Mann's World

My review of The Mars Volta's "Scabdates"

The Mars Volta
Scabdates
(GSL/Universal)

I could sit here and write the most detailed review of this CD ever, with discussions about the chaotic soundscapes that bookend the CD, the new "songs," which are essentially extended jams with a little form to them, and even the fact that the liner notes list 21 people in this ever-growing band. Apparently they decided to include all their roadies and techs in the credits as well, which is sure nice on their part, but a bit confusing for the rest of us.

But the fact is, this CD can be broken down thusly: If you worship the group's guitarist/band leader, Omar Rodriguez-Lopez, if you hang on vocalist Cedric Bixler-Zavala's every utterance, and if you think of their marathon jam session concerts as transcendent experiences, you're going to love the hell out of this CD. I would tell you to go buy it now, but you've probably already downloaded it from Soulseek.

There's plenty of spacy, effects-laden noodling, and unlike at many of the band's live performances, you can actually hear and appreciate the contributions of the other band members, notably keyboard player Isaiah Ikey Owens. Also showcased nicely is Bixler-Zavala's well-known penchant for improvising stream-of-consciousness lyrics about lust and loss while the band jams away behind him.

Unlike the band's 2003 live EP, which was a straight-up live version of studio tracks from that year's "De-Loused in the Comatorium," "Scabdates" is essentially an aural collage of stuff you might hear at a Mars Volta concert, along with stuff you might hear if you're traveling with or hanging out backstage with the band (crying babies, voices in Spanish and English, salsa music, individual instruments).

But if you've long ago written off Rodriguez-Lopez and the band as a bunch of pretentious faux-prog wankers who are trying too hard to be artsy, well, you'll probably actually like this CD too because those soundscapes along with some of the extended noodling will give you ample evidence to make your case.