The Mars Volta – Octahedron

Track Listing:
1. Since We’ve Been Wrong
2. Teflon
3. Halo of Nembutals
4. With Twilight as My Guide
5. Cotopaxi
6. Desperate Graves
7. Copernicus
8. Luciforms

Omar Rodriguez-Lopez had discussed the band’s next album as early as January 2008, the month that The Bedlam in Goliath was released, claiming “I consider it to be our acoustic album.” Cedric Bixler-Zavala had expressed an urge for the album to not be released on a major label. In February 2009, Rodriguez-Lopez claimed “the next two Mars Volta records are already recorded and waiting for a release date.”

On April 14, 2009, The Mars Volta announced their fifth studio album, entitled Octahedron. It has been released June 23 in the US and June 22 in the rest of the world. In a spirit of distillation of the band’s sound, Rodriguez-Lopez asked saxophonist Adrián Terrazas-González and guitarist/sound manipulator Paul Hinojos to leave.

Go here to buy the album.

I’ve had a chance to hear this album, and I think it’s REALLY good. I wasn’t impressed with Bedlam or Amputechture. My favorite album is Frances the Mute. But I’d have to say that between Octahedron and De-Loused, it’s hard to decide which is my favorite 2nd place album. Octahedron is a very relaxed album, nothing too experimental about it. It’s a pretty straight forward joint, but has some of the best vocals I’ve heard in a long time by Cedric. Omar’s guitar-work is never EVER short of amazing, and this album is no exception. I like the simplicity of it much more, which is why I think I didn’t like Bedlam or Amputechture. Too distorted and too much going on. This new set is definitely worth a purchase!