was a member), but with each album they move closer and closer to music like that. The moments where Cedric doesn't sing are so few and far between. There are some catchy parts in "Cotopaxi", but overall it's just another loud, screechy, fast Mars Volta song. What happened to stuff like "Televators", or "Miranda That Ghost Just Isn't Holy Anymore", two of their most brilliant songs. There's emotion, there's subtlety, and you can hear every word oozing from Cedric's mouth like he was put on this planet to sing them. Now, it seems they wake up and think to themselves, "Time to get up and be The Mars Volta some more". Their once revolutionary approach to creating music seems to have become paint-by-numbers for them, and that's when it's time to rethink things.
44 comments:
April 29, 2009 3:11 PM
I'm a big ATD-I fan and like most of what The Mars Volta has put out...if you're into crazy/spacey/progressive rock 9minute 46part songs...I haven't heard this single yet...2 out of 7...ouch....to be fair though, I usually seem to dislike the first single of most new albums....June 23 is the release date I think.
April 29, 2009 3:16 PM
I mean that's the thing, for a long time I basically worshipped The Mars Volta. Love ATDI too. I'm just so dissatisfied with the direction they're taking the band.
April 29, 2009 4:02 PM
Wow, really disappointing.
May 6, 2009 2:40 PM
The first song on the album "Since we've been wrong" is much, much slower. I can't stand reviewers and people who long for the past, and have probably never played an instrument. Just because the music is faster doesn't make it worse or better, it's all good. Deloused was AWESOME, but do you really want them to keep putting out the same album over and over? I can't wait for what is in store on Octahedron.
May 6, 2009 3:14 PM
Well, I haven't pirated the album, but good luck with that. I'm not longing for the past, I'm longing for music that isn't skin-deep. Some atmosphere, some layers. If you like the new stuff, fantastic. Your response was obviously triggered by a bias, so that's fine. And BTW, I play guitar, bass, drums, trumpet, piano, and spoons.
May 7, 2009 3:10 AM
Good review. I share most of the same opinion. De-Loused is a bit of a masterpiece, in my opinion; original, refreshing, and well executed. I think they've worsened with each consecutive release.
They were a group with enough influence to do things as they wished, and ended up creating records that sound not much unlike everything else.
The loss of Jeremy Ward was terrible for them, but the additional loss of Jon Theodore was the final nail in the coffin.
May 7, 2009 1:01 PM
Layers!? Did you listen to Amp. or Bedlam? There is so much going on, and the addition of Pridgen has pushed them into a new realm. One that is not for casual listeners of music, you have to listen over and over to understand the true beauty and originality of each album. Either way, no other band in the world does what they do on such a huge scale. Most musicians would give major body parts to play with these guys.
May 7, 2009 1:03 PM
BTW, I have not pirated the album. You can hear versions of the song on YouTube.com
May 7, 2009 1:32 PM
I did listen to Amputechture, and as stated above, I was really into that album for a while, and still love a lot of the songs on it. The songs weren't where I had a problem with the album; the direction the band was moving is what I didn't like. I agree that Pridgen is an absolutely insane drummer, but he only further pushed them in the direction they were already moving. Maybe layers is a bad way to put it. How about some nuance? Some subtlety, maybe so that it's not just 6 snare hits per second and guitar lines written on one string. I think you're underestimating how severely obsessed with this band I was for years. But then again you can't really know that, not knowing me. Bedlam is another story entirely from Amp. I haven't listened to Bedlam 4000 times like the other 3, but I heard it enough for it to make me lost 95% of interest in the band. I even saw them live after Bedlam came out, and dug the show for the most part. I used to think it was really cool, but now I sorta think there's something inherently wrong about the other players not being able to hear anyone's part but Omar's, on which to base their own parts. I absolutely recognize that Omar and Cedric have unbridled creativity, I just don't like how they're using it as much as they used to. And yes I realize a band has to evolve, and no one more so than TMV, but I consider the direction they're going to be devolution rather than progress.
May 9, 2009 1:03 PM
Wow, what a completely absurd review.
"How the Mighty hath fallen" is a pretty severe statement and absolutely laughable. I'm sorry you don't like how the band is evolving, but that doesn't mean it sucks. I recall reading somewhere that Omar is who writes the music and Cedric comes up with his own lyrics, so Omar is basically the creative force behind it. To say that the direction he's taking is a devolution is just ignorant. You should listen to some of Omar's solo albums, such as 'Se Dice Bisonte, No Bùfalo', Calibration, and 'The Apocalypse Inside of an Orange', to get a more complete view of the whole picture.
Reviews like this are why I'm glad that this is your opinion and not mine. I'll continue to enjoy the greatest band ever, thank you very much.
May 9, 2009 1:15 PM
If you didn't get that my tongue was basically poking out of my cheek when I said how the mighty hath fallen, then that's your bad lol. I've heard Se Dice Bisonte, and I know that Omar is the creative force. At this point I don't think that's healthy for the band, because it has created a specific "Mars Volta" sound, rather than something that changes with each record. The collective conscious of the band, at this point, is severely limited by Omar's specific skillset, which may be larger than most people's, but it doesn't equal the diversity and creativity of the 9 potential forces. Basically, I don't think they're living up to their potential. I'm glad that's my opinion, and not yours. But I, on the other hand, am fine with you having yours.
May 10, 2009 2:12 PM
This article is not clear - do you think the Mars Volta are not so revolutionary anymore and they get boring, OR do you think they are too stubborn and curious now, OR do you think they do to few calm songs and too few ballades like Televators or Miranda? One can't say what you're getting at - your critique is vague and barely understandable.
May 10, 2009 4:29 PM
Are you serious? I thought I made my point pretty clear. If not in the review itself, then in the ensuing comments. But alright:
"do you think the Mars Volta are not so revolutionary anymore and they get boring" - you
- "Their once revolutionary approach to creating music seems to have become paint-by-numbers for them, and that's when it's time to rethink things." - me
Now, to most people I think that statement pretty blatantly says that I do not think they're revolutionary anymore.
"do you think they are too stubborn and curious now" - you
- "I know that Omar is the creative force. At this point I don't think that's healthy for the band, because it has created a specific "Mars Volta" sound, rather than something that changes with each record." - me
I think Omar has lost all curiosity, and is too stubborn to let the other members' creativity fully interact and reach their full potential.
"do you think they do to (sic) few calm songs and too few ballades like Televators or Miranda" - you
- "What happened to stuff like "Televators", or "Miranda That Ghost Just Isn't Holy Anymore", two of their most brilliant songs. There's emotion, there's subtlety, and you can hear every word oozing from Cedric's mouth like he was put on this planet to sing them." - me
If you'll notice, I ask what happened to songs like those BECAUSE of specific qualities that they have, and because there was so obviously so much effort and time put into them. "Cotopaxi" sounds like Omar grabbed a guitar before he went somewhere, noodled around for ten seconds, and left for his destination moments later with the main guitar riff.
So to answer to your critique of my critique, I am stating all of the points that you mentioned.
May 10, 2009 4:47 PM
I've been digging on The Mars Volta for a few years now, but they dropped the ball with this single. Color me disappointed. And then color me green, for the envy I'm feeling about Brad's new stalker.
I wan wun!
May 10, 2009 5:36 PM
I guess there's no time like the present to show off my Mars Volta miis!
Omar: http://bit.ly/nfOEf
Cedric: http://bit.ly/rYUc0
May 10, 2009 5:41 PM
If that ever makes anyone mistaken of your mars volta fandom then they are truly the utmost of fools.
May 11, 2009 6:36 PM
I felt the same way with the release of Goliath. A loss of nuance is the best way to describe it. Their old songs, including the fast paced ones on Amputechture were so well arranged. I considered their music akin to an orchestra... just a very progressive and guitar based one. I have to say I think the biggest change came because of the loss of Jon Theodore. Thomas Pridgen is very technical and fast, but that's all he is. He has none of the ambiance that made Jon Theodore amazing. But then again, did the band go in the direction and pick Pridgen because of it, or did the addition of Pridgen cause them to go in that direction? I guess I'm not sure but I do know that Goliath doesn't compare to the older albums (especially Frances which I think is their best work) and, though I haven't heard this single yet, I fear, especially after reading this, that it won't even be worth listening to anymore. Also, for the record, I liked Rapid Fire Tollbooth (the song that Omar wrote for his solo album that eventually became Goliath) much better than the version redone for the full band. Back then it still had nuance.
May 13, 2009 7:17 PM
I'd first like to admit that of all the negative opinions I've ever read of The Mars Volta, this one is refreshingly educated. Your opinion is informed, and you support your criticisms with good examples, which is something I do not hear from the likes of Pitchfork and other naysayers, who make it obvious they've given the album 1-2 listens (or so it seems). But because this review was so provocative, I feel compelled to offer my opinion, which is nearly the opposite of yours. While I agree (almost completely) that the new single sounds quite a bit 'manufactured,' you have to remember that it is just the radio single they are forced to put out with each album, and may be hardly indicative of the rest of the album. While on the topic of singles though, I thought Wax Simulacra was mind-blowing when it came out. I mean, that opening drum solo is just exploding with passion and emotion, even 'nuance' if you will--it sounds fresh every time I hear it! The vocals were electric, the footwork on the bass drum really propelled it to another level. It was tight, concise, explosive, catchy, and in my opinion, quite an EVOLUTION. Tough to even categorize it as a song--sort of like metal-punk-pop-jazz-freakout? I never thought the mars volta (let alone anyone else) could make a radio single that could kick your ass in 2.5 minutes like that and leave you spinning afterward, while also being catchy and even danceable,...I mean WOW. The chorus was a bit tedious and 'mars volta sounding' though, I suppose. Then you have Goliath. What a monster of a song. Again, huge, menacing, aggressive, heavy, and yet...funky, groovy, jazzy, danceable, singable....and I just disagree with those who think Thomas is all techicality and no 'groove' or 'nuance.' His drumming in this song is extremely tasteful, he leaves more empty space for ther other musicians to do their thing, and his accents are unpreditable--in a good way. Just brilliant. One of their most creative and original sounding songs (and one of their best). Metatron? This could be seen as a 'devolution,' or just the band being stagnant, since it feels like a direct sequel to Tetragrammaton. But Tetragrammaton is one of the most impressive songs ever, so I will welcome a brother or cousin of it on every new album if they wanted to do that! I like that this one crams all 632 musical ideas into 8 minutes instead of 16. And how about the breakdown after the first couple verses/choruses? For an album meant to be fast and frantic, I think it's a contrastingly elegant repose. Ilyena? C'mon, one of the most unique songs in the band's catalog. Electro-latin-pop. Thomas's awesome cuban sorta beat? The manic freestyle drumming during the bridge--to me that oozes with emotion. He's creating atmosphere with his drumming...similar to the drumming in Askepios. Aberinkula is cool as hell--one of the handful of eastern-tinged songs on the album....they haven't done that before, have they? Ouroboros is amazing. The drumming during the choruses is so dynamic, diverse, and powerful, and it just seems to launch Cedric's soaring vocals even higher. Then they slow it down to an epic churn at the end in an almost Tool-esque fashion. I had never heard them do anything like that song before. Same too for Conjugal Burns. That foreboding haunted house blues motif in the beginning, the sense of desperation, struggle, and conquest that the song possesses...amazing. What about Cavalettas?! I for one am STILL trying to wrap my head around that one. A lot of their sound can be traced to something--latin influence, miles davis, king crimson, etc....that song just bewilders me. I don't know what it sounds like, just that I seem to like it more and more each time i hear it, to this day even. DeLoused was amazing but overrated by fans now (dark side of the moon, but faster during the fast parts and quieter during the quiet parts). Frances the Mute was a masterpiece, though an acquired taste--their most 'jazzy' and 'progressive.' Then Amputechture was like a crimson-esque study in the tritone. Bedlam just seems to have it all in my opinion. Sure, there aren't many 'quiet' parts, but that wasn't the nature of that album. That might be the nature of the next album. Either way, I truly believe each album has been different and unique, and I for one like all of them, only VERY slightly 'one over another.' Sometimes I think people expect the impossible: that is, they want a band to always sound different, but still good. That's really tough to do, even for geniuses. You have to remember these people are human. I mean, most bands can be sort of stereotyped as having a 'signature sound' no matter how many creative albums they put out. The Mars Volta will always sound like The Mars Volta. You have to be willing to appreciate the 'little things' they do differently each time around. I hope this new album surprises you, as I think it's sad to have to jump off such a great bandwagon. Lastly, I want to strongly agree with you that Omar could, and probably should, allow a bit more room for other members' input. Especially since he puts out 430 solo albums per year. Can't he incorporate just a LITTLE teamwork in his 10-man band??? And you might be right--that might take them in an entirely new direction. But I just don't think they have devolved as of yet. Seriously, just go give Goliath another listen right now. LOUDLY, of course.
May 14, 2009 3:58 PM
Sir, I'd like to congratulate you on having, by far, the longest comment on this site. Thanks for your input!
May 15, 2009 4:39 PM
That's what happens when you're unemployed, bored, and the weather sucks.
May 17, 2009 1:02 PM
I completely agree with everything you're saying, even though to me, Mars Volta being crap, as on Bedlam, is still OK.
May 19, 2009 1:12 PM
I really don't understand the hatred for Bedlam, that album rocked...Multiple listens required. As for the new stuff on Octahedron, I have heard 4 songs(not in order) and they all sound great. You tube the song "With twilight as my guide". Cedric from what I've heard so far sounds incredible, maybe the best vocals yet.
May 19, 2009 1:15 PM
to quote the article; "What happened to stuff like "Televators", or "Miranda That Ghost Just Isn't Holy Anymore", two of their most brilliant songs. There's emotion, there's subtlety, and you can hear every word oozing from Cedric's mouth like he was put on this planet to sing them." Listen to "with twilight as my guide" or "since we've been wrong"
May 19, 2009 1:56 PM
I heard "With Twilight As My Guide" yesterday on youtube, and was severely unimpressed. There's really not much substance to it; it may be quiet, but it's the boring type of quiet; rather than anything interesting occurring, you have what sounds like Cedric trying to serenade a very depressed woman. Guitar is bland and extremely repetitive, but at least there's some sense of atmospherics in the background. what's with the 2 minutes of life-wasting nothingness at the end? Cedric's vocals are so very average in that song, and there's hardly a hook to grasp onto. And don't give me that 'they're a progressive band, they don't need hooks!' line of logic; Deloused and even Frances are chock full of them. Amputechture even had a few good ones. The only thing good I can say about it is there isn't an excess of snare.
May 19, 2009 1:58 PM
Also, where the FUCK is Ikey in all this?? Another huge factor contributing to their downfall is the sickening lack of Ikey's soulful awesomeness.
May 19, 2009 9:26 PM
I think when the Album comes out it will be reviewed positively from the main stream media because of its stripped down more simplistic sound. Plus, all we are hearing at this point is leaked material, I am thinking the actual CD will sound better than the 4 leaked tracks.
May 23, 2009 8:44 AM
This review, and all the other comments on this page talking about TMV dropping the ball, have just missed the point entirely. If you don't get these guys anymore, then it's a pity - just go back to listening to Deloused and you'll be happy. The true fans, however, have followed the band to where they are now, as good as ever and getting even better.
And for the record, Cotopaxi is an awesome track.
May 23, 2009 10:42 AM
How audacious do you have to be to tell someone that you don't even know that they aren't a true fan of something? Seriously, some of you insanely self-righteous fans just need to get it through your heads that a true fan has the right, perhaps even the responsibility to call a band out when they're getting stale, and if you don't think they're getting stale, fantastic! Have a great time. Just don't tell me that I'm any less of a fan because we have different opinions.
May 27, 2009 7:34 AM
Since We've Been Wrong has that 'new' tone of Led Zeppelin, such as their bonus tracks to The Bedlam in Goliath 'Things behind the sun', I think their trying to get comfortable to that sound by exploring it. I think their 'problem' is the lag of miss, normally they would create concept albums that are so deepend that you could easily feel their pain. The Bedlam in Goliath..That concept lagged something, I just wouldn't believe it (- please respond to this if anyone gets me!), the story seemed so aggresive yet easy to understand. With Twilight as my Guide, could easily have been done better without that (Led zeppelin approach - correct me if you disagree!), what I like most about the Mars Volta is when I can get soothed into it and feel what they feel. I don't want any hyperactive jumps such as El grupo nuevo Omar R L. I see myself as a good fan, and I can listen to the new stuff, but boy o boy I would give a toe for more of the 'old' stuff.
May 31, 2009 11:19 AM
I find cotopaxi unimpressive, and the With Twilight hasn't blown me away either, which makes me think that octahedron will be an average album for TMV and will not represent a real advance to where they are now. Hope that I am wrong though. Having said that I'd like to point out that Bedlam was really everything that I was waiting for when it came out. The freaking fast, melodic, complex and insane sound I had missed for years. You can argue that the old stuff is probably more complex, and probably more subtle too, which I can agree to. But, in my opinion, those are just different approaches they have taken throughout the years, all of them with great results. I think you have to be grateful that such a great band, with such awesome musicians is giving you songs to hear when you are on different moods.
Personally I like the more fast paced songs, but really everything that they put out so far shows (to different degrees) how good these guys are. And also in my opinion, although I liked reading the review and some interesting points were raised, I think that it tries to be a little bit over-smart judging TMV. And your opinion on Bedlam, I simply cannot agree to it. I think it is ok that you like their other stuff more (which subject to your own taste), but to not recognize the value of Bedlam seems just too hard to believe to me.
As a final note, my main concern over octahedron is that it will present the same sound as Bedlam. I expect TMV to creatively surprise me in each new album, and them not doing it this time would kind of suck...
May 31, 2009 11:28 AM
Just to finalize... after hearing some of the new songs, I believe octahedron will be a transitional album until they find their new sound... lets hope im wrong, or we it will be some more years until we get another brilliant album :-) (like Bedlam)
May 31, 2009 11:57 AM
Hey Brad...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HOVS431b3ww
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ynE4NshxVkM
Can you please stop crying now? Thanks and good game.
May 31, 2009 1:00 PM
Heard both of those, and they are both rather sub-par. Great job having a non-existent point!
June 1, 2009 1:19 AM
Sub-par, eh? LOL! That opinion, along with your dislike of Amputechture and Bedlam, completely invalidates anything you've said or could possibly say about TMV. I think you're just bitter that their latest songs haven't blown you away like they did when you first started listening, but honestly that's more of a personal problem. Perhaps you've come to expect too much from them and anything less ruins the whole experience for you.
June 1, 2009 10:07 AM
You've got one insane sense of logic, sir.
June 1, 2009 10:25 PM
I don't mean to be too picky but Frances is not Deloused's predecessor it is its successor...means that it came after
June 1, 2009 11:34 PM
Good lord, you're right. Thanks for pointing that out.
June 11, 2009 1:47 PM
AHA! Halo of Nembuttals. That's what I'm looking for. Good melody, they don't overdo it on any instrument, it has a decent atmospheric presence, and it's catchy. Looks like there's a ray of hope for Octahedron after all.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FAlG1_tjnjo
June 14, 2009 5:31 PM
Hi Brad,
I just spent the whole afternoon listening to all tmv albums and... i just felt i needed to stop by and tell you I wrong this review felt while listening to them... Not only were they able to put out a new type of sound in every album as they ALL sound pretty amazing.
Of course, this is all subjective, but the last thing I would like see was tmv to stagnate on certain sound and get a dozen similar albums... THAT would suck big time... not what they are doing now.
June 14, 2009 6:45 PM
Well, sir or madam, as this review is for "Cotopaxi", rather than all of their previous albums, which you were listening to, I could see why this review felt wrong. And again, I don't wish them to become stagnate, I just hold them to a certain standard, and lately they haven't been meeting it.
June 14, 2009 10:36 PM
Being a review for Cotopaxi you make quite a few claims about their past albums, which was where your text felt 'wrong'... and yes I was listening to octahedron too (don't know how you take these things for granted...)
June 14, 2009 11:09 PM
If assuming that you weren't listening to an album that hasn't been released yet is taking things for granted, color me guilty. Anyway, you earlier told me that what I said was all subjective, which is correct, so if reading this review felt 'wrong' to you in some way, I'd advise you to learn to accept others' points of view. And if you'd rather have watered down TMV than stagnate TMV, enjoy my friend, enjoy. I have a feeling this is gonna be a "pick and choose" album for me.
June 15, 2009 9:25 PM
ffs it is on the net for a while now...
I accept that you have your own points of view. Sincerely, I just felt an urge to say how wrong those points of view felt to me when listening to tmv's albums... that is what we are supposed to do here right, express points of view and comment on them no?
I dont want to prolong this discussion much more as it is becoming a little bit pointless. I love bedlam... I believe it has one of the best and more complex singles of music history, i think it is insanely fast, diverse and rythmically challenging, to a point that blows your senses away. Is it much more "all over the place"/"less subtle" than Deloused and Frances? Yes. Is it worse/better? to be very honest... i think it depends on your state of mind at the time of listening, as they are all so good. Miranda is an absolutely amazing track. Via, Roulettes, Ouroboros, they all are. And if you ask a different person they will have their own favorites. What strikes me is to label them as 'bad' at this point...
and to be very honest 2 out of 7 is pretty provocative... do you really believe that's what they are worth now or you re just that pissed at them...
June 15, 2009 9:44 PM
You're right, my disappointment in their direction probably did influence my final rating a bit. It's not a "bad" song, to be fair I'd probably give it a "decent", now. And yes, we appreciate greatly your expressing of opinions here. Thank you all.