The Mars Volta

[Mrmakee]

So I've been a fan of At the Drive-In for a couple of years now. It's only recently though that people have been talking about them (World Tour I'd say). One thing that pops up a lot is the guitarist and vocalist forming The Mars Volta after the sad separation of At the Drive-In. So most people have been saying good things about The Mars Volta, but I just want to be sure they're my thing before I actually give them a listen. So my questions.

Are they similar to At the Drive-In?
If not, how are they different?
What album should I buy first?
What are the vocals like?

I'll probably have more questions later, but i just had a mind blank.

[Dan]

To quote a Progressive Rock magazine I own: "At times they sound like King Crimson playing Bossa Nova." To quote Storm Thorgerson: "Unbelievably tight in some places and unbelievably wild in others."

Similar to ATDI? Sort of. Cedric still utilises abstract and obscure imagery in his lyrics and they still maintain a wild stage presence. However, the duo made the jump to longer and more technical songs. They also have a more Latin sound to them in some of their songs, incorporating Spainish lyrics. Vocally, Cedric is crazy, singing all sorts of high notes that you didn't think were possible.

As for a starter album, I personally cannot reccommend any specific one because I love all of them so much. However, the consenus seems to be that a good staring point is either their debut De-Loused in the Comatorium or Frances the Mute. Amputechture seems to be the album which receives the most negative criticism, but I really do love it, so you could always start there. That or their latest album The Bedlam in Goliath. Really there's no good album to start with. Just get all of them or take a wild guess.

[coheed]

De-Loused is the best album start to finish, in my opinion. The rest have great moments but fall short of being true masterpieces. I personally don't get all the Amputechture hate; I felt like that was a solid album. I'd start off with those two. Bedlam in Goliath was flat-out weird, most of the time in a good way but it's a much busier sound than the first three.

[Civil Disobedient]

It depends what ATDI era you're into. If you're purely into the Relationship of Command era I would say go ahead, but if you're more Acrobatic Tenement minded I woul say you probably won't be into them.

You should check out Sparta too, they have a few records out, has Jim and Tony who were the other guitarist/vocalist and drummer (respectively) in ATDI, and sounds a lot more like ATDI than The Mars Volta ever did.

[Mrmakee]

I'm into anything by At the Drive-In. I haven't found one of their songs I don't like.

After listening to televators or something on youtube, I'm now going to get the album that song is on.

I'll also check Sparta out. The only thing I'm thinking i'm not going to like is the vocals.

Thanks for the replys guys.

[Kid_A]

When in doubt, I agree, start with their first. Continue on to Frances the Mute. I haven't heard much after the first two, to be honest, but I loved those both. I feel like De-Loused will be closer to ATDI.
I guess I feel like the real difference is Cedric does a lot more singing rather than talk-singing in TMV? Does that make sense?

[Mrmakee]

Oh i know what you mean. It feels like he puts a lot of work and talent into the mars volta. But that's what i love about atdi, they're like nothing else out there.

[Mrmakee]

Well managed to get my hands on an album by Sparta, cheap too. Gotta say they aren't as crazy as atdi, but the vocals are much more similar than i thought. I've only given the album one proper go through, and probably wont get time to get another listen for a while. I can't explain why i like them, but i do.