Summary:Produced by Johann Scheerer, Mars Volta's Omar Rodríguez-Lopez forms a new group with Mars Volta drummer Deantoni Parks, Teri Gender Bender of Le Butcherettes, and Nicci Kasper.
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Record Label:Rodriguez Lopez Productions
Genre(s): Pop/Rock, Alternative/Indie Rock, Indie Electronic, Indie Pop
It's very different, and whether or not it's better than The Mars Volta is a debate for others; what is clear is that Omar Rodriguez Lopez--and friends--still have a lot more to offer.
Whatever they’re reaching for as Bosnian Rainbows is far more exhilarating than what either party’s put to tape in recent years, specifically Rodríguez-López.
Bosnian Rainbows combines a lot of elements together, but it sometimes feels that they’re not sure which way they want to go. There are laidback, layered slow jams that make up the bulk of the record, but the LP’s best moments come when it adds more guitar-driven material.
If you're reading this review hoping for a fanboy rant about The Mars Volta breaking up, you might as well just stop now, since my experienceIf you're reading this review hoping for a fanboy rant about The Mars Volta breaking up, you might as well just stop now, since my experience with the members' various previous bands is pretty minimal. So I'm hoping this review can offer an interesting perspective to this recently formed group & their debut album as someone without the biases or comparisons that would inevitably come with being a fan of the members' previous projects. And I was very impressed by this album overall. What we have here is 48 minutes of eccentric yet somewhat accessible indie rock. It's characterized by tight precise drum grooves, guitar lines with a hint of reverb that can go from driving to emotional to chaotic in minutes, and expressive & passionate vocals with lyrics to match. And it's all complimented with subtle electronics that help create an overall atmosphere for the album to live in, one that borders on soft but definitely has an edge to it. Even though nearly every song here has a few potent hooks that'll stick in the back of your mind, for someone that wants a good accessible gateway to the more experimental stuff I'd look to the singles “Torn Maps” & “Turtle Neck”, which still have all the best elements of this album but do it in a bit more of a straightforward & catchy way, though the transition from the dream pop chorus & verses to the awesome distorted meltdown about halfway into Turtle Neck might throw some people off. This is an interesting listen for sure, and I honestly can't think of a song here that I don't really like. I feel like I haven't been listening to enough less-accessible stuff this year & this certainly helps with that. It's nothing completely mind-blowing, but if you're looking for some great experimental indie rock, this is one of the first albums I'd recommend.
Top 5 tracks: Turtle Neck, Torn Maps, I Cry for You, Mother Father Set Us Free, Morning Sickness
Score: 90/100…Expand
If you listen to this album for what it actually is, its quite enjoyable. With roots in alternative, punk and electronic, its a great mix forIf you listen to this album for what it actually is, its quite enjoyable. With roots in alternative, punk and electronic, its a great mix for the public's appetite for new music they have not yet heard. Bravo O-R L!…Collapse
As a big At the Drive-In and Mars Volta fan, It's nice to see Omar doing something new. TMV seemed to be running out of steam for the past fewAs a big At the Drive-In and Mars Volta fan, It's nice to see Omar doing something new. TMV seemed to be running out of steam for the past few years leading up to the Noctourniquet release. I really enjoy the new style Bosnian Rainbows brings. It's much lighter than either TMV or ATDI and has a more playful nature to it without being too goofy or silly. That said, upon several listens only about half of the songs really stand out to me. Check out "Worthless", "Morning Sickness", "Torn Maps" and "Turtle Neck" for the high points of the album. Many of the other songs just kind of meander along repetitively like Eli or lack a cohesive direction like the album's closer song.
Specifically I find the best points of the album are when the guitar cuts through and gives the music a real bite, like Omar's creative punk stylings in "Torn Maps" or his syncopated arpeggios in "Turtle Neck". However, the guitar is instead used more passively much of the time, making it blend in with the keyboards in a big hazy wall of synth. There's already two or three layers of keyboards going on at any given time so it feels redundant.
I have to say though, I love Teri's vocals. She can sing with real ferocity in songs like "Always on the Run" and "Torn Maps" but also maintains a beautiful, ethereal tone in "Turtle Neck" and "Morning Sickness". She brings a really diverse sound to the music and can always match the mood of the tracks with an appropriate style.
In conclusion, the band has a lot of potential, but I feel a little disappointed that the tracks they released before the album hit were basically the best they had to offer. A little more of a quality check and track pruning would've gone a long way to stronger debut.…Expand
