I have heard of The Mars Volta, but I cannot recall hearing any of their music. They released their debut progressive rock album De-loused at the Crematorium in 2003. Red Hot Chili Peppers bassist Flea played on most of the songs after the band’s bassist left. Almost all of the lyrics are written by Cedric Bixler-Zavala with Jeremy Michael Ward; all music is composed by Omar Rodríguez-López so it is a real group effort.
Trivia: The album is based on a short story written by lead singer Cedric Bixler-Zavala and sound manipulation artist Jeremy Michael Ward, the concept album is an hour-long tale of Cerpin Taxt, a man who enters a week-long coma after overdosing on a mixture of morphine and rat poison. Founding member Ward died a month before the release of the album.
I am really surprised how much I liked this album. It is rocking! I guess I do like progressive rock when the vocals are good. I really like all the unusual sounds in the music. It reminds me of a Pink Floyd album, but with different types of sounds. I could not pick off one song because I think they are all important to the whole story. I am curious to hear more of their music now. I wonder if it will be as good with Ward. 9.5/10.
