Frances The Mute - The Mars Volta

One of the greatest albums of all time, Frances the Mute breaks the boundaries in every possible way. From the Omar Rodriguez-Lopez's insane guitar licks to Cedric Bixler-Zavala's piercing lyrics, this album darts to and fro, from soft ballads to epic progressive sagas. Although only 5 tracks, Cassandra Gemini lasts over 30 minutes long, so much so that it is divided into movements. Despite the length of certain songs and The Mars Volta's tendency to descend into ambiance, the album is an exiting listen that will keep you intrigued for over an hour.

1 - Cygnus...Vismund Cygnus - One of the best Mars Volta songs, this drives forward frantically between screaming guitars, flowing vocals, and pounding drums courtesy of Jon Theodore. It begins with a creepy guitar that will again appear at the end of Cassandra Gemini, thus completing the album in a circle. Eventually it crescendo's back into one of the most powerful chorus's ever heard. With numerous guitar solos and a fast beat to begin with, this thirteen minute epic will never bore, and even the last few minutes which descend into ambiance are compelling. Lyrically, although Cedric's lyrics are as cryptic as ever, this describes a character called Vismund Cygnus, no doubt a reference to the Cygnus of greek mythology who lost his love in a river and after repeated attempts to retrieve her was turned into a swan by the gods to relieve him. (10/10)
2 - The Widow - A soulful ballad full of latin guitars and beats complemented perfectly by Cedric's vocalization. Although pitifully short, it is one of the most emotionally powerful songs on the album, as well as the most catchy. The latter half of the song is comprised of static and wierd sounds which positively impress me. (9.7/10)
3 - L'Via L'Viaquez - John Frusciante of the Red Hot Chili Peppers provides the opening solo as well as another after the second chorus. This song is sung mostly in Spanish but is clearly a story of love and loss. The amazing latin drums of Jon Theodore complete the beat while Omar's jazzy guitar complements Cedric's flawless bilingual singing. With pianos and and trumpets joining the fray for the English sung chorus, this song turns into a complex masterpiece of progressive rock, not to mention latin music as a whole. Instead of descending into ambiance or noise like most other tracks, L'Via closes with a series of latin and jazz inspired piano and guitar solos. This is a different song from the rest of The Mars Volta's work due to its very obvious latin and jazz influence, and that is one of the best virtues of the song...(10/10)
4 - Miranda That Ghost Just Isn't Holy Anymore - A soft psychedelic song which serves as an extended intro to Cassandra Gemini, this track may look like a weak point in the album but is really a strength. With some of the wierdest guitars finally breaking through to a blast of soulful trumpets and meaningful and memorable tune, not to mention some of the most beautiful vocals Cedric's ever recorded. This is a soft track but is in no means similar to The Widow. If anything it is closer to El Ciervo Vulnerado of Amputechture, the next album in Mars Volta's brilliant catalog. It ends with a grainy sound of the ending of Cygnus...Vismund Cygnus's ending with overlaid guitars and drums...(9.6/10)
5 - Cassandra Gemini - Wasting no time on extensive intros, The swirling guitars over swirling guitars drive through as Cedric screams his heart out. Suddenly, a dive in tempo and some of the most chilling lyrics ever heard "There was a frail serum dripping off his lap-danced lapel". And then Cedric is back to yelling in his beautiful falsetto. The guitars dart back and forth, while the drums pound away without a care. A speedy trumpet solo away and the chorus breaks through in what may be a sign from god. It ends quicker than it came and to the verses with their dueling guitars and powerful vocals. And this is only the first four minutes. The tempo never lets down and the song is varied and as powerful as when it begins. It ends with the same scary guitar that started the album, and the same voice to. Truly one of the greatest compositions of the modern world. I would give it more than a ten if I could...(10/10)

If you don't have this album, you really should. You should buy a poster of it (like me) and a t-shirt with its cover on it (also like me). You should buy this album more than once just so you can have the thrill of listening to a fresh copy. You should put it on repeat all day(like me...)
Songs - (9.9/10)
Coherence - (10/10)
Variety - (10/10)
Overall - (10/10) This Album should be your new god



Frances the Mute - The Mars Volta
Although neither on the actually album nor a single, most Volta fans regard this song as part of Frances the Mute. It bears the same name and the same creepy guitar chords present in Cygnus and Cassandra Gemini. Although its intro is well over four minutes of bells, it breaks into an amazing tirade of guitars and drums, with some of the greatest lyrics written by Cedric. After the guitars get going it becomes a soft acoustic song, where soulful whispers become emotional yells, eventually bringing back the electric guitars for a powerful finish. Definitely a must have for a fan of the album...(9.7/10)