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Though they were probably my favourite band once upon a time. Those first two albums were incredible. Remember when Cedric could sing?

But Deloused is still one of my favourite records ever, and their 2003 Wedgewood Rooms gig is certainly the best gig I've ever been to. They're way past their best.

I have never seen the attraction to that band - got dragged to see them a few times by an ex who loved atdi.

Saw them again at an atp a few years ago and they were beyond dire. It seemed like they were 'prog' on paper but there was nothing vaguely progressive about them; all pomp and ever-dwindling gravitas from their previous band.

espcially when Omar said the music for it had been completed during the recording for Octahedron.

In the end though, they've got a fucking strong back catalogue. In hindsight, I think it's one of the strongest around. You might not get it... but I did, and it was fucking amazing.

http://open.spotify.com/user/sheeldz/playlist/0doOAplVUoQ7khEXv73LMp Best of playlist.

Still get a bit angry about it.

They had lost their quality, yes, but Noctourniquet was a really awesome record, I thought.

Here's a question to consider: when a band starts out their career with classic records, is it better for them to keep on going, making so-so records, or is it better for them to call it quits once the magic is gone?

when tey said they went on 'hiatus' in the middle of last year, and the rift between omar and cedric seems to have been growing for quite some time.
Were my favourite band once but can't say I'm upset or surprised. Was glad that I was at their last show though. They played better than I'd seen them in years and Cedric even had a classic rant at the audience.

fuck me i forgot how good it is.

Spectre will lurk
Radar has gathered
Midnight nooses from boxcar cadavers

Think I was in the minority there. The albums after Francis The Mute were utter bilge though.

Of course the first two albums are brilliant, but Bedlam in Goliath is a fucking beast too, it's just as good, seriously. Amputechture is a bloated sack of crap with the odd great section and the last two were just a bit... muh. Probably for the best then, really.

but they've probably both made enough cash from the ATD-I reunion to have a rest for a few years.

Saw Omar's new group Bosnian Rainbows last year and really looking forward to seeing what comes out of that

But I remember listening the demo(?) version of Cicatriz Esp they shared on their website before the debut quite a lot at the time. Still really good. Just never got into their other stuff and Cedric's voice.

http://drownedinsound.com/releases/3958/reviews/11599-the-mars-volta-frances-the-mute

LOL

http://drownedinsound.com/in_depth/10887-mars-volta-frances-the-mute--revealed#r3278153

but their last few albums were great. Unfortunately by that stage most people didn't care and couldn't be persuaded that they were anything more than just some prog mess. Which they absolutely were not. I think a lot of people were just very "butt hurt" that they weren't releasing ATDI style music anymore. If you want to know what they dead horse would have sounded like just listen to Sparta.

was that I would probably never have listened to them if it weren't for the fact of Omar and Cedric being in ATD-I. It was almost like I had to teach myself to like each album they released; even though I loved the first 4 albums when they first came out, I very rarely find myself reaching for them these days. Personally the Bedlam in Goliath is probably the one I like most (did anyone else play that online game that was available when the album was released???), but still, not exactly devastated that they've called it quits. Ironically, after having spent years looking forward to seeing them live, when I finally did see them at Brixton touring the Bedlam... they were pretty bland and that was the final nail in the coffin...

...thin line between total genius and utter shite, unfortunately dabbling with the latter more than the former. still, the first EP, Frances and Noctourniquet are five star records for me. always thought Deloused was a bit naff in comparison.

I am slightly worried that now Omar's not going to have TMV to think about at all he will spend even more time releasing EVERY single musical idea that crosses into his head, resulting in ten average solo records a year as opposed to just a manageable three or four.

Loved it all, some more than others but yeh....colour me gutted.