The Mars Volta's Octahedron out today/tomorrow - tracklisting and a review - John Frusciante fansite

So, today and tomorrow, TMV’s new album, Octahedron will be out in the most of the world’s countries. In case you don’t have it yet, get the album here if you live in Europe and here if you live somewhere else. Also check out the band’s apparel, there are some really good designs.

Tracklisting is, as follows:

Since We’ve Been Wrong
Teflon
Halo of Nembutals
With Twilight as My Guide
Cotopaxi
Desperate Graves
Copernicus
Luciforms

And here’s Invisible Movement’s review of Octahedron. It was written by Chris Oliver, a long-term site visitor and the drummer/backing vocalist of Cody Stagefright, also the person behind The Solar System.

Once I heard that The Mars Volta were about to release their new album “Octahedron” I got excited. I’ve been a fan of Omar and Cedric’s work since the days of At The Drive-In. Needless to say I jumped at the chance to review this album. I’d read in a recent interview, Omar stating that the new album would be there “Acoustic” record. If I know anything when it comes to Omar it is to expect the unexpected and to NOT take everything at face value. With this said, “Since We’ve Been Wrong”, the album’s first track and single lives up to these predictions as Omar’s hypnotic acoustic guitar sets the tone. This is heightened within the first few seconds of Cedric’s Vocals which give off a very dark,etheral vibe. I must say I think Cedric has never sounded better. Just as you think you know where things are headed, a drastic shift in mood occurs as with every Mars Volta album. With that being said, this shift is something that is quite unexpected. Songs which feature grooves that stay in place and lock you in. With “Octahedron” it seems they have put the spastic progressive freak-outs aside. I’m Sure the hardcore Volta fans won’t agree with me here, but I think this is for the better. It seems they have stumbled across the perfect mixture of sonic experimentation with classic song structure in which all are set to dark stories of death, kidnappings and vanishings which lead singer Cedric Bixler-Zavala has been quoted saying were greatly influenced by the songwriting of Scott Walker and the crazed writing of 13th Flloor Elevators founder, Roky Erickson. Erickson’s influence seems quite heavy on the lyric front with such lines as “To feast upon the carcus of your mother”. With that said, Cedric’s vocal attack sets the tone and lets the listener know that all is not well on this journey. It must be noted that Red Hot Chili Peppers’ genius Guitarist John Frusciante makes an appearance on the album as he has with all previous Mars Volta albums. This time around, his influence seems to loom large over the album as well as Pink Foyd’s David Gilmour, as shades of his spacy, atomspheric playing are heard, Especially on “With Twlight As My Guide”

In All, “Octahedron” is a sonic shift from their previous work, “The Bedlam in Goliath”. I’m sure some fans will scream sell-out with the more conventional and even “commerical” aspects of this album. I personally feel that Omar and co on this album are pushing the boundries of what we call rock music and I apploud them for it, as “Octahedron” may be the best rock record released this year!

Many thanks to Chris for this review. If any of you would like to review this album, you can do so in comments, or you can email me the review. Feel free to point out links to good online review of this as well, especially if John’s mentioned.

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