Wednesday, July 25, 2007

The Mars Volta


i'm not really a prog fan. i can't speak about it with any expertise, but it's always seemed like bland, pretentious, busy, bullshit. it doesn't speak to me. too clinical, too sterile. like i say, i can't speak about prog really cuz i'm not all that familiar with it. i mean, i like rush, but, you know...


the mars volta is prog. prog rock, for real. no getting around it. but something about them hits the right spot with me. i think i've put my finger on what it is. where most of the prog bands i've heard (Yes, King Crimson) seem overly technical and lacking emotion, the mars volta seem like a free for all. i mean, it's obviously very meticulous music. i'm sure every note, every beat is well planned and rehearsed a million times. but there's an element of abandon in their music. during some of the instrumental parts you can get lost. i was listening to "amputechture" the other day with headphones. i remember putting it on. i remember wrapping the headphones around my ears. and i remember it ending. the bulk of it was a dream.


not that it's music you can ignore, or forgettable music. it just takes you somewhere. there's a sense of freedom that i envy. as you may know, i am an amateur musician and i've always regretted not mastering any instrument. you can feel that joy that comes with being able to express any emotion, rage, serenity, paranoia, etc. in every note that omar rodriguez-lopez plays. despite the intensity of their music i find it strangely soothing, like i find really authentic punk soothing. it's the release. the peace of a cleared mind.


so, yeah, they're not for everyone. but if you want your mind stroked, give 'em a try. viva mars volta!!

1 comment:

MO'SH said...

All I know of Mars Volta is that performance of theirs on "The Henry Rollins Show." It was absolutely mesmerising! It might have been better if I was high, but not necessarily. The best music of all is the music that takes you beyond the prospects of the best drugs. I suspect Mars Volta is one of those bands.