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[Scytale]

I know a lot of people here love to hate this band but I've never really understood why, they are one of the few non metal bands I really enjoy, so much so I've seen them live three times and even own a copy of the storybook Cedric wrote for De-Loused. It's probably an absurd comparrison to make but I find them really similar to Rush actually, another prog band that seems to be fairly polarizing.

So I thought I start up a topic so people can argue about why they do or don't like them. I think a lot of people have all these pre-conceptions about what they should sound like, especially given the influence ATDI had and I know a lot of people can't stand the pretiousness (is that even a word) of their music. I think both these arguments are prety non-sensical (especially the 2nd one), but anyway...

Personally, De-Loused in the Comatorium is my favorte album of theirs followed by Amputechture and then their live album Scab Dates, which features and incredible version of Cicatriz ESP (my favorite song of theirs). I have to say though they are absolutely amazing live, I love the way they so readily improvise. It's amazing, really suits the freeform sort of structure most of their songs have.

They also have a new album should be comming out later this year all early next year.

[Johnny C]

I don't know what you're talking about. Everyone knows they died in a bus crash shortly after the pretty good De-Loused, before they could even start touring.

[Thrillho]

I heard the Volta before I heard ATD-I so I had no preconceptions.

I think Frances The Mute is one of the greatest rock albums of the last few years. It's conceptual, it's self-indulgent, it's also head-wreckingly brilliant.

On Amputecthure, however, I feel they lost the plot a bit, 'Viscera Eyes' aside.

[Ernest]

I really liked At the Drive-In when I was a kid. 'Vaya' and 'In/Casino/Out' are really great records and worth owning.

Plus they were a good live act. Clearly they had good taste too.

Well, Vaya is pretty darn good, but I was really disappointed with In/Casino/Out, especially after listening to Relationship of Command.  Chanbara aside, most of the album seemed pretty limp.

[Kai]

I like ATDI alot. Deloused is pretty alright too. Frances The Mute is dire. I can't say I've listened to Amputechture.


However, the best thing that they did, entertainment wise, was getting their equipment soaked in urine.

[ScrambledGregs]

I owned Relationship of Command for awhile, and really loved it. I think 'One Armed Scissor' was one of the best rock singles of the past 10 years. Then I got sort of tired of the album and traded it in.

I owned De-Loused In The Comatorium for awhile. I even wrote an emphatic review of it for my college paper way back when. It was a really good album, but there is just something pretentious and irritating about the band to me. The lyrics quickly become infantile bullshit that people try to defend by saying you're not smart enough to understand it. As for the music, there are so many better bands that do similar shit. I remember an interview with Mars Volta in Alternative Press where they mentioned albums that influenced them, one of which led me to buy Can's Tago Mago which changed my whole perspective on music. I eventually got tired of the album and traded it in.

The Rush comparison makes sense to me because they're both bands that have a couple great songs and maybe one good album, yet people obsess over them and insist they're the greatest band ever.

[Kai]

buy Can's Tago Mago

Thread done

[Ernest]

'Napoleon Solo' for example? Is that really limp? I think you heard Robinson's grotesquely bombastic production and confused it with depth. 'In/Casino/Out' is superior in terms of it's recording and therefore it's the better album in my books.

Napoleon Solo is alright.  Funnily enough, I thought the song worsened when it got louder.  But as far as RoC goes, maybe I did like the bombastic style.  Really I just thought the guitars sounded more noisy and a lot cooler.  Invalid Litter Dpt.  has a truly haunting riff, and Iggy Pop's appearance on the album is excellent.

[Scytale]

My favorite ATDI song is Catacombs off Relationship of Command, honestly though I don't think they even come close to TMV.

[David_Dovey]

The Mars Volta postponed the Perth show for 4 months, then outright canceled it on the night because Cedric's voice gave out. They can suck a warehouse full of dicks for all I care.

[Thrillho]

The Mars Volta postponed the Perth show for 4 months, then outright canceled it on the night because Cedric's voice gave out. They can suck a warehouse full of dicks for all I care.

How dare they?

Did you get your money back?

[Will]

I very much enjoy Tremulant, De-Loused, and I think Frances The Mute is brilliant. I was rather let down by Amputechture, just because it felt to me like they decided to let everything loose and fully indulge in pointless prog-wankery. Frances The Mute had its moments, but Amputechture felt like it was just completely unhinged, and I very quickly lost interest.

I've been meaning to check out Scab Dates, as my friend tells me it's their best work.

[ScrambledGregs]

I was rather let down by Amputechture, just because it felt to me like they decided to let everything loose and fully indulge in pointless prog-wankery.

Uh wasn't that like...every album of their's?? Saying you didn't like Amputechture because of 'prog-wankery' is pretty much saying "I didn't like this album for the same reasons I like the other ones." De-Loused In The Comatorium is some batshit incomprehensible concept album about some guy they knew, with songs where they throw everything at the wall and see what sticks.

Anyway, Tommy has the right idea. But I will add King Crimson. Just go listen to King Crimson and Can at the same time. Hell, their early to mid 70s stuff matches the Mars Volta aesthetic pretty well and is far more interesting.

[Will]

Yeah, I'll admit it doesn't make a lot of sense, but it seemed like Amputechture just went with only wankery, whereas their other albums had some...meat? to their bones? I guess ultimately it just comes down to the fact that Amputechture just left me feeling unsatisfied - like going to a restaurant expecting a steak dinner, and only getting some saltine crackers.

[Kai]

buy Can's Tago Mago

Thread done

Anyway, Tommy has the right idea. But I will add King Crimson. Just go listen to King Crimson and Can at the same time.

AHEM

[Scytale]

lol the "wankery" is one of the things I really love about them.

Scab Dates is pretty much pure wankery just a warning (theres a 40 minute version of Cicatriz ESP on it). I think its amazing most people probably won't.

[Ernest]

Cicatriz ESP should not be played for 40 minutes.  I mean, I guess the band's okay, but they really shouldn't wank so much.

[ScrambledGregs]

buy Can's Tago Mago

Thread done

Anyway, Tommy has the right idea. But I will add King Crimson. Just go listen to King Crimson and Can at the same time.

AHEM

Whoops. You guys change your avatars too much.

[Johnny C]

I'll change your avatar.

[Fiddler]

I think that how good the albums are is inversely proportional to how big their fro's were at the time of recording.

[godinpants]

I love them, ive seen them live twice.

They make nice noisy interludes.

I like them better than atdi and sparta, but the best incarnation was de facto.

Although since de-loused they have forgotten how to end an album.

[Ernest]

Wait, didn't Cedric play drums in De Facto?  Isn't Cedric terrible at drums?

[Thrillho]

Although since de-loused they have forgotten how to end an album.

Yeah, I don't like the way the last two have ended. But at least Frances the music had ended a split second before the CD stopped...Amputechture just stopped like, mid-note.

I've decided that these guys have got one more album to impress me before I stop buying their albums and just listen to the first two.

[Fiddler]

The last song on Frances the Mute fades back into the first song if your cd player is set up to just replay the cd.  It works and I'm pretty sure that was the whole point.  They know their audience is too busy being out of their minds to change a cd.   Still I didnt like the whole album that much.  De-Loused is their best offering by far.

[Thrillho]

I know that worked on Frances. Same thing on The Wall by Floyd.

My brother and I are considering the theory that Amputechture's tracks might be deliberately in the wrong order and that's why the songs abruptly fade into each other and stuff.

[godinpants]

Wait, didn't Cedric play drums in De Facto?  Isn't Cedric terrible at drums?

I didnt really notice any terrible drumming.

The last song on Frances the Mute fades back into the first song if your cd player is set up to just replay the cd.

Well thats cool, BUT, it couldnt have been too hard atleast fade the song before into it or something. They managed it for the rest of the album, why end it a track early? why end it at all, it couldve been a perfect loop.