Rolling Stone on the new TMV album…
Texas prog-rockers the Mars Volta will embark on a North American tour opening for the Red Hot Chili Peppers this Friday in Portland, Oregon. But the bill isn’t the only thing the two bands are sharing. On the Mars Volta’s latest disc, Amputechture (due September 19th), guitarist Omar Rodriguez-Lopez solicited his friend (and RHCP guitarist) John Frusciante to step in for him. “I’ve never thought of myself as a guitar player,” explains Rodriguez-Lopez. “I don’t like the guitar. I always felt like I got shafted and stuck with the instrument.” This might come as a shock to fans, considering the band is perhaps best known for its moody, meandering guitar soundscapes. But with the exception of a few killer solos, Rodriguez-Lopez has stepped back from the lead-guitar position altogether, opting instead to play composer and musical director. “This is the role I’ve enjoyed the most — shaping the drums, having a certain sound,” he says. “I work individually with each and every band member. Once they get the notes and rhythm down, we talk about feel: ‘Exactly like that, but it should sound a little more like it’s underwater.'”
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