vvvvlovesmusic: Frances the Mute by The Mars Volta

Review: This album is controlled, chaotic, and intricate fun. From my very first listen of this project, I knew I had to write about it. In the two days since then (better late than never), I have listened nonstop and I’m still kind of at a loss for words. Even though this album has 5 main ideas, it’s hard to even isolate one at a time to focus on because of the amount of callbacks and full circle moments. The beauty of this album is that it was made to be listened to as just that, an album. So, even though there are technically 5 tracks, it’s kind of meaningless to look at it that way. Because of this, I will be taking a different approach to understanding this project than I normally do. Instead of going track by track, I will try to talk about it as a whole, with some highlights of specific moments if I feel it is necessary. With that, I would like to first acknowledge how immensely detailed the production is. I really don’t think I have ever heard an album with quite as many instrumental layers that all work together as well as they do on this album. Arguably one of the most iconic things about this album is the ambient elements in between tracks as an intermission of sorts. On just about any other album, these extended breaks would have been a drawback, but I believe this only helps the listening experience on Frances for a couple of reasons. First, as I just said, when the tracks reach their peaks, they stay there and don’t let go of you until they are ready to end. Without these ambient breaks, I think it would have been so much harder to listen to because you would be overloaded with information, which brings me to my next point, these moments of calm before the storm makes the climax of Cassandra Gemini hit you on a far deeper level because it is the centerpiece of this whole thing. Those two reasons alone would usually be enough justification, but they go the extra mile to make it even better by making it quality, engaging ambience. Even though it’s certainly less obvious than the louder peaks of sound during the midsections of the tracks, there are still a lot of layers in the ambient soundscapes that just show their musical versatility as artists and composers. Before I get into the undeniable masterpiece that is ‘Cassandra Gemini’, I feel it is necessary to address the lyrics and concept. To be frank, I have not had enough time with this project to digest and process the wall of content that is the esoteric lyrics and overarching story behind this beauty of an LP. I am aware that this is a concept album, but I am trying my very hardest to make my own interpretations of it. One moment that has resonated with me lyrically though, is found on ‘Miranda That Ghost Just Isn’t Holy Anymore’. The title alone gives me the idea that it is a critique on religion or rather the collective misinterpretation of scripture, but the lines “and when Miranda sang, everyone turned away, used to the noose they obey” just further validates those feelings. That line stuck with me a lot because of the implications of people feeling like they can’t speak out about wrongdoings in not only the church but in other corrupt places in life too. The last thing I want to cover is the epic climax of the whole project, ‘Cassandra Gemini’. If you haven’t heard this album or 8 part song and you want to, I would highly discourage reading ahead as I will write some things that would spoil a first listen. What makes this song so amazing to me is how reflective it is and the way it’s able to put previous ideas into different contexts. The first two parts have some distinct choruses that are revisited at the end in an explosive outro after a few parts take an equally epic, but more controlled and patient route. I wasn’t paying attention to the tracklist on first listen, so I kept thinking it was going to end after the second part. Not in a way that I wanted it to end, but I felt there was no way they could possibly top the euphoria the first couple of parts made me feel. I was sorely mistaken because as it progressed it just got better and better and better. My favorite part is towards the end on part 6 where there is a long instrumental buildup into the reprise of part 2 that leads perfectly into the outro that reprises part 1. In that moment of remembering what I had heard and piecing together that it was the same chorus, the album felt truly complete, like it was telling me it was the end personally. The final part leads perfectly into the opening track of the whole record, which only further blows my mind. I really find it hard to put words to the feeling you get when it all starts to make sense, but I hope I did my best to describe even a fraction of that. Ratings: Favorite Song: The Widow (or Cassandra Gemini if that counts) Other Great Ones: All 5 of em Least Favorite Songs: None Favorite 3 Track Run: Con Safo Multiple Spouse Wounds Sarcophagi Overall Rating: 10/10

Frances the Mute

2/10/2005