I made it through the first song and a half before getting bored. Mars Volta’s last album was very strong, I thought, though it also abandoned the craziness that pretty much defined them in the past. That’s about all I can listen to now — maybe the first album and EP, once in a great while. Everything else, I just want them to calm the fuck down! Jesus!
‘Half Notes’ are quick-take thoughts on music from Something Else! Reviews, presented whenever the mood strikes us.
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Tom Johnson has contributed to Blogcritics, and maintained a series of stand-alone sites including Known Johnson, Everything is a Mess and others. He studied both creative writing and then studio art at Arizona State. Contact Something Else! at [email protected].
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MORE FROM AROUND THE WATERCOOLER AT SOMETHING ELSE! TOWERS …
S. VICTOR AARON: I sample every new Mars Volta record to find what the big dang deal is about
them. And each time I fail to get it. This one is no exception.
MARK SALESKI: That’s the way I feel about Tool.
FRED PHILLIPS: Seconded.
MARK SALESKI: Just dialed up the latest one on Spotify. “The Whip Hand” actually has some interesting music going on … but those helium vocals? Yeesh.