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The Mars Volta - Frances the Mute



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Gender: Male
Points: 1040
Reviews: 92
Tue Mar 08, 2005 1:15 am
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lin night says...



For those who say rock music has grown stagnant and repetitive, I suggest buying this CD immediately. This is perhaps the boldest, most experimental mainstream release since Tool released Lateralus in 2001. Designed in the form of a rock opera, Frances the Mute is 5 songs spanning 12 tracks and a 76:55 running length. "Cygnus... Vismund Cygnus" (13 minutes) begins softly and acoustically then explodes into a relentless cacophony of noise in which the high-pitched, near Plant-esque singer freely alternates between surreal Spanish and English lyrics complimented by an army of shrill guitars, trumpets, violins, and the almighty keyboard. "The Widow," the conventionally structured single, follows and ends after a comparatively brief six minutes padded out by three minutes of heavily distorted organ. There are many exclusively instrumental moments (periods is probably a more accurate description) throughout the album that may test less patient listeners. But the payoff is ultimately worth it. Closer "Cassandra Geminni" is absolutely astounding at 30 minutes - also the only song that warranted splitting up into multiple tracks. However, the splits are transparent and clearly for convenience's sake. I liked one reviewer who deemed Frances the Mute the anti-IPod shuffle. It is a profound and extremely intense experience that absolutely must be taken as a whole.
  





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418 Reviews



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Points: 5890
Reviews: 418
Tue Mar 08, 2005 3:26 am
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electricbluemonkey says...



Wow...no, I am not saying that because of the CD, I'm saying that because of how well you wrote that paragraph. Amazing...did you ever consider writing anything else, or did you get that paragarph from some media place?

But that CD does seem very cool, unique from any other. I might buy. Might.
Gotta a find a woman be good to me,
Who won't hide my liquor, try to serve me tea.
  





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Reviews: 1259
Tue Mar 08, 2005 6:00 pm
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Firestarter says...



Wow, coincidence! My friend made me listen to this today.

I agree, it was really great, and just...different.
  





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Gender: Male
Points: 1040
Reviews: 92
Tue Mar 08, 2005 9:59 pm
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lin night says...



ElectricBlueMonkey wrote:Wow...no, I am not saying that because of the CD, I'm saying that because of how well you wrote that paragraph. Amazing...did you ever consider writing anything else, or did you get that paragarph from some media place?

But that CD does seem very cool, unique from any other. I might buy. Might.


Heh, thanks. I did write it myself.
I posted a (commentless) story a couple weeks ago.
  





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8 Reviews



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Points: 890
Reviews: 8
Fri Mar 18, 2005 6:38 pm
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MasterChief says...



Damn, i just got an ipod shuffle. Well, i could just set it to 1st to last mode.
Frances the Mute is good. it tells a story (through a guys diary i think)
It's really good, the best prog rock i've heard in a long time but it just seems a little err too improvised. it's a work of art, but someone spilt a bit of coffee on it.
  





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148 Reviews



Gender: Male
Points: 890
Reviews: 148
Fri Mar 18, 2005 7:23 pm
ohhewwo says...



THE MARS VOLTA IS FREAKIN' AWESOME!!!

I haven't heard much of Francis, but Deloused in the Comatorium is AMAZING. It's about a man who falls into a coma, and has amazing dreams, and then, when he finally comes out of the coma, he dosen't want to wake up, stay in his dreams. There isn't a single track I don't like.

But, yeah Francis the Mute is about a diary of a man who is trying to find his real parents.

I'm glad I found someone who likes the Mars Volta, too. :D :) :P
  








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