Bedlam in Goliath

Hi everyone, hope all is well with you.  So after my after my rant last time, I've decided to do something different with my blog.  Words have the power to heal, and in that spirit, I thought that it would bring better energy to the cosmos if I did record reviews.  Of course, most of what I'm gonna review has already been reviewed when it came out.  Think of this experiment as reviews of music that will be new to many of you.  I am just offering some different musical options than what popular music does today.  If anyone reads this and decides to investigate something they've never experienced before (and god forbid, enjoy the trip), then perhaps my karma-meter will tilt a little in the positive direction. So without further ado, let's move on to the inaugural album in what I hope will be many (and that you enjoy me writing about them)...

The Mars Volta:  Bedlam in Goliath (2008) Vinyl Edition.

The Mars Volta-2008

Ok, first of all, these guys are not your normal rock band.  They are considered a progressive rock band, a genre which pretty much died out in the 70's (think 70's Yes, ELP, King Crimson, Pink Floyd...you get the idea), that originated from Texas.  Before I get into the actual music, a little background info to "set the mood" would be appropriate.   

So while on tour, guitarist , producer, and genius Omar Rodriguez-Lopez, bought a Ouija board in a curio shop in Jerusalem for lead singer Cedric Bixler-Zavala.  The band started to play with the board after concerts as part of their "wind-down" time. According to the band, the Ouija board, now known as the "Soothsayer" began talking to them and telling them some freaky s**t.  They were also contacted by three separate entities that appeared in the form of one being called Goliath.  Then it hits the fan.  Mid tour their drummer (these guys have Spinal Tap-style issues with stick beaters) quits the band.  Bixler-Zavala ends up needing surgery on his foot, entire tracks begin to vanish from the digital tape they were recorded on,   Rodriguez-Lopez's home recording studio/ house floods and experiences random power outages. The engineer on the recordings has a nervous breakdown and tells Rodriguez-Lopez, "I'm not going to help you make this record. You're trying to do something very bad with this record, you're trying to make me crazy and you're trying to make people crazy." As these communications become scarier, Rodriguez-Lopez decides that perhaps its time to destroy the Ouija board.  So, he burns the board and buries the ashes in a undisclosed location and tells the band never to bring it up again. The band re-records all the tracks with lyrics based on communications between "Goliath" and themselves as a way to end the cycle.  Neat story, huh?

The Mars Volta-2005

What about the music though?  Well, I must say it is awesome.  The album mixes prog rock, Latin, jazz, electronic sound manipulations, and funky grooves.  This is not "radio friendly" rock music.  It is very complicated with it's varied time signatures and chord structures.  The lyrics are pretty out there and the whole experience is a weird, wonderful journey (if you have mental problems, or hear voices, stay away from this one).  If you like progressive rock and fusion jazz, this record will delight your senses and stimulate your brain.  Given the story behind it's creation, the complex jams on the lp and just the general feel,all add up to a groovy musical experience.  CHECK THIS OUT!
Overall rating (out of five stars) *****.

Album Cover

Duel-color Vinyl with Ouija Board gate-fold and Ouija pointer 45rpm.

http://www.amazon.com/The-Bedlam-Goliath-Mars-Volta/dp/B000ZK4466/ref=sr_1_5?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1333573529&sr=1-5

If you like the artist, support them and buy their music!!!!!