The Mars Volta - Ouroborous

     I make no secret of the fact that I think the musical output of The Mars Volta peaked early in the band's career, perhaps even as early as De-Loused in the Comatorium. There's no denying that pretty much anybody who's ever played with the band is a talented musician and performer, but I just feel that the standards of songwriting didn't remain as high as the standards of musicianship.

     With each album after sophomore Frances the Mute or so, the songs get less focused, less precise, and more scattershot. It feels to me like the holes in the band's quality control filter got larger and larger each time out, when pretty much every note on De-Loused is so necessary and perfectly placed. Sure, "Tira Me a las Aranas" is a bit of weird throwaway in the middle there, but it still fits with detracting too much.

     Of course, even with increasing amounts of these unnecessary bits from one album to the next, every Mars Volta record has some equally shining moments, moments that come close to rebottling the lightning of the band's early work. One such moment is tonight's song, "Ouroborous", from 2008's The Bedlam in Goliath, an energetic blast of salsa rhythm that surges forward like any of the best Mars Volta material. Have a listen a shed a tear for one of the great bands of the 2000's.

The Mars Volta - The Widow

     If you'll allow me to wax poetic for a moment,tonight's post is a sip of champagne poured out onto the ground  for a fallen musical homie.

     I've been a fan of The Mars Volta for a long time, and even though their work got less and less focused with each album (with the possible exception of Noctourniquet) I was bummed to hear the news that the band has broken up. It marked the end of a weird, proggy era.

     Tonight's song, however, is aimed at anyone who isn't aware of just how normal and straight-forward a song The Mars Volta were capable of writing. Have a listen to "The Widow" from 2005's sophomore LP Frances the Mute and see what you think.