The Mars Volta "Scabdates" Live CD
As I have said many times to everyone I know, these guys are the greatest rock band of right now. And live is how they do it. They are the new "Zeppelin". I have only given this title to one other band, Jane's Addiction. Having seen both Mars and Jane's live showed me bands that were loud as hell, very into complicated band jamming, and bluesy enough to sound like everything before them but being truly unique in their setup. Seeing the Mars Volta was a life changing concert experience. Each member of this band is a true virtuoso. I met a bunch of them last time I saw them in Chicago. Nice guys (well, the ones who didn't disappear right after the show). Together they explore the artsy noodling in which they all improvise without boundaries. And they do this alot, maybe 35-40% of their music. Their drummer sounds like he has 4 arms, and is using them. The singer has a very unique voice and belts away to his greatest ability. Total abandon. The guitarist sounds like 3 -4 guitarists with all the effects pedals he uses. The bass player came from a speed metal band Racer X and just cranks through the fast tempos they throw his way, whether punk, funk, latin, reggae, or hard rock. The keyboard player also contributes Beatles-like keyboard sounds behind their wall of noise. They also have a percussionist and a multi-instumentalist horn player (saxophone and flute). They all either take their turn holding down the ryhthm (plan b) or they just all let loose (plan a). This new cd was recorded over the Francis the Mute album tour. Strangely enough, no songs off of that album were selected. It has 1 song off of their first EP "Concertina". It has 2 songs off of their 1st album "Take The Veil Cerpin Taxt (now in 3 parts live with extended improv) and "Cicatriz" (now in four parts live with alot of improv). It has very nice Pink Floyd and dub style tape effects for the first song and in much of the last song's end sections. The rest of the album is artsy fusion noodling, which by the way is like musical gold for me. Like a cross between Fugazi, Led Zeppelin, the Doors, Eddie Palmieiri, and Sly and Robbie.
5 out of 5 thumbs