Octahedron
by The Mars Volta
User Score
8.0

Generally favorable reviews- based on 70 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 62 out of 70
  2. Mixed: 4 out of 70
  3. Negative: 4 out of 70

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  1. BM.
    Jul 23, 2009
    6
    A nice change of pace from their recent schizophrenia-inducing albums. It's nice to know they have the potential to break out of their own formula now and again, but overall it's just an ok album. There's nothing groundbreaking here and none of the songs seem to resolve or climax effectively. The production is rather flat and the whole thing is pretty unfulfilling. There A nice change of pace from their recent schizophrenia-inducing albums. It's nice to know they have the potential to break out of their own formula now and again, but overall it's just an ok album. There's nothing groundbreaking here and none of the songs seem to resolve or climax effectively. The production is rather flat and the whole thing is pretty unfulfilling. There are some great melodies here however-- even if they seem to repeat often.… Expand

Awards & Rankings

53
#53 Most Discussed Album of 2009

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
66

Generally favorable reviews - based on 25 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 14 out of 25
  2. Mixed: 10 out of 25
  3. Negative: 1 out of 25
  1. Paste Magazine
    80
    Though 'Teflon' boasts Rush-like guitar thunder and violent lyrics (“Let the wheels burn, let the wheels burn, stack the tires to the neck with the body inside”), the group returns to dark balladry on 'Desperate Graves' and 'Copernicus,' two more highlights from a haunting album full of twilight poetry.
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  2. AllMusic
    80
    Calling this an unplugged album is useful only in relation to what the group has produced in the past, but what the Mars Volta created on Octahedron will provide them with more range and opportunities in the future.
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  3. Boston Globe
    80
    Guitarist Omar Rodriguez-Lopez and singer Cedric Bixler-Zavala are the creative duo driving the band and once again deliver on a standing promise to blow any mind that is willing to stay open.
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