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. asad31
    Sep 10, 2010
    10
    This is a masterpiece. Cassandra Gemini is one of the best songs ever recorded by anyone anywhere anytime. The whole album is amazing. Love the jazz influence combined with what they did on de loused. My personal favorite TMV album and maybe my favorite album of all time. You must listen to this album several times. Dont hear it once and make a decision.. it takes time to really takeThis is a masterpiece. Cassandra Gemini is one of the best songs ever recorded by anyone anywhere anytime. The whole album is amazing. Love the jazz influence combined with what they did on de loused. My personal favorite TMV album and maybe my favorite album of all time. You must listen to this album several times. Dont hear it once and make a decision.. it takes time to really take it all in.… Expand
  2. piesore
    Feb 27, 2005
    5
    I was disappointed w/ Deloused, mostly in terms of the production. I thought they'd fleshed out their ideas and taken the next logical step from ATDi, and really loved the Alex Newport produced demos. But Rubin's final made me feel like I was listening to a piece of plastic, with the guitar and coals pushed too high in the mix. Cedric's voice was more feminine, yet more I was disappointed w/ Deloused, mostly in terms of the production. I thought they'd fleshed out their ideas and taken the next logical step from ATDi, and really loved the Alex Newport produced demos. But Rubin's final made me feel like I was listening to a piece of plastic, with the guitar and coals pushed too high in the mix. Cedric's voice was more feminine, yet more abrasive than on the demos; it annoyed me. So, there was a whole album of ideas I liked, but just not their execution. I got excited for the new album once I started to hear the vision behind it, and some of the new live jams. I thought both Caught in the Sun, and A Plague Upon Your Hissing Children were both awesome (neither made the album though). The soft progression in the Middle of Cygnus sounded great live too. And it was supposed to be about the unspeakable visions of Hell, so I was imagining a dark and disturbing soundtrack to compliment the imagery found in Dante's Inferno. Finally, the production was supposed to be a step closer to the rawness of Tremulant, and I was really expecting something as aching and moving as Concertina on FTM. But instead of one step back to the stellar heights of the Tremulant Ep, they've further moved away from the ATDi sound, completely abandoning it, which is bad news for me, an ATDi fan. I think that's why this album is creating much more of a polarized reaction among fans than Deloused, because it's like a totally different group. It's a lot closer to a classic/prog rock album, a lot more upbeat than something inspired by the unspeakable visions of hell you'd expect, with shitloads of wanking, stadium sized drums and Cedric's voice adopting a slight drawl. All the songs feel bloated, with long interludes, intros and outros, needlessly tacked on, which dilute the more powerful moments on the album. The production itself is overdone too, it's not raw at all, but now there are string sections, saxes and flutes, which come off more cheesy than overwhelming like they're supposed to. A lot of the vocals are overharmonized, which again, comes off as prog rock cheesiness. I don't dig the "OMFG! WE'RE LATIN!!!" vibe they keep trying to push more and more with each record. I can understand it's a part of who they are, but they try to make it seems like it's more of a part of them than it is. They grew up in the US and are completely whitewashed, native speakers tell me their spanish is pretty off whenever they try to use it in interviews. So, the third track makes me laugh. Half of it sounds like the Matchbox 20 and Sanata collaboration. On Concertina, the spanish verse was great, but maybe it's the way the vocals are, it just comes off as grating. To its credit, the structure of the album does fit the longer songs better than on deloused, the interludes don't sap away the energy from the song as much as they did on Deloused, like on Cicatriz and Take the Veil. It's more like a chaotic live jam with a simple riff repeated over and over, and progressions and improve based on top of that. But a lot of it, especially the last song is too much like a live jam, half of it feels like the instrumentals were made up on the spot, with random pick srapings and pianos wandering in and out of the mix. That being said, it's not really a difficult album to listen to, it's pretty much all melody, and there are verses and choruses and all the stuff you're familiar with, there are just a lot more of them, and they're a lot more long winded. The biggest disappointment with the album, is that at TMV's start, Omar said he wanted to bring some virtuosity back to punk rock, something like that. He can play better than ever now, but instead of using that skill to write more expansive and fully developed ideas, the basic structure of this album are fairly simple riffs, but with him shredding on top of everything. The more the band says it tries to distance itself from the cliches of prog rock, the more they seem to fall right into them. So, I'd say anyone aching for the ATDi sound, stay far, far away, but prog and classic rock fans will probably dig this.… Expand
  3. 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
  4. EarlM
    Mar 2, 2005
    0
    This here album is the reason why I still listen primarily to hillybilly mountain music.
  5. JeremiahF
    May 4, 2006
    10
    I love this entire album. Great mix of pure sounds that will invade your every ear drum canal. If thats even possible.
  6. Shawnaq
    Mar 22, 2005
    10
    This is the most amazing album I've ever heard. Period. The Mars Volta never disappoints.
  7. stlvocals
    Mar 2, 2005
    10
    So ridiculously superior to anything out right now, it's a joke. There's isn't a band around that can hold The Mars Volta's sweaty, screaming jock strap. Consider it an honor to listen to the Led Zeppelin of this generation in vestal splendor. A perfect album in almost every sense of the word.
  8. jonv
    Mar 4, 2005
    10
    this is the greatest band ever
  9. AnonyM.
    Jan 20, 2007
    10
    Why does it seem like no one figured out the twists of this album? Either they got and don't want to give it away, or they dismissed it as "impenetrable" and "pretentious." If you are one of the latter, please read the following. First of all, this is a great album. Definitely the best prog since the 70's. Omar took the helm this time, and he really moved the band's sound Why does it seem like no one figured out the twists of this album? Either they got and don't want to give it away, or they dismissed it as "impenetrable" and "pretentious." If you are one of the latter, please read the following. First of all, this is a great album. Definitely the best prog since the 70's. Omar took the helm this time, and he really moved the band's sound in startling and consistently rewarding directions. The only album of the present decade that gets better every time I listen to it. Now, the twist. I'm not going to give it away, but suffice to say, these hints should help some get over the seemingly incongruous bits of sound. They do get progressively more obvious, so STOP READING IF YOU DON'T WANT TO SPOIL IT. 1) Despite everything, pump the volume at the beginning of the album, the first "Sarcophagi." See what you hear. 2) Turn the volume up again during the long guitar solo at the 23 minute mark of Cassandra. Yep, thats the scratches back from the beginning... 3) Look at the first two pages of the booklet. The first is the only character not included in the album's song cycle (though she got a single essentially explaining all this). The second is a record player... 4)The Widow - yeah, that noise bugged the crap out of me when I first heard it too. But it's there for a reason (booklet!)... 5)The second "Sarcophagi" - OK, this is really obvious. Hear the needle scratching at the end of Cassandra? We're actually right back at the beginning... OK, so how does this relate to anything in the real world? Well, it's a bit of a stretch. Basically, "Frances the Mute" and the, ahem, twist, is a sort of metaphor for the diary the band found following Ward's death. This connection is admittedly not very articulate, but hey, it's really cool.… Expand
  10. MichaelW.
    Feb 1, 2008
    8
    Lacks the cohesion of De-Loused but still an excellent album. You can really follow the progression of their sound.
  11. TylerF
    Dec 6, 2005
    10
    The awesome explosive sound of the mars volta will not be forgotten soon.
  12. bweni
    Feb 24, 2005
    10
    i love this more than i love men, and thats a lot!!
  13. Kris
    Feb 27, 2005
    10
    VERY enjoyable.
  14. bobby
    Feb 28, 2005
    0
    I think their previous record was waaay better. They took the easy way out.
  15. 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.
  16. AndyP
    Mar 1, 2005
    10
    Anyone giving this album less than a 7 is just stuck up. Unless you really just don't like music.
  17. Wogazi
    Mar 1, 2005
    9
    i would like to view the art of the gentleman that wrote the review for pitchfork. did your girlfriend/boyfriend leave you for themarsvolta. Obviously FTM is self indulgent, otherwise it wouldn't be so beautifully interesting.
  18. 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.
  19. GavinP
    Mar 1, 2005
    9
    There's a lot to dislike about this album. The lyrics are deliberately abstruse, they're a lots of pointles sections of ambient noise or free jazz meanderings, much of it requires repeated listening to 'get'. And yet it is still an amazing album, because when they get it right, they REALLY get it right. Great rhythms, great vocals, and great drama. I know it's not There's a lot to dislike about this album. The lyrics are deliberately abstruse, they're a lots of pointles sections of ambient noise or free jazz meanderings, much of it requires repeated listening to 'get'. And yet it is still an amazing album, because when they get it right, they REALLY get it right. Great rhythms, great vocals, and great drama. I know it's not immeadiate, but stick with it, it really is worth the effort.… Expand
  20. noizyme
    Mar 2, 2005
    8
    Very trippy album. 5 tracks of pure prog-rock mixed with electronic, sonic spaces to send your mind guessing every time you listen. Truly one of the more intellectual groups out there that do not dumb-down their sound for audiences.
  21. rach
    Mar 2, 2005
    9
    This album is absolutely INSANE! I'm in love with it. I listened to it for the first time in my basement with all the lights out. I wasn't even high but I swear to god I was seeing thinds. Amazing trip. If you are a TMV fan, it's a must have. Even if you're not, it's STILL a must have.
  22. JoshC
    Mar 28, 2005
    10
    crazy but it sounds fucking great
  23. 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
  24. RaeR
    Mar 4, 2005
    8
    Very nice. Smooth, unhurried. Very chill. Listening to it on a rainy day and I'm having visions in my bedroom.
  25. 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.
  26. BlaineR
    Mar 7, 2005
    8
    Great album, but an overabundance of ambient noise cheapens the experience.
  27. MarcD.
    Apr 12, 2005
    9
    Reminiscent of early Pink Floyd and Rage Against the Machine, yet still highly original.
  28. AlanC
    Apr 2, 2005
    6
    Compared to their first CD, this album was a big disappointment. If you take the essence out of it, you're left with 5 songs and a lot of needless filler around them. It's a 70 plus minute album that feels like an EP. It leaves you wanting more. A friend of mine who saw them live said that the CD is like being at their concert... 15 minutes of jamming, and then they play the 3 Compared to their first CD, this album was a big disappointment. If you take the essence out of it, you're left with 5 songs and a lot of needless filler around them. It's a 70 plus minute album that feels like an EP. It leaves you wanting more. A friend of mine who saw them live said that the CD is like being at their concert... 15 minutes of jamming, and then they play the 3 minutes you actually recognize from their album.… Expand
  29. GeorgeB
    Apr 4, 2005
    10
    THis album is great, just pure poetry. It lives up to its predecessor and it just great, everyone should buy this album and enjoy the sweet easy listening!
  30. [Anonymous]
    May 5, 2005
    10
    It takes a while to get used to this album, but when you have, IT'S BRILLIANT!!!
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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 »