Artist: Mars Volta
Album Title: Frances The Mute
Label: Universal
Bones:
Summary: It took me by surprise!
Reviewed By: Chad Bosworth

I must confess my ignorance of this alternative outfit. I knew they existed. I knew their album titles. I knew they had members of the defunct group "At the Drive-In". That's all I knew. Just one of those things... like the movie your friends have talked about for years and all you can say is "You know, I still haven't seen that". Well now I know.

It was probably the complete lack of expectation of this record that blew me away, because from the first note and the first wailing vocal, Frances the Mute was collectively unlike anything I have heard. Call it modern Prog-Rock, call it what you will - it's damn hard to pigeon hole. One thing is for sure though, unless your particular brand of music is the Panpipes of the Andes, you're bound to find something that at least interests you here.

Before even starting this review I told myself that I wouldn't create any pre-conceptions for this album, because if you haven't heard it, and particularly if you haven't heard The Mars Volta at all, I believe that a very open mind is the best way to experience it. So with this in mind - stop reading and ask the person behind the counter if you can grab a listen to this CD.

Why are you still here?