Albums like this are tricky. Bands like this are complicated. Appreciation for ‘jamming’ and ‘musical masturbation’ is a requirement when sitting down with a Mars Volta record.

8 songs, jam packed into 76 minutes.

For those who like The Mars Volta, you will love this album.
For those who don’t like The Mars Volta, why would you even listen?
For those unfamiliar with The Mars Volta, throw on this album late at night, in the dark, preferably whilst on some kind of substance and just take it in.

Personally, I’m a fan. I am not all that into jam bands and find most musical masturbation to be a trite waste of my time, however a band like The Mars Volta take the ‘exploration’ format at apply it to their own style of rock, which is quite enjoyable. They’re ‘artists’ in the truest sense of the word, and artists are notoriously polarizing, most completely unappreciated until long after their careers are over and they can be looked at as an autonomous movement. The Mars Volta are influenced and they are influential and both come across loud an clear on Amputechture. Do not buy individual tracks off of this album. This is a record that must be listened to beginning to end in order to be understood. There is a time and a place for The Mars Volta, and when it’s right, it’s right, but unfortunately when it’s wrong, it can be very wrong. Tread lightly, but openly.