Scab Dates
by The Mars Volta
Metascore
58

Mixed or average reviews - based on 14 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 5 out of 14
  2. Mixed: 6 out of 14
  3. Negative: 3 out of 14
  1. Uncut
    60
    Your appreciation of Scab Dates will be predicated on a high tolerance to long bongo solos and songs called things like "Abrasions Mount The Timpani". [Jan 2006, p.113]
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  2. PopMatters
    60
    At its best, it's a fantastic album, with amazing musicianship that's emotionally striking. At it's worse, it's empty.
  3. Rolling Stone
    60
    Scabdates is as exhilarating as it is confounding.
  5. Paste Magazine
    40
    At once punishingly long and oddly incomplete. [Feb/Mar 2006, p.110]
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  6. Prefix Magazine
    60
    Scab Dates does an adequate job of capturing what is best experienced in the flesh.
  7. Blender
    40
    The songs get lost in waves of wah-wah long before a long, slow fade into random-noise oblivion. [Dec 2005, p.149]
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User Reviews

All reviews »
User Score
7.2

Generally favorable reviews- based on 34 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 25 out of 34
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 34
  3. Negative: 6 out of 34
  1. j30
    Mar 22, 2012
    2
    Scab Dates really doesn't do Mars Volta any favors, it actually suggests they're better in the studio than they are live. Which is true to aScab Dates really doesn't do Mars Volta any favors, it actually suggests they're better in the studio than they are live. Which is true to a point. I've had friends tell me they loved and hated the same performance. When I saw them open for the Red Hot Chili Peppers I left with mixed feelings. They have great energy on stage, but the music in some areas felt chaotic and flat-out boring. Their high points were exhilarating, particularly Viscera Eyes and Roulette Dares (The Haunt of). The Mars Volta need some sort of quality control of their live performances, meaning there are songs that are going to sound awesome live and some that are going to sound like **** In conclusion, Scab Dates is terrible due to it's horrid sound quality and song selection… Full Review »
  2. kylel.
    Nov 16, 2007
    10
    if you don't like this album its because its over your head. the closest our generation will ever get to led zepplin
  3. Richard
    Oct 4, 2006
    6
    I intensly adore the mars volta. Frances the mute is amoung my all time favourite albums, deloused in the commatorium and the new I intensly adore the mars volta. Frances the mute is amoung my all time favourite albums, deloused in the commatorium and the new amputechture are not far behind. The problem i have with this alubm is that strangely, they sound better live. That may sound strange, seeing as this is a live alubm, but the mars volta live sound a thousand times better than this album. That is not so much a criticism of this album as it is a testement to their actual live performances.… Full Review »
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