Frances The Mute

When I first heard about this band, I had downloaded the first track Cygnus...Vismund Cygnus. My first reaction was mixed as is with all of my progressive escapades. I loved the energy that came with the song, I was just a little off put by the vocals and the concluding section. Soon I downloaded L'Via L'Viaquez and again reached mixed results with the overall experience. But the thing about my criticisms is that I always ended up listening to these songs over and over again. Soon I decided to purchase the entire album: and what I got was certainly more than what I had paid for. From Sarcophagi to Sarcophagi, I was blown away. For these types of albums, it certainly takes several listens to really dissect the music. But my best idea of what to describe this album would go along the lines of: If Pink Floyd and Led Zeppelin dropped some Mexican acid and then procreated, this would be the spawn. The vocals just absolutely kill it for me; he is singing is heart out in Cygnus, torturing himself in the Widow, and softly suffering in Miranda. And Cassandra Gemini, in my honest opinion, is this generation's Echoes. The rest of the band truly shines, the vibe is certainly that of a band that rocks in all aspects of the definition. This "rock" may seem like a barrage of cacophony to some, but the sporadic jamming somehow becomes cohesive and it all makes sense in the end. I would love to decipher each song, but this is a review and not a novel. The only problem I had was the aforementioned interludes to each song which requires a lot of patience. On some days, it feels right and nicely accentuates each song from the next. But other days I find myself just skipping which I know isn't the right choice but that's how it goes. Nonetheless, the songs have me endlessly screaming, soloing, drumming like I'm right there entranced by the album's unbelievable vocalizations and instrumentation. And isn't that what music is all about?

When trying to explain why I love this record so much, I've realized that words cannot explain the greatness of this album. It just isn't possible. The closest I can get I guess would be: a mesmerizing, spacey voyage that'll lift you out of your seat and transport you to an entirely nother realm, to be pushed and pulled, turned and shoved in every which way by excellent musicianship, beautiful vocals, transe-inducing drumming, ambient sounds that will make you forget your existence on the planet earth. Now that that completely failed to really describe the experience of listening to Frances the Mute, I will use one word that I thinks gets closest: perfection. This album is absolutely perfect. In every way. Its just flawless. It will take more than a few listens for it to fully reveal itself, but once it does, and once you are completely transported into another state of being by this album, you will know what I'm talking about. Lesser minds complain that its 60% noise and 40% music. This, my friend, is exactly what makes it so good. Its not just a straight forward rock album that lays out everything it has to offer on the first listen with nothing else to reveal or learn, the "noise" sets the ambience and is exactly what enables you to transcend everyday existence and visit a new reality for 72-ish minutes, (nearly 90 with the Frances the Mute single, which is quite possibly their best song overall by the way). Ignorant people call it pretentious, but these people can just go back to their Shinedown and Nickelback and let us real music listeners experience real music by real musicians. By the way, all this is done completely sober, its so good that psychedelics arent needed to drag your mind into another realm, this album will do it for you if you allow it. Anyway, yes, this album is flawless in my book. Enjoy the journey my friends. Infinity out of 5 stars.

Brilliant and unique. Its The Mars Volta with a completely different story and feel then their first album (De Loused in the Comatorium) while still maintaining their signature sound. Based off of various story-lines from past band members as well as fictional characters, Frances the Mute is a jazz infused, messy and somewhat psychotic rock n' roll masterpiece. Its like Santana on acid. This album just picks you up and takes you into a new world of musical abnormality and mystery.My, My, My,! With a much stronger latin/salsa influence then before, Frances the Mute grabs you from the very beginning with the fast-paced "Cygnus....Vismund Cygnus." You'll then find yourself frozen without an answer as "The Widow" sucks you into its highly addictive and slightly dejected chorus. "L'Via L'Viaquez" explodes from a muted drum loop with a catchy rhythm and damaging guitar solos throughout. "Miranda That Ghost Just Isn't Holy Anymore: B. Pour Another Icepick" will definitely have you becoming "one of the others" as this first piece of progressive rock mayhem swoops you away into oblivion. This 35 minute, 8 part magnum opus takes you through a series of constantly changing musical creations and sounds. "Casandra Gemini" is an ideal balance of catchy, lyrical genius, as well as melodious marvel.With the perfect blend of creativity, musical talent and sheer passion as well as delusiveness, insanity and psychedelia, I highly recommend this album to any fan of "The Mars Volta", as well as any fan of the profoundly abstract, and anti-mainstream.Add this album to your collection today!"And I peel back all of my skin....I peel it back and let it all run..."