The Mars Volta - Viscera Eyes (Island)
4/5
By: Charlie Potter
It's amazing that this band even release singles, let alone get any radio play. That's not to say that it's not a good song - it's a great little track. I say 'little' - the radio edit is 4:21 and the album version lasts a mammoth 9:23.
Despite the main repeated guitar riff you're never quite able to get comfortable, as though the track wanders around in a charming way with its brilliant off beat guitar lines and punchy brass, all the time the drums don't stop bouncing around all over the place. But rather than being annoying, this discomfort only adds to the excitement.
The Mars Volta are just another one of the reasons the word pretentious is over used, if not misused. Though they fall under every association that the word pretentious seems to conjure up, if you were to look up the meaning of the word pretentious, you would find it means people pretending to be something they are not for outward show. But accusing The Mars Volta of being anything other than what they want to be is ridiculous. If it wasn't for the fact their label keeps trying to comprise the lengths of their tracks, they would be one of the most uncompromising bands out there.
True, they are ever ready to show (off) their ability on a wide range of instruments, but there isn't a note on this song that they wouldn't love listening to themselves. The word 'progressive' is also an odd one to attach to the band. Although this sounds like a lot of 70's and 80's prog bands, surely this exactly why it isn't progressive?
The overall sound of the track is fantastic - brilliantly arranged, brilliantly played and brilliantly produced, though of the two versions the album track is far stronger; the solos are put into context and all nine minutes are utilised to carefully build and break down the tension, all of which, bizarrely, is a testament to how stupid it would be to buy this single. Simply, if you like this song, fork out for the album.
(By the way - fancy having fun rearranging the front cover of the band's upcoming 'Amputechture' LP, in a puzzle stylee? Click yo'self HERE.)
Artists in this article: The Mars Volta
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