Comments on: The Mars Volta Return To Earth – Sort Of – with “Octahedron” http://www.interference.com/9842-the-mars-volta-return-to-earth-sort-of-with-octahedron/ U2 Interference - U2 Fans, Pop Culture Webzine, & More Wed, 11 Nov 2009 16:51:15 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Lt. Zip http://www.interference.com/9842-the-mars-volta-return-to-earth-sort-of-with-octahedron/comment-page-1/#comment-694 Lt. Zip Tue, 30 Jun 2009 06:42:28 +0000 http://www.interference.com/?p=9842#comment-694 Hey jphelmet, Thanks for the response. I think your point about Omar re: El Grupo Nuevo is dead-on. I'll admit that amongst my Volta-liking friends, I'm in the minority when it comes to Bedlam. Sometimes there are albums that just don't do anything for you, and sadly, Bedlam is one of those for me. I don't listen to the Volta to hear radio-friendly songs either, but prior Volta records compelled me to continue listening to them and unlock their secrets. Bedlam just makes me want to take a nap so I can wrestle with the demon monkeys all that sonically-abrasive production put into my head. In regards to Octahedron, I hear what you're saying, and I agree that the record does not give us anything radically new for the band in terms of sound, but I'd hardly call that a step sideways. The album is another experiment for the band in refining the way they communicate their ideas musically; this time, they chose to make them more accessible. To me, that's an evolution more important than how many instruments they can cram onto one track, or how many layers of pedal molestation they can pile onto a guitar solo. Bedlam painted them into a corner, whereas I think Octahedron at least offers the possibility of finding a new door. Anyway, just one guy's opinion. Appreciate the feedback! -Luke Hey jphelmet,

Thanks for the response. I think your point about Omar re: El Grupo Nuevo is dead-on.

I’ll admit that amongst my Volta-liking friends, I’m in the minority when it comes to Bedlam. Sometimes there are albums that just don’t do anything for you, and sadly, Bedlam is one of those for me. I don’t listen to the Volta to hear radio-friendly songs either, but prior Volta records compelled me to continue listening to them and unlock their secrets. Bedlam just makes me want to take a nap so I can wrestle with the demon monkeys all that sonically-abrasive production put into my head.

In regards to Octahedron, I hear what you’re saying, and I agree that the record does not give us anything radically new for the band in terms of sound, but I’d hardly call that a step sideways. The album is another experiment for the band in refining the way they communicate their ideas musically; this time, they chose to make them more accessible. To me, that’s an evolution more important than how many instruments they can cram onto one track, or how many layers of pedal molestation they can pile onto a guitar solo. Bedlam painted them into a corner, whereas I think Octahedron at least offers the possibility of finding a new door.

Anyway, just one guy’s opinion. Appreciate the feedback!

-Luke

]]> By: jphelmet http://www.interference.com/9842-the-mars-volta-return-to-earth-sort-of-with-octahedron/comment-page-1/#comment-692 jphelmet Mon, 29 Jun 2009 23:34:35 +0000 http://www.interference.com/?p=9842#comment-692 Thanks for the review. As a big MV fan, I agree with a lot of you said. Overall though, I think its kind of a sideways step and not one forward. I don't listen to MV to hear radio friendly songs, and it seems that they are trying to hard to go against what they naturally do very well. I totally disagree with : "However, it’s certainly a marked departure from their prior effort, the tuneless and savagely overproduced Bedlam in Goliath." Bedlam, for me, is the way far superior album to Octahedron. I like the new one ok, but the highs on Bedlam miles above Octahedron. Octahedron, is more consistent, but its not really a good thing. All other MV records take you on a ride, and go all over the place musically. This one, its like Omar got stuck in one mode and decided to write a bunch of similar songs (except for Cotopaxi, which sounds like a weaker version of wax simulacra). The results are by far, the least challenging record they ever made. Overall, as a huge MV fan its kind of disappointing, but at least Omar's other disc (El Grupo Nuevo- which is MV under a different name) lives up the MV legacy, even if its not technically a MV record. I find that record to be far more interesting, and more in line with MV previous work (that is, as you said in the review unpredictable). Maybe Omar decided they have to tone down MV to be more commercially viable, so he can continue to make the records he really want to under different names. Thanks for the review. As a big MV fan, I agree with a lot of you said. Overall though, I think its kind of a sideways step and not one forward. I don’t listen to MV to hear radio friendly songs, and it seems that they are trying to hard to go against what they naturally do very well.

I totally disagree with : “However, it’s certainly a marked departure from their prior effort, the tuneless and savagely overproduced Bedlam in Goliath.”

Bedlam, for me, is the way far superior album to Octahedron. I like the new one ok, but the highs on Bedlam miles above Octahedron. Octahedron, is more consistent, but its not really a good thing. All other MV records take you on a ride, and go all over the place musically. This one, its like Omar got stuck in one mode and decided to write a bunch of similar songs (except for Cotopaxi, which sounds like a weaker version of wax simulacra). The results are by far, the least challenging record they ever made.

Overall, as a huge MV fan its kind of disappointing, but at least Omar’s other disc (El Grupo Nuevo- which is MV under a different name) lives up the MV legacy, even if its not technically a MV record. I find that record to be far more interesting, and more in line with MV previous work (that is, as you said in the review unpredictable). Maybe Omar decided they have to tone down MV to be more commercially viable, so he can continue to make the records he really want to under different names.

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