The Mars Volta - A Brief Introduction To Amputechture

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INFO: In this video, I thought i’d take a closer look at the history, sound and guitar work behind this record so that if you’re new to The Mars Volta or even an old fan, you give this album a listen with an open mind. This is a brief introduction to The Mars Volta’s Amputechture.

[@LieLikesMusic]

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[@Mizzle420420]

Link is broken

[@shainsaw2060]

I love this album, I can’t believe people think it’s crap

[@LieLikesMusic]

Me neither. I have the same thoughts about Noctourniquet. Loved it from the day i heard it!

[@shainsaw2060]

Same man. That’s a great album too. Has a lot of energy and I think deantoni suits their style. Every album has its own personality. People get stuck on deloused and hold them to that. Good on you for doing these insightful videos man

[@Guitarisforgrins]

@@shainsaw2060 Nostalgia addicts make bad music critics. It's like drugs, people want that first high again. Unfortunately, they miss out because of it.

[@shainsaw2060]

Guitarisforgrins dude, that’s exactly it

[@chriskeck3689]

All of their albums are art pieces

[@adorno_gang37]

"It's a much calmer album" what

[@TMVowns]

Forreals lol

[@frankencokis]

Day of the baphomets disliked that

[@boogabuga7657]

yeah lol I don't understand that at all. To me this album is far more chaotic than the first two, probably on par with bedlam, but different.

[@deenest9992]

i nope'd out of this video upon hearing that lmao

[@as-hamadheisc2081]

Tetragrammaton=Calmest song

[@MinorCirrus]

I didn't even know until today that Amputechture was frowned upon by some fans. To me, the first three are equally incredible.

[@norwaydude96]

First 4 mate

[@LieLikesMusic]

@@norwaydude96 What do you think of Noctourniquet then? Personally i really dig their later efforts too

[@MinorCirrus]

@@LieLikesMusic I'm not Adrian, just OP, but I just want to clarify that even though I say the first three are pretty much 10/10 albums for me, that doesn't mean I dislike the other ones. For subsequent albums, it just becomes a bit more of pick-and-choose appreciation. I hate Aberinkula but I love Ouroboros, for example. As per Noctourniquet, I think it's an acquired taste, but there really is some brilliant stuff on it. Long story short, I really like all TMV albums, but the first three are the very shining ones.

[@norwaydude96]

​@@MinorCirrus I pretty much agree with MinorCirrus here but I'd personally put Bedlam up with the first three aswell. Theodores drumming on the first three is some of my favourite drum work ever, but I also think what Pridgen did on Bedlam is just as good in his own way.

[@TMVowns]

Yeah fake ass fans

[@chriskeck3689]

You could do a whole video on just the song Tetragrammaton

[@LieLikesMusic]

I could do a whole video on each of their songs hehe

[@timpeterson175]

Lie Likes Music would watch

[@xman666soad]

That was my fave song on that album in high school, but today it’s Viscera Eyes. Love playing it on drums.

[@vivalamop]

That’s what I came here for tbh.

[@as-hamadheisc2081]

I love everything about that song

[@ilovecody7514]

The Mars Volta is probably my favorite band of all time.

[@LieLikesMusic]

Same! If it wasn't for Queens Of The Stone Age

[@ilovecody7514]

@@LieLikesMusic That's another great choice!!! I think it's just a matter of taste at the end of the day and I just prefer The Mars Volta with their style.

[@superking208]

WAIT SOMEONE ELSE LOVES QOTSA LIKE ME??

[@Rybo4]

Same here brother

[@cup.o.joe...]

Day of the baphomets is one of my favorite Mars Volta Songs! This must be the album i listen to, the least but after watching this video I just might give it another try

[@sarou3457]

Just found this band and 'Deloused In The Comatorium' is already one of my favorite albums.

[@jasonhawken871]

You're in for a wild fucking ride.

[@LieLikesMusic]

@@jasonhawken871 Yupp. All their albums are among my favorite albums. Definitely worth listening to all of em

[@wood4life]

That’s a great album 🧙🏻‍♂️🔥👍🏻

[@isaacj8751]

Good album to start with

[@mewsterx3679]

good to see new listeners! mar volta is the best band that ever existed on this planet

[@jadetaylor6093]

"amputechture is calmer and takes less chances than frances the mute" lol WHAT

[@ukkovuorela4196]

John frusciante wanted to be Zappa's guitarist back in the day and got a chance to play with him but he heard that Zappa was against drugs so he didnt want to be in has band anymore. Thats probably one of the reasons John sound so good in this album.

[@mosesh06]

Just know. The Mars Volta is the greatest band of all time.

[@LieLikesMusic]

Can't deny that

[@redjay1146]

MoiEnNoir word

[@wood4life]

I hope they bring it back some day and put out another album or 6. 🐐

[@damienpowers2885]

@@wood4life they are back together and recording a new album as we type

[@wood4life]

Damien Powers Awesome !

[@MrSnuffian]

Tetragrammaton is just such a great song when you realize the story behind it. Really adds to when you listen to it and understand the voices are three separate perspectives.

[@kitpalmer1583]

Ok so, the woman, the priest and the supposed spirit? Is that what you're thinking?

[@MrSnuffian]

Kit Palmer yeah

[@zeadsi]

Thousands of records and a decade later and this is still my all-time favorite album.

[@Fabyfakid]

Please you gotta break down Tetragrammaton, its in my opinion their most ambitious and technical work. Its not necessarily live but check them out playing it on the Henry Rollins show. Its just amazing.

[@simonebevini4357]

All the albums that feature John Theodore are considered the best in Mars Volta discography... Is this a coincidence?

[@TheGuitarifier]

They lost their groove after Theodore left.

[@noopt19]

It's just your opinion, I like The Bedlam in Goliath just as much

[@scottudell7202]

I agree. Almost everything from the Tremulant EP through to Amputechture was great. I personally couldn't get with Bedlam.

[@dalekay9ine]

It's cause Thomas is WAY too busy. With how much the guitars are going off, they need a good rhythm section to hold it down under all the madness. Jon was perfect for the band.

[@cotopaximusic]

@@dalekay9ine Thomas played it perfectly. If you don't like it you can blame Omar. It's exactly how we wanted it

[@elporto]

A remaster of this album would be a game changer. It’s no wonder Theodore felt unappreciated given how low his drums are in the mix. The guitar is piercing at times but generally just saturates the rest of the amazing instrumentation. Also, not sure I’d describe it as calmer than their first two.

[@MN-vw2lo]

I agree, it always drove me nuts how low the drums were mixed on Tetragrammaton since they're so incredible on that song.

[@bottlemanic]

There's a fan re edit on KZbin which is very good

[@MN-vw2lo]

@@bottlemanic That's my preferred version.

[@flkfnd]

I see Jon Theodore, I watch the video. As amazing as Bedlam is, they never should have lost Jon. His drumming was integral to the sound of TMV, I remember teaching myself (by ear!) the drums to Deloused, Frances, ScabDates and Amputechture way back in the day... Bedlam didn't lose me entirely but I could only ever nail a few songs on it, damn that Prigemaster General! Even if they tailed off towards the end? (apparent 2019 reunion) of their career, the albums they made with Jon will always live on.

[@theminakins815]

This is actually my absolute favorite album of theirs. Most fans hate it but it's just so otherworldly and I actually disagree about taking risks here. I think the whole album was a risk and full of things that are the opposite of an "easy listen" for a normal person. It's really a treat if you just let it flow through you and get lost in it.

[@cloudoftime]

I agree about the risks. His claims that this album "takes less chances" is absurd. But I have no idea who likes The Mars Volta and hates this album. I've never met anyone who hated it. Don't know where you people are getting this.

[@RonnieRonnie3697]

When I first started listening to The Mars Volta, I found Amputechture to be extremely challenging to get into especially after listening to The Bedlam In Goliath & Deloused In The Comatorium. After a few months, I began to fall in love with Amputechture. One of the reasons why is because something about it makes me paint a canvas in my mind to that of Salvador Dali or Pablo Picasso. This album is a great example of a rewarding listening experience!

[@Cosmicjessiecat]

I remember when Amputechture came out, I walked to a Best Buy near my community college and bought a copy...I wore that album out! Asilos Magdalena is my personal favorite off that record; so many gems!

[@esellwan]

I love your description of Viscera Eyes! Thank you for celebrating this beautiful mutant child.

[@nikolademitri731]

This was the album that got me into TMV, though it’s definitely not my favorite of their albums (“Francis The Mute” is probably their best, incredibly cohesive), in part bc it does somewhat lack cohesion, or just something special as a whole, but as far as individual tracks go, it has 3-4 of my favs of theirs. I was 19 then, a total hippy, and largely moving away from heavier rock and metal, but their music sounded like it was literally tripping on acid, and psychedelic in a way that I think very few bands have managed to achieve, so I fell deeply in love with their music. It all started when my friend played, “Days of the Baphomets”, which was the first time I heard their music, and it still is strong contender for my favorite TMV song, though “Meccamputechture” (also from this album), is a strong contender, and depending on the day I might say I like it more (both are incredible, and incredibly psychedelic). I’m actually not so crazy for “Viscera Eyes”, not that it’s bad, but I definitely didn’t think it was nearly as strong as several others (the two aforementioned, plus “Asilos Mandela” and “Tetragrammaton” are both better imo). Anyway, I appreciate this video, if only for causing me to realize that it’s been 13 years since I first heard this album, and became acquainted with this band (goddamnit, these kind of anniversaries of albums from my youth make me feel old). I’ll have to give this a listen, in full, to commemorate the occasion! Thanks! ✌️🙏♾

[@austindorf83]

Oh my god, viscera eyes is probably the best beat that Theodore came up with. This entire album is pure gold.

[@seanturpin01]

I got the chills just reading this comment because you are so right. That beat has been stuck in my head since the day I first heard it! Every so often I hear it just playing in my head! (I'm also a drummer)

[@austindorf83]

Unknown Username Yes! I too am a drummer and that beat has been stuck in my head for about a decade. It just never gets old.

[@redacted1402]

i thought deantoni played the drums on amputechture not jon.

[@redacted1402]

yeah jon didn’t drum on Amputechture it was deantoni

[@CCDaDon15]

@@redacted1402 what? Parks didn't appear on a TMV record til like 6 years after Amputechture came out

[@cdomeier122112]

god i love your stuff on the mars volta, ive learned so much more about the band. WELL DONE!!

[@Xari.04]

While this isn't my favourite album from them, I think that this one is their most technically impressive record. Frusciante's collaboration with Omar's are always out of this world, and this album might serve as the biggest proof of that. And while I do kind of get why some people might hate it as it's not as creative or atmospheric as the first two, it definetively takes the first place on it's incredible guitar and drum work. Also, I consider this one to have the best formation that the band experimented, with the inclusion of Marcel, Pablo and Adrian yet mantaining Jon on the drums. Anyway, this album is a complete beast as all of their work, so thanks for covering this one, keep up the awesome work!

[@2heavensss]

Love your channel man! Thanks for being an important voice and shining a light on these bands

[@chrisinfante92]

Amputechture It's my favorite album ever. rich, powerful, aggressive, and subtle at the same time. 💚

[@koenwieringa1904]

Such a coincidence! I haven't been listening to The Mars Volta in ages, popped in Frances The Mute today and saw this video halfway through Frances, hahaha. If you ask me, the loss of Jon Theodore was too much. Being a drummer myself, I was blown away with his powerful, but sophisticated chops. He reminds me of Jimmy Chamberlin of The Smashing Pumpkis, the same combination of absolute power and instrument control but with a certain finesse that puts the icing on the cake. I think the drummers after Jon just couldn't match that combination of power and fluidity. I like Amputechture, but I simply love Frances and Deloused (Frances being my absolute favorite because of its warmer vibes than the stone cold vibes on Deloused). But thanks for the reminder, Lie! I haven't played Amputechture in a while, so I'm giving it another listen tonight. Love your vids!

[@BTBAM819]

I've been binging your Mars Volta videos man thanks for the content. This is truly a unique and iconic band. Besides loving Deloused and Frances to death I gotta say I really enjoy the bold direction they took with Amputechture. Vicarious' intro is some of Omar's best work (despite Frusciante recording almost everything, I feel Omar recorded most of this intro) so as Tetragrammaton's. This band has so much to offer

[@RyleyAtk]

Legitimately think this is their second best after Frances the Mute.

[@LieLikesMusic]

Cool. I'd have to say it's pretty low on my list. But still, all their albums are high-quality imo. Not much seperates them there

[@austindorf83]

Deloused>frances the mute>amputechture>bedlam> Noctourniquet>octahedron

[@jamesm1567]

@@austindorf83 I agree with this list

[@TMVowns]

@@austindorf83 lol you're trippin

[@TheAlibabatree]

@@austindorf83 Everyone has a different opinion on their discography. I have a really unique list: Frances Noctourniquet Amputecture Bedlam Deloused Octahedron

[@Aunt_Jemima]

Asilos de magdalena is the song that got me into TMV. Love de esoteric images of this album.

[@MrLILCHOLO123]

Same here showed up out of nowhere during an acid trip. Shame he doesn't mention it.

[@kodycox6780]

so surprising to hear that people thought this was one of their weaker albums, this is easily my favorite album of theirs and in my top 5 albums of all time!

[@brianbass8936]

It's their best one for me easily

[@OpaqueVisions47]

Great album. Touring for this album when I seen them opening up for Red Hot Chili Peppers. One of my greatest concert experiences.

[@Theguitarmansam]

lovely video. I recently learned tetragrammaton in its entirety (playthrough on my channel) and had the same experience as you in trying to decipher the logic behind some of the scales and patterns in omar's guitar work. such a fascinating musician.

[@TBAGZPROUT]

my favourite album, thanks for this video!! it's always very interesting!

[@KhordLizardMage]

I was at that Philadelphia show that you referred to. It is one of the best concerts that I've ever seen.

[@leinbajr]

I missed that particular Philly show somehow but saw them open for System at the Spectrum and then twice with Thomas Pridgen at the TLA. Would’ve loved to see the one I missed.

[@TheLegendofGumby]

Dude in April 2008 I saw The Mars Volta in Austin after The Bedlam in Goliath came out and I haven’t seen a better show yet. No opening bands, they came right on stage at 8 and just shredded nonstop until just after 11. They played so many amazing jams from Deloused, Frances, and Amputecture as well as showing off a bunch of new stuff from Bedlam. I remember Cedric dancing on top of a tall ass speaker and it rocking back and forth and at one point he pulled three of Thomas’s cymbal stands up and threw them into the crowd for people to tear apart and take home. I was so jealous watching a guy walking out with a china cymbal stuffed under his shirt. That show was legendary.

[@ashtoffen]

Theodore IS the best

[@chinomedina88]

TMV sounded better with Jon Theodore than it did with Thomas Pridgen. Just sayin'.

[@heathermckenzie2772]

@@chinomedina88 I agree..Pridgen overplayed imo. Don't get me wrong Pridgen is a phenomenal drummer but Theodore just fits better

[@chinomedina88]

@@heathermckenzie2772 Exactly! Pridgen is stunning, but Theodore has more groove that definitely fits better. Gotta give Elitch proper recognition because he played the songs closer to what Theodore did.

[@Serrano117]

Swell job as always!

[@jimmyshrimbe9361]

Great job on those riffs, man!

[@LieLikesMusic]

Thanks! More riffs to come. I really want the channel to become more guitar centered

[@mfuendofseptember]

There's an interview that they did with nardwar where they touch on the subject of firing and bashing John Theodore. Still one of my favorite bands of all time, and I'm excited at the prospect that they'll be back with new music soon. Way more than I ever could have been with the anticipation of the new Tool album.

[@LexTNeville]

Coincidentally I've been listening to Amputechture again this week. Love that album.

[@sambajane]

This is easily my favorite by them. It's the most obtuse, but the time I spent getting to know it really paid off. Tetragrammaton starts with an angular chord progression and drums blasting you in the face, and to me that unique songwriting ethos feels way more otherworldly and compelling than the simple D-chord pattern of Inertiatic, for example.

[@LieLikesMusic]

My thoughts exactly. It's like the perfect mix of prog-rock and hardcore punk.

[@jimmyshrimbe9361]

Frack yeah! They’re definitely some challenging songs.

[@aindatenhoconta]

Tetragrammaton was my first experience in the The Mars Volta, and by the time Bedlam in Goliath was released, I still hadn't listen properly to all the previous material. I spent years listening to everything, and took me another several years to understand Octahedron and Noctourniquet. By the time I figured Zed and the Two Naughts, the last song from that era, the unforeseen self titled album was already out.

[@chiclespateyro]

Awesome album. Awesome video.

[@johnbond8909]

This album from start to end is fucking insane man.

[@Cugelclever]

Thanks for this. ORL is my favorite guitarist at the moment.

[@Casey3-P-O]

I never understood why this wasn't one of their best to other fans, because this is my favorite album by them. Tetragrammaton is my favorite song by them. It took me a while to learn to play on guitar.

[@azurezeed]

This is my favorite album of TMV, didn't know some people didn't like it smh

[@cgafken]

I got into The Mars Volta right before Amputechture was released. I found the album different but very captivating. The writing is great and the musicianship is next level. We forget that a prog band by definition should be pushing their boundaries, and that’s what they always have done.

[@churrodlh]

They're back baby!!! Can't wait to see them in LA in October! Btw, this is my favorite album... Hands down!!🤘🏼

[@Mizzle420420]

Storm Thorgonson also did the art and packaging designs for most of Pink Floyd's studio albums such as Animals, Dark Side of the Moon, Wish You Were Here, Atom Heart Mother, and The Wall (The Wall also had a bunch of art from Gerald Scarfe)

[@theminakins815]

Also, francis is also a tribute to a dead friend, all the stories tie in together and it's based on that friend finding a diary in a car when he was working as a repo truck driver. The diary strangely reflected things within his own life in ways that shouldn't have been possible.

[@Guitarisforgrins]

This might be my favourite MV album.

[@mjj6976]

Grossly underrated album. Amazing video

[@doomerius1300]

I freaking love this motherfucking album!

[@joshuawand3217]

To me, the intro solo in Tetragrammaton is probably one of the weirdest and challenging riffs I've had to learn. but still a great learning experience!

[@ericalangarcia]

I just listened to this album recently and I fucking loved it and even gave it a few more listens after!

[@rudimentaryprobing5423]

Ive said this before on another of Lie's videos, but I think this is Mars Volta's best album!

[@Soul_Patrol]

Hey Lie, what ever happened to your desert rock video essay? been looking for it for and I can't find it

[@fran7cuerdas675]

I got hooked with Mars Volta listening to Amputechture, it is a great album, specially for new listeners in my opinion.

[@kodycox6780]

my favorite album!!

[@areamusicale]

I saw them playing live and I was mostly struck by the virtuosity of the drummer.

[@douglasquaid2548]

My favorite album!

[@_-_-_-Prof.BoskoBiathi-_-_-_]

For ur work and documetaries of MARS VOLTA,.i subscribed,.u got me,..

[@audiofunkdialect]

This was the only album I ever bought by them. It’s definitely the dissonant scales that he plays in it that turns people off. Think of it more as a piece of art.

[@jimmyshrimbe9361]

Damn that Philly concert is awesome! Thanks for sharing.

[@Drluciferwoo]

I was there. And it was amazing. One of my favorite shows ever. They even had added a second Philly date. So I saw it twice in 3 days.

[@LieLikesMusic]

@@Drluciferwoo Man i really envy you. Not a lot of bands can pull off what these guys did

[@Drluciferwoo]

Well cedric a little big ago was saying him and omar where in the studio again for a possible new album. So if all goes well they will be back on tour. Im lucky to say ive seen them 6 times. 2005 shows were the best. The last shown i seen them was for octahedron. And it wasnt the best show. Cedric was no longer at his peak vocally and omar did not seem into it.

[@theoldblood3804]

I saw them in 05 and it was outrageous

[@ArcaneStrain]

Great video, PLEASE do one about Bedlam in Goliath next, it’s my favourite album! 👍

[@LieLikesMusic]

For sure! That's my favorite too!

[@ArcaneStrain]

@@LieLikesMusic Awesome!

[@MiguelGarcia-yv4ik]

Tetragrammaton is the bands master piece my fave song is just pure riff adrenaline different stages throughout the song, again, masterpiece

[@cbr9914]

easily my fav volta record

[@thebendu33]

The leaving of Jon Theodor was what killed the band for me. Even if they had some crazy good drummers after him, the never sounded the same to me. Instead of having a drummer with soul, and a lot of feeling, they ended up with a drum technician.

[@markcrawford8424]

viscera eyes is a reworked version on jacob van lennepkade from omars previous solo release

[@Lightningfootjones]

Dang I never put that together before, but yeah I can hear that

[@wfmusic5446]

Very Good

[@utssavshanmugam1587]

This is one of the best albums they made. There aren't any big singles though. I just heard they are reforming and I think they should do whatever it takes to get John Theodore to join.

[@jamesbeveridge4493]

The song with the Lyrics from Day of Baphomets is on KZbin on a comp album of unreleased material called A Missing Chromosome. Song is called A PLAGUE UPON YOUR HISSING. It slaps!

[@rossdixon]

I spent about a year when this came out when I would listen to Vicarious Atonement and Tetragrammaton at least once a day.

[@edwinniz]

You could have talked about Blake Fleming He played with the band while the Theodore situation was going on

[@TMVowns]

You mean he tracked the drums for the songs too.

[@edwinniz]

he didnt Theodore recorded

[@masterbeat04]

Lol Juan hates that guy

[@Iggxzy]

My favorite Volta album.

[@nixonismyhero]

My favorite TMV album.

[@Benprogfuse]

Paul Hinojos also played on The Bedlam in Goliath.

[@vicjames3256]

When this album first came out, I liked it, but was I thought it didn't live up to the first two near-perfect albums (yes, that includes the 30+ min last track in FtM, and minus all the noise [re: "intermissions"].) However, this has since been in my top 3; Bedlam won my heart back when it was released, but has since lost its spot. "Day of the Baphomets" alone runs through every style in their earlier discography, and is probably in my top-5 songs from them.

[@mulatso7959]

This one is my favourite by far

[@honeycomblord9384]

I'd love to see a video on Bedlam, or at least the story behind it.

[@laverledugger1563]

I love this album

[@anaveragebloke3996]

Please make about the deloused in comatorium i could never get what its story is and the lyrics are just all around the place

[@nameless592]

Viscera eyes is my favourite song. Period I can’t believe people don’t like this album

[@screenheads3812]

My faves in this order: FTM, DITC, AMP, the other three albums I didn’t care for. But I do love this new one, even though it sounds like a completely different band

[@nunestunes]

Very Zappa esque guitar work.

[@RotationsMusic]

I didn't know people could possibly dislike this album

[@SJ-ym4yt]

It’s really funny you should mention James Bond. I’ve always thought Desperate Graves sounded like a James Bond-theme song!

[@archstanton4365]

Veldi bra✌

[@DanielSantosAnalysis]

This is probably an unpopular opinion given that most fans tend to put Deloused or Frances as their number 1, but Amputechture is actually my favorite Mars Volta album, as you say it's a middle ground between the two aforementioned albums and to me, it feels like a natural progression that incorporates the greatest strengths of those two albums.

[@amrkafrawy85]

New to your page. Dunno if u did any videos on Sigur Rós and or The Last Shadow Puppets?

[@jls1337]

I saw them live 3 times. The first two they would just go crazy on the stage, jumping around and throwing stage furniture in the air. Musically the performances were not very good... Cedric couldn't hit the high notes; but the energy was there and it made you wanna move and dance. The last time I saw them they were more calm and collected: Cedric had a cup of tea next to the music stand or something and he hit all the high notes. That last performance was awesome in a new way.

[@markcrawford8424]

viscera eyes is a rework version of omars solo song jacob van lennepkade 1 and 2

[@v1cstar644]

Day of the Baphomets is my favorite song on the album. Juan Alderete is an underrated bass player.

[@redjay1146]

Best album

[@dogbert7193]

I don't quite understand the reputation of this album. Coming after Frances The Mute, it really isn't that much different than that album in my opinion. I don't really see how this was some kind of weird detour for them, they were already doing weird shit like this.

[@kerimbasegmez8101]

ooo very good

[@LieLikesMusic]

Thanks!