The Mars Volta. New Album.

I'm on my second pass through the LP. The jury is still out for me. Definitely things I like about the album. But still trying to decide if it jells into a cohesive whole, for me.

I get that. There’s a lot of spontaneous changes in direction and a constant feeling that the music is continually evolving in a way.  Overwhelmed with varied ideas.

Maybe try following along with lyrics as you go.  Apparently there is quite a journey starting with terrifying theme of abuse and trauma before moving on to intense optimism.  I read that in a magazine interview with the singer.  Might help with the cohesion.  I’ll be trying following the lyrics soon.

@nyev  - "Maybe try following along with lyrics as you go."

Good suggestion. I was thinking the same. First 2 times through, I did not read the lyrics, and they are sometimes a bit hard to understand.

I like it. Does anyone else think it sounds like Flaming Lips doing the Chipmunks Biggest Hits? 

No, not really.  It's more like Arctic Monkeys doing the Chipmunks Biggest Hits.  But it's great...  I noticed in the rare instances he sings in his low register, his voice is sublime, but also sounds a lot like Arctic Monkey's singer.  Gets distinctive in the upper range.