Older Superstitious, New Music

The Daily Collegian - 1/31/08

The Mars Volta's latest release, "The Bedlam In Goliath," marks their return to perfect chaotic bliss and cements the group as the premiere prog/experimental/psychedelic/Latin rock group.

Sounding like the love child of "De-Loused In The Comatorium" and "Frances The Mute," "Bedlam" combines the best of their earlier days with the experience that comes only with age. And with the number of band members, experience is one thing The Mars Volta doesn't lack.

Led by the falsetto vocals of Cedric Bixler-Zavala and Omar Rodriguez-Lopez's beautiful nails-on-a-chalkboard guitar riffs are accompanied by, once again, the seminal John Frusciante, from Red Hot Chili Peppers fame.

With their newest release, the odd time signatures and abrupt syncopation that listeners have come to know and love still goes strong, although some riffs are very similar to "De-Loused."

As for the vocals, if you plan on understanding them, the cover insert is a must. Between Zavala and the eight other members, lyrics come out garbled, yet perfect. Everything in "Bedlam" was crafted and molded and put in it's own place for a purpose: to create a story. And oh, is there a story.

According to legend (and an article posted on themarsvolta.com), Rodriguez-Lopez was in a Jerusalem curio shop looking for a gift for Bixler-Zavala. While there, he found a very old Ouija board, aptly named "The Soothsayer."

Originally bought as a novelty gift, the Soothsayer brought eerie coincidences and odd occurrences, and a phenomenal CD along with it.

During their tour with The Red Hot Chili Peppers, The Mars Volta started to mess around with The Soothsayer after shows. As they did, they started to get names, such as Goliath, and a story about a man, a woman and her mother - a story about love and curses and murder. And eventually, the board asked the band for a story in return.

The band started to take some phrases and make songs, started to make their newest release, but never gave anything to The Soothsayer. So, Goliath got angry.

Equipment issues plagued the band, the former drummer quit, Bixler Zavala needed surprise foot surgery, the sound engineer quit the project, Rodriguez-Lopez's studio floored.

As the board started to make demands and threats, the surface peeled off to reveal a pre-Aramaic language scrawled over cone shapes.

The Mars Volta made an executive decision and buried the board in an undisclosed place.

Yes, it may be a modern myth or, I daresay a lie, but damn, it makes one hell of an interesting back story.

The album is equally as strange as the story behind it. If you're not sure that you like The Mars Volta, buy it. If you want something different to listen to, buy it. If you're into The Spice Girls, TLC and Hanson, it's time to update your collection. Whatever you decide, buy this album and enjoy it.

This is quite possibly THE album release of the year. It may be way off the mainstream, but "Bedlam" is necessary to start or complete any collection, all while broadening your musical horizons.