Frances The Mute
by The Mars Volta
User Score
8.5

Universal acclaim- based on 348 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 299 out of 348
  2. Mixed: 12 out of 348
  3. Negative: 37 out of 348

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  1. SeamusS
    Jan 23, 2006
    3
    I can honestly say I gave this album a chance. There was even one point when I thought I liked it. Then I had a sort of epiphany realizing the true terror that this album is. It's a mess. The songs slur together like something a Pinkfloyd/radiohead hybrid would make on speed. The vocals are limited, whiney and often incoherent and I dont want someone preaching to me about some deeper I can honestly say I gave this album a chance. There was even one point when I thought I liked it. Then I had a sort of epiphany realizing the true terror that this album is. It's a mess. The songs slur together like something a Pinkfloyd/radiohead hybrid would make on speed. The vocals are limited, whiney and often incoherent and I dont want someone preaching to me about some deeper meaning of them. There's apparently a concept stringing the album together like some failed rock opera. The only thing I could find remotly conceptual about it was the often confusing song titles and (as always) the annoying vocals. The other thing about the album was how totally inacessable. There is little to nothing that's even remotly possible to relate to. Pretentious trash and pseudo hip Sure it might make you think It made me think I think it sucks… Expand
  2. EarlM
    Mar 2, 2005
    0
    This here album is the reason why I still listen primarily to hillybilly mountain music.
  3. bobby
    Feb 28, 2005
    0
    I think their previous record was waaay better. They took the easy way out.
  4. HunterThe
    Mar 1, 2005
    0
    This album is terrible and only gets worse with each listen. In fact, it is terrible to the point of arousing anger in the listener. Rollingstone gave it a good review so you know it sucks.
  5. VladislawW
    Mar 10, 2005
    2
    Progressive rock was progressive 30 years ago. It seems that these guys don't understand it. If Mars Volta are one of the best young rock it actually is dying.
  6. K.O.
    Mar 3, 2005
    0
    "Tremulant," one of the better EPs of the past decade or so, gave me such high hopes for this band. Yet having now heard their first two attempts at a follow-up full length I'm left wondering what could have been. Exotic song structures are one thing, but when taken to this length, with no apparent rhyme or reason and a complete and utter dearth of melody, the listening experience is "Tremulant," one of the better EPs of the past decade or so, gave me such high hopes for this band. Yet having now heard their first two attempts at a follow-up full length I'm left wondering what could have been. Exotic song structures are one thing, but when taken to this length, with no apparent rhyme or reason and a complete and utter dearth of melody, the listening experience is infuriating. Do yourself a favor, listen to "Tremulant," and hold out hope that the band that created those three songs will get around to recording a follow-up, as there's no sign of them here. I'll be avoiding their next album like the bubonic plague.… Expand
  7. GreatGatsby
    Mar 5, 2005
    2
    Now seriously, what's the fuss about? ATDI was alright, but this one over here completely sucks. It's as fresh and progressive as Dream Theater are.
  8. RoryC
    Feb 27, 2005
    0
    Yuck. The first song is great because it is the only one to have structure. Everything else is just disgusting. No form, no structure, no discipline, it's just all over the place. Not a fun listen, not entertaining, barely even musical. Avoid
  9. AshG
    Feb 28, 2005
    3
    I quote one guy who feels the exact same way as I do. "I really wanted to like this album. I defended [I] De-loused in the Comatorium [/I] throughout 2003 against my anti-prog friends. Unfortunately, [I] Frances the Mute [/I] is terrible. Without Rick Rubin at the helm, the band lacks focus, doesn't develop melodies, and can't transition between different parts of their songs. I quote one guy who feels the exact same way as I do. "I really wanted to like this album. I defended [I] De-loused in the Comatorium [/I] throughout 2003 against my anti-prog friends. Unfortunately, [I] Frances the Mute [/I] is terrible. Without Rick Rubin at the helm, the band lacks focus, doesn't develop melodies, and can't transition between different parts of their songs. Omar Rodriguez's soloing is hackneyed and goes against the flow of their earlier songs on the album. The latter half of the album is just an inconsequential jam that is utterly boring and stilted." -- Exactly how I feel!… Expand
  10. johnk
    Mar 1, 2005
    2
    track 4 is good. the rest is sadly bad. i like the ep the best out of the 3 releases.... i miss at the drive-in. do you guys remember at the drive-in?
  11. MartinMedeskiandWud
    Mar 17, 2005
    0
    Horrible, disgusting piece of drivel. If you want good modern music check out Boards of Canada
  12. JohnS
    Mar 3, 2005
    1
    Arguably, one of the most disappointing CDs I've purchased ever!!!! 80% of it is mangled crap.... message to TMV, you're not Pink Floyd, never will be.
  13. colina
    Mar 7, 2005
    2
    this band was better 30 years ago when it was called Yes. anyone who thinks this record is mind blowing is woefully inexperienced with modern progressive music.
  14. Andy
    May 3, 2005
    1
    I've taken better shits than this.
  15. JohnD
    Aug 18, 2006
    2
    Great moments instead of hits? Translation: 87 seconds of awesomeness in a song that's 10+ minutes long. These guys have the ability to make some great music...but seeing as how they already did when they were called At The Drive-In, purchasing more of Cedric and Omar's output (and let's face it, those are the only two members of MV that you care about) is questionable. Great moments instead of hits? Translation: 87 seconds of awesomeness in a song that's 10+ minutes long. These guys have the ability to make some great music...but seeing as how they already did when they were called At The Drive-In, purchasing more of Cedric and Omar's output (and let's face it, those are the only two members of MV that you care about) is questionable. "Deloused" actually had a center to its madness; if you were willing to read the story that went with the album, most of the music made sense (and it also had 2 good songs that were 10 minutes when taken together, "Inertiatic ESP" and "This Apparatus Must Be Unearthed"). "Frances the Mute"...I thought I liked it for the longest time. But it's just smoke and mirrors. Investing time in it does not reward the listener. I've owned it for a year; trust me, there is no cohesive center to Frances's concept. Omar shreds, and Cedric strains his vocal chords, which is cool, since they're good at what they do. But they both need short leashes. Cedric's vocals are great, but too often, they're resting on lyrics that just flat-out suck (and occasionally disguising them with Spanish). Omar's a beast on guitar, filling each song with licks that would make the guys at Daddy's Junk Music shops around the US crap their pants, but Led Zep didn't rely on Plant doing a million and two licks a song; guitar solos need scrutinizing as much as any other part of the total package ("Outside of its awesomeness, WHAT DOES THIS CHORD ACCOMPLISH?"). In other words, Omar is an extremely talented guitarist, but a terrible musician. "L'Via "L'Viaquez" stands as the only song of note on here, but even L'Via doesn't know when to quit. Why not give it a zero, then? Well, three reasons. One: NO MUSIC DESERVES A ZERO, because every band gets at least one thing right on an album (why else would they release it?). Two: If you want to stay pissed off at someone and need some fuel, "Frances The Mute" will keep you pissed (that's a compliment. Really.). Three: "L'Via". Their new album is coming out soon, and I'm pretty sure my brother is going to buy it for the sole reason that he hasn't been to a music store in a while. The grapevine says that the Volta haven't changed their sound around at all, that "Amputexture" is going to get a million more idiots play awkward riffs on their guitars and attempt to pass it off as "avant-garde". Well, fuck.… Expand
  16. David
    Jan 23, 2007
    1
    The emperor has no clothes. Anyone that tells you they like this has NO musical taste or is flat out lying. Never ever listen to them again. In fact cut them out of your lives, you have no need for such lies/ignorance. To like this is to become a slave to your pretension.
  17. JustinH.
    Jan 22, 2008
    0
    This album is absolute garbage. Picture the worst elements of both Rush and Santana and spread the heap out far enough to cover 77 minutes and you'll have a good idea of what you're getting into. Some of the tracks, like "L'Via L'Viaquez" are laugh out loud funny, while others (such as the allegedly homoerotic "The Widow) are just plain boring. If this sounds like This album is absolute garbage. Picture the worst elements of both Rush and Santana and spread the heap out far enough to cover 77 minutes and you'll have a good idea of what you're getting into. Some of the tracks, like "L'Via L'Viaquez" are laugh out loud funny, while others (such as the allegedly homoerotic "The Widow) are just plain boring. If this sounds like innovative new music to you, then welcome to the 70's.… Expand
  18. JasperB
    Nov 13, 2005
    3
    It will give you an absolutly terrible headache. The Widow is its only redeaming song.
  19. PretentiousKarp
    Feb 27, 2005
    1
    I give them a 1 for knowing how to play their instruments and have technical ability. Other than that, here is another overblown pretentious piece of let's outdue another sucky band in Rush karp. I mean really all you have to do is look at the song titles. The best thing about the album is the cover. Pretty pathetic. But what's more pathetic is the fact that all these MTV kiddie I give them a 1 for knowing how to play their instruments and have technical ability. Other than that, here is another overblown pretentious piece of let's outdue another sucky band in Rush karp. I mean really all you have to do is look at the song titles. The best thing about the album is the cover. Pretty pathetic. But what's more pathetic is the fact that all these MTV kiddie watchers are thinking this band is the God of Music just because they wank like no others........oh.......and they know how to technically play beyond 2 or 3 power chords and sing with the help of "How To Write Pretentious Lyrics 101 That Nobody But You Who Will Truly Understand". This kinda thing hasn't happened since the days of Dave Matthews. Boy their fans are dumb.… Expand
  20. YuckYuck
    Feb 28, 2005
    0
    Yuck.
  21. dakefu
    Mar 11, 2005
    2
    A user review previously gave this a 10, saying "This is the 21st century Mahavishnu Orchestra with a Zepplin influence." It's on that very argument that I give this a 2. It's pretense and crap held together by the band's cutting-edge reputation.
  22. jackl
    Mar 2, 2005
    1
    I never liked the MV, and this album doesn't change my mind. As a matter of fact, I dislike them even more.
  23. AdamW
    Aug 17, 2005
    0
    I don't normally give 0's because I belive in an honest review and not just putting a 0 or a 10 because I want to kick the rating up for down, but I seriously think that Frances The Mute by The Mars Volta is the most over rated pile of trash in the past decade. jamming does not constitute a song and if I wanted to hear freaking bird and car sounds I would have just walked I don't normally give 0's because I belive in an honest review and not just putting a 0 or a 10 because I want to kick the rating up for down, but I seriously think that Frances The Mute by The Mars Volta is the most over rated pile of trash in the past decade. jamming does not constitute a song and if I wanted to hear freaking bird and car sounds I would have just walked outside and saved $13. TRASH!… Expand
  24. PatN
    Sep 15, 2005
    1
    Most of the album just sounded like aimless noisemaking interspersed with admittedly excellent drum and some fast riffing but atrociously bad guitar soloing that sounds like something my kid brother would pull off if I told him to play some jazz. The songs are muddled and non musical.
  25. Tinuva
    Aug 26, 2006
    0
    Ow Mars Volta, heel fijn
  26. DevinB
    Feb 28, 2005
    2
    Technical prowess alone does not a good album make.
  27. BobS
    Feb 28, 2005
    0
    Now this some crappy prog rock. Worst album ever.
  28. StevenJ
    Feb 28, 2005
    0
    I can't believe how bad this album is. Wanky wanky. Shredding is soooo cool. OHHHHH.....and lyrics that sometimes its own writer can't even figure out is sooo cool too. The Mars Volta is a traveling circus side freak show.
  29. Meat
    Apr 11, 2005
    3
    Shudder to Think put out the same type of music back in the mid 90s... arty, technical, challenging prog rock. And they got trashed for it... Its funny how now its "cool" to like this album. The only difference is that Shudder actually rocked while this is just a complete mess. You have to have a huge ego to put out this type of crap. This is proportional to Travolta putting out that Shudder to Think put out the same type of music back in the mid 90s... arty, technical, challenging prog rock. And they got trashed for it... Its funny how now its "cool" to like this album. The only difference is that Shudder actually rocked while this is just a complete mess. You have to have a huge ego to put out this type of crap. This is proportional to Travolta putting out that sci-fi bomb Battlefield Earth! That takes guts...… Expand

Awards & Rankings

6
#6 Most Discussed Album of 2005
76
#76 Most Shared Album of 2005

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
75

Generally favorable reviews - based on 31 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 22 out of 31
  2. Mixed: 6 out of 31
  3. Negative: 3 out of 31
  1. Alternative Press
    100
    It's already the most riveting album of 2005--provided you're ready to carve a wide enough hole in your consciousness to accept it. [Mar 2005, p.130]
  2. Filter
    68
    Frances the Mute documents the Mars Volta as a passionate and explosive band that has grown capable of taking the music in a hundred different directions. [#14, p.96]
  3. Spin
    91
    Frances explores an explosive groove Comatorium only implied. [Mar 2005, p.83]
See all critic reviews »