Amputechture
by The Mars Volta
User Score
8.3

Universal acclaim- based on 130 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 112 out of 130
  2. Mixed: 7 out of 130
  3. Negative: 11 out of 130

Review this album

  1. Your Score
    0 out of 10
    Rate this:
    • 10
    • 9
    • 8
    • 7
    • 6
    • 5
    • 4
    • 3
    • 2
    • 1
    • 0
    • 0
  1. Submit
  2. Check Spelling
view
per page
  1. Pavers
    Sep 12, 2006
    10
    Another Mars Volta album filled with passion, energy and attitude.
  2. JuanR
    Sep 22, 2006
    10
    This album doesn't deserve a 10. It's probably somewhere in the 8-9 range for me, but with every mouth-breather that drops by to leave a 0 rating with a three word review, this should help even it out. Here's the deal, folks. For every seriously informative and imaginative critic, there are thousands of slacker, juco-dropout "writers" with a keyboard in one hand and a This album doesn't deserve a 10. It's probably somewhere in the 8-9 range for me, but with every mouth-breather that drops by to leave a 0 rating with a three word review, this should help even it out. Here's the deal, folks. For every seriously informative and imaginative critic, there are thousands of slacker, juco-dropout "writers" with a keyboard in one hand and a thesaurus in the other. These men and women stand ready to clumsily wield large words to convince you that a completely subjective art form is rigidly graded according to an arbitrary system they came up with while listening to Kid A. Amputechture is like any other piece of challenging music: some will love it, some will hate it. Find out for yourself instead of letting someone decide for you.… Expand
  3. BrettW
    Feb 10, 2007
    10
    Oh my god, what the hell is wrong with you people?? TMV is THE most progressive and complex groups to hit the scene ever! Amazingly poetic, musically intricate. What more could you ask for?
  4. ManuelB.
    May 30, 2007
    10
    podria escribir esto en inglés pero al carajo... Me molesta mucho las críticas estúpidas de tan Baja Nota de 9 hacia abajo en esta OBRA MAESTRA. Solo demuestra la ignorancia y la escasa apreciación de arte que tienen los críticos de esta página. Si no logran VER que este album es una obra maestra de plano ponganse a criticar cosas mas sencillas podria escribir esto en inglés pero al carajo... Me molesta mucho las críticas estúpidas de tan Baja Nota de 9 hacia abajo en esta OBRA MAESTRA. Solo demuestra la ignorancia y la escasa apreciación de arte que tienen los críticos de esta página. Si no logran VER que este album es una obra maestra de plano ponganse a criticar cosas mas sencillas que no requieran talento alguno, como por ejemplo su Culo.… Expand
  5. TomS
    Oct 1, 2006
    10
    Excellent Album by The Mars Volta as always, my favourite song by them has to be Cicatriz in the Scab dates album. Anyhoo... yes great album favourites songs being Tetragammaton and Meccamputechture, bass lines are supreme with a mental drummer, what more do you want
  6. MitchM
    Jul 27, 2006
    10
    This album is the definition of insanity.
  7. fd
    Aug 8, 2006
    10
    muy buen disco la cago el mejor en mxo tiempo
  8. marsvolta
    Sep 12, 2006
    10
    I love this album! Maybe even more than De-Loused
  9. truewheel
    Sep 13, 2006
    10
    This is not an easy album. I didn't begin to fully appreciate it until 5 listens in. Which just makes it all the more rewarding. Complex time signatures; unconventional song structures; non-narrative lyrics. If you like your rock to be a junk food fix then leave this alone....however if you prefer a 3 course meal - start with their debut "De-Loused in the Comotorium", main course This is not an easy album. I didn't begin to fully appreciate it until 5 listens in. Which just makes it all the more rewarding. Complex time signatures; unconventional song structures; non-narrative lyrics. If you like your rock to be a junk food fix then leave this alone....however if you prefer a 3 course meal - start with their debut "De-Loused in the Comotorium", main course "Amputecture" and then dessert with the somophore "Francis the Mute". And then just when you think your musical belly is ready to burst....go see them live. Mr Creosote. Period.… Expand
  10. AdamF
    Sep 18, 2006
    10
    Eat the baby!!
  11. Blakey
    Sep 24, 2006
    10
    james C Im an aussie and am ashamed that people relate australian music to ACDC, unlike mars volta whom produce the most out there and unique music of this era ACDC produced the same sound their entire career and fair to say cedrics voice is a lot more breath taking than bon scotts wasted breath, Amputechture is easy to critcise on its first few listens but let it grow on you and it only amazes.
  12. LoganK
    Sep 8, 2006
    10
    Holy Shit! It's TMV's overindulgence that makes them so good. It's called art not entertainment (even if it is entertaining).
  13. janaef
    Nov 28, 2006
    10
    This is the great album. What more can i say
  14. YourBoss
    Nov 4, 2006
    10
    Omar Rodriguez-Lopez is a musical Orson Welles. This is what mastery, artistic integrity, and real passion can produce, in a world of celebrated clones playing the game of who is the best clone? (My Chemical Romance seems to be the current leading contender, with Panic! At the Disco and Fall Out Boy catching up). The Mars Volta are playing games with The Doors, Pink Floyd, Joy Division, Omar Rodriguez-Lopez is a musical Orson Welles. This is what mastery, artistic integrity, and real passion can produce, in a world of celebrated clones playing the game of who is the best clone? (My Chemical Romance seems to be the current leading contender, with Panic! At the Disco and Fall Out Boy catching up). The Mars Volta are playing games with The Doors, Pink Floyd, Joy Division, The Pixies, and all the great bands that never cared about what was expected of them, just about thier art and refused to comprimise.… Expand
  15. chris
    Dec 15, 2006
    10
    volta has managed to top themselves again...this is so much different from the albums prior to....but frances was different from de-loused...so i think they're just trying not to confine themselves musically and trying to be as open as posssible...but flemming better be able to make it work chemistry wise of that can be a problem.
  16. AJI
    Aug 26, 2006
    10
    TMV overdid themselves this time! an amaaaaaazing album!
  17. BM
    Aug 30, 2006
    10
    TMV are the fucking dogs bollocks, Cedric is the man!
  18. RandyM
    Aug 6, 2006
    10
    Amazing album. Crazy.
  19. sidewinder572
    Sep 10, 2006
    10
    Makes Deloused in the Comatorium sound juvenile and Frances the Mute sound like nothing more then a transitional record.
  20. LewisT
    Sep 12, 2006
    10
    Haha, why is it that despite the common fact that TMV are progressive rock, do reviewers still complain about the length of the songs, and in turn, the album? Also, I will point out that TMV are not overrated in the slightest. No underground band CAN be overrated. It's bands like Radiohead, Razorlight, Coldplay and Arctic Monkeys that are overrated, not TMV. Amputechture is a decent Haha, why is it that despite the common fact that TMV are progressive rock, do reviewers still complain about the length of the songs, and in turn, the album? Also, I will point out that TMV are not overrated in the slightest. No underground band CAN be overrated. It's bands like Radiohead, Razorlight, Coldplay and Arctic Monkeys that are overrated, not TMV. Amputechture is a decent album. It's "a college of sounds " to quote Omar directly. At least he's stayed true to his statement. It is, as above, "chaos channeled into one song". But in a good way. The album starts, and stops, just like conventional TMV, yet it has noticeable movements to it as well. Viscera Eyes, with it's heavy guitar riff, the increased prescence of saxophone. None of this is "musical masturbation", it's all songs, Proper songs. With insane time signitures and complex structures, that aren't noticed as much as they should be. But hey. Who am I to complain. TMV are awesome, and this album hasn't dissappointed me.… Expand
  21. alexf
    Sep 13, 2006
    10
    Really good
  22. rickspringfield
    Sep 14, 2006
    10
    This shit rocks. In my opinion their best LP.
  23. MiguelC
    Sep 14, 2006
    10
    the volta's creativity and fluidity make 76 minutes fly by.
  24. Drew
    Sep 17, 2006
    10
    To Lewis T: First of all, Amputechture is absolutely amazing. I am a biased souce though since TMV is my favorite band and I crave for any new material all the time. Even now, I can't wait for ANOTHER release. But you included some bashes in your review which I thought were unnecessary. Radiohead overrated? not in the slightest. Where do you get off saying that load of BS? To Lewis T: First of all, Amputechture is absolutely amazing. I am a biased souce though since TMV is my favorite band and I crave for any new material all the time. Even now, I can't wait for ANOTHER release. But you included some bashes in your review which I thought were unnecessary. Radiohead overrated? not in the slightest. Where do you get off saying that load of BS? They're making music for the same reason as TMV.. through feeling and a love for music. Go listen to OK Computer and come back and talk your crap with some actual support and maybe, just maybe, you won't look like a douche bag.… Expand
  25. DevinM
    Sep 24, 2006
    10
    This is their best work since De-Loused. There are no weak tracks and every track is layered and complex enough that one listen just is not enough. The amazing thing about this album is every part was recorded seperately and without hearing the other tracks. Putting it together must have been rediculous.
  26. Einar1J.
    Apr 10, 2008
    10
    Truly beautiful. Amputechture is TMV's most mature work, often flying between rock, jazz and soul. Don't get me wrong, this album sounded awful at first, taking perhaps 15 proper listens to realize its immense beauty. From start to finish I feel the amazing composition and praise cedric's vocals. Of course, this album is far from De-Loused on terms of accessibility, but it Truly beautiful. Amputechture is TMV's most mature work, often flying between rock, jazz and soul. Don't get me wrong, this album sounded awful at first, taking perhaps 15 proper listens to realize its immense beauty. From start to finish I feel the amazing composition and praise cedric's vocals. Of course, this album is far from De-Loused on terms of accessibility, but it shines through in the end. 'Vicarious Atonement' is jaw-dropping perfection, with 'Tetragrammaton' bringing the listener to rollercoasters of sound and distortion. 'Vermicide' is one of those oddly placed accessible songs in an album of distortion, fulfilling its place with simplicity. Next, 'Meccamputechture' sounds great then lags, but mainly due to its immense length. However, you fall in love with any flaws. 'Asilos Magdalena' is a stunning near-acoustic spanish ballad, totally crushing any typical mind-set. 'Viscera Eyes' is jazzed-up for action, crushing the listener with sound. 'Day of the Baphomets' is mind blowing and jammin' fun. The finale, 'El Ciervo Vulnerado' leaves you feeling like you just listened to a materpiece, without knowing what on earth, besides amputation, cedric has been taking about. Takes multiple listens, please take your time with this record, and don't rate a record you've never listened to.… Expand
  27. coling
    Nov 22, 2006
    10
    They might not have had a narration for this album, but it still blows you away!
  28. Proletariat
    Oct 16, 2006
    10
    10/10 I don´t need to write about excellence.
  29. Originaltrussler
    Oct 24, 2006
    10
    I think I gave Frances the Mute a 10 mainly because it was conceptually gutsy. But Amputechture is just downright brilliant. For all those people rating it 0 or 1, go & listen to your own stuff & let the rest off us enjoy this band & album. The fact that the ratings are so polarised clearly shows that some of us need this music in our lives and others don't. The good news for those I think I gave Frances the Mute a 10 mainly because it was conceptually gutsy. But Amputechture is just downright brilliant. For all those people rating it 0 or 1, go & listen to your own stuff & let the rest off us enjoy this band & album. The fact that the ratings are so polarised clearly shows that some of us need this music in our lives and others don't. The good news for those that don't is that you probably have LOTS of other stuff you like listening to, so just be happy with that! Still have to see TMV live to confirm, but I reckon they've passed Tool as probably the best rock band in the world.… Expand
  30. JesseK
    Jul 28, 2006
    10
    Tighter than ever and at the top of their craft. It's more of a collective experience than previously releases, and once again finds The Mars Volta in a new form.
prev
Page:

Awards & Rankings

33
#33 Most Discussed Album of 2006

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
61

Generally favorable reviews - based on 28 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 12 out of 28
  2. Mixed: 13 out of 28
  3. Negative: 3 out of 28
  1. Observer Music Monthly
    100
    This early-Roxy-Music-meets-late Led-Zep-style third studio album finds the band stepping back from total impenetrability with a pithy, eight-song, 76-minute set, guaranteed to restore the faith of those whose confidence in this grand enterprise was waning.
    Read full review
  2. Uncut
    60
    It initially seems as if the moments of inspiration between self-indulgences are becoming scarcer. A bracing middle section resuces Amputechture. [Sep 2006, p.89]
  3. Blender
    80
    It’s epic, mercurial, high-impact progressive rock that moves like a whirlwind.
    Read full review
See all critic reviews »