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. 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
  2. ValerieM
    Mar 31, 2005
    10
    It is awesome! Something different and refreshing, finally!
  3. Laura
    Mar 30, 2005
    10
    This album is a breath of fresh air amidst the stagnant idiotic fluff that tries to pass itself off as music nowadays. Pop tartlets and angst ridden pseudo-guitarists/songwriters come a dime a dozen, but Cedric and Omar have taken music and made it flesh that feeds the soul.
  4. SherrellS
    Mar 30, 2005
    9
    I love it so much and its amazing! What I really love is that they put their hearts and souls into this album. Unlike other bands, The Mars Volta didn't just put it out to sell it. I was really surprise of the outcome of this cd. I love the mars volta!!!!
  5. jaimev
    Mar 30, 2005
    10
    Fantastic. Superb in almost all aspects.
  6. kyokot
    Mar 30, 2005
    10
    i was terrified because i didn't think anything could measure up to deloused in the comatorium but geez, i'd say this album is as good or better - amazing writing (music and lyrics), musicians that are fantastic on their own and almost unbelievably ood together and a singer that can sing sweetly and scare the shit outta me at different points of the same song. bravo, bravo, i was terrified because i didn't think anything could measure up to deloused in the comatorium but geez, i'd say this album is as good or better - amazing writing (music and lyrics), musicians that are fantastic on their own and almost unbelievably ood together and a singer that can sing sweetly and scare the shit outta me at different points of the same song. bravo, bravo, bravo. loooove TMV.… Expand
  7. NYGus
    Mar 30, 2005
    9
    A superb album-best I've heard by anyone in a very long time.
  8. JonH.
    Mar 28, 2005
    6
    Takes some getting use to, but it's not that bad, i doubt it will last in my collection though. I would love for this band to actually write real songs, y'know, one's that don't take up 30 minutes of my time.
  9. joshuah
    Mar 28, 2005
    10
    i get high as fuck to it.(its the shit)!
  10. JoshC
    Mar 28, 2005
    10
    crazy but it sounds fucking great
  11. IsaiahC
    Mar 27, 2005
    10
    The Mars Volta prove once again why they are the best band since Led Zeppelin. Seventy-seven minutes of pure genius is what Frances the Mute is. The Mars Volta make ALL current bands seem like a poor joke--not to put down all the other bands out there, it's just that The Mars Volta are THAT good. No, scratch that, They are absolutely GREAT. If only more bands were as great as The Mars Volta.
  12. LewisS
    Mar 27, 2005
    9
    Spectacular use of musical wizardry. 13minute salsa infused operas show that Mars Volta are very much in an elite league of their own.
  13. manuels
    Mar 26, 2005
    10
    it´s very addictive...
  14. PeterB
    Mar 26, 2005
    9
    God I'm tired of reading pretentious reviews from individuals whose sole purpose in life is to seek validation that perhaps they were responsible for defining a new music genre. Just listen to the bloody music. This is different from anything that's come out for a long time. So what if it's made up of bits that have come before? What isn't these days? To sum up - just God I'm tired of reading pretentious reviews from individuals whose sole purpose in life is to seek validation that perhaps they were responsible for defining a new music genre. Just listen to the bloody music. This is different from anything that's come out for a long time. So what if it's made up of bits that have come before? What isn't these days? To sum up - just awesome, if you can just get rid of that chip on your shoulder!… Expand
  15. Privatesorry
    Mar 25, 2005
    10
    Mars Volta is one of the best rock groups to come around in a long time. Frances the mute just proves their genius.
  16. AndyM
    Mar 23, 2005
    10
    fascinating and rockular. Iuv dis shit...
  17. tadm
    Mar 23, 2005
    10
    all the critics that didn't give this a 10 or 100 are retards this is the best display of drumming guitar playing in recent memory this is the first talented band that had been concieved in the 00's
  18. NickT
    Mar 22, 2005
    9
    Dont judge this album unless you have listened to it many times. you also have to listen to the whole thing at once, which can be a challenge at 76 minutes of music. When i first listened to it i thought it was crap, but after repeated listenings i found it was great, not as good as de-loused, though.
  19. NathanS
    Mar 22, 2005
    10
    This is the best damn cd ever made mother fuckers!
  20. Shawnaq
    Mar 22, 2005
    10
    This is the most amazing album I've ever heard. Period. The Mars Volta never disappoints.
  21. JF
    Mar 20, 2005
    9
    An excellent atidote to formula based music. Not suitable for public with short attention span or preconceived ideas of what a "song" should be like.
  22. tomtom
    Mar 20, 2005
    9
    absolutely brilliant. It could be said that the variety and difference in critic ratings is a testament to its brilliance. Not everyone gets it. They view music and the world in a way very few do, because of this the masterpiece they have created often falls upon deaf ears. Not as good as deloused, but nothing ever will be. Deloused, along with Pink Floyd the wall and dark side, arew the absolutely brilliant. It could be said that the variety and difference in critic ratings is a testament to its brilliance. Not everyone gets it. They view music and the world in a way very few do, because of this the masterpiece they have created often falls upon deaf ears. Not as good as deloused, but nothing ever will be. Deloused, along with Pink Floyd the wall and dark side, arew the greatest cd's ever created. Their brilliance will trancend generations, forever giving a voice to the musicians who dont make a cd with the one hit pop shit....a voice for those who make moments, make classics. For volta, it's all about the creative flow, the experience. And my how they have succeeded.… Expand
  23. AndrewB
    Mar 19, 2005
    10
    21st century led zepplin. Finally an album which flows from start to finish, no gaps! Just like a brilliant book that you don't want to put down, you'd feel you were doing this album a great injustice if you were to turn it off before its brilliance had concluded. From start to finish there is constantly pieces of music and possibly the best vocals ever heard that simply take 21st century led zepplin. Finally an album which flows from start to finish, no gaps! Just like a brilliant book that you don't want to put down, you'd feel you were doing this album a great injustice if you were to turn it off before its brilliance had concluded. From start to finish there is constantly pieces of music and possibly the best vocals ever heard that simply take your breath away. I doubt there would be any other band in the world game enough nor good enough to produce a 32 minute song, let alone classic. Cassandra Gemini alone could have been released as the album and it would still be considered in my opinion as one of the greatest this year. As brilliant as At the Drive In were, you can't help but be thankful for their split after hearing this unique masterpiece. Frances the Mute is what Mars Volta should sound like, listening to De-Loused again you can't help but feel that it was the crossover album between At the Drive In and The Mars Volta, which is why Frances is the better album. 10/10 This albums out of this world, so do yourself a favour and go get it. The only band capable of releasing anything better in 2005 would be Tool, but it'd take a great effort.… Expand
  24. travisb
    Mar 17, 2005
    10
    this album is refreshingly original. I think that one cannot truly appreciate the music on this CD without listening to it from beginning to end. Personally, I rank this as one of its greatest strengths, but I can see how some people more grounded in a pop-music sensibility might find this aspect tedious. They definitely try very hard (successfully, I might add) to break the cliche 3 this album is refreshingly original. I think that one cannot truly appreciate the music on this CD without listening to it from beginning to end. Personally, I rank this as one of its greatest strengths, but I can see how some people more grounded in a pop-music sensibility might find this aspect tedious. They definitely try very hard (successfully, I might add) to break the cliche 3 minute pop-song mentality. I don't think it is possible to truly appreciate this album when confined to a one-song-per-track mentality. This album is definitely greater than the sum of its parts.… Expand
  25. JerradN
    Mar 17, 2005
    9
    Although this album is really great, I don't really like how there are so few and lengthy tracks. I had to split up the mp3s just so I could enjoy each unique section of the multi-part songs. Also, the music is a lot less structured, as I've heard a few people say, than what was on De-Loused, but overall, it is still an amazing album, and would not hesitate to recommend it to... Although this album is really great, I don't really like how there are so few and lengthy tracks. I had to split up the mp3s just so I could enjoy each unique section of the multi-part songs. Also, the music is a lot less structured, as I've heard a few people say, than what was on De-Loused, but overall, it is still an amazing album, and would not hesitate to recommend it to... anyone, really.… Expand
  26. StevenC
    Mar 17, 2005
    10
    THE MARS VOLTA I just have to say that I fucking love the mars volta. THE BEST BAND IN THE WORLD. Without a doubt. Completely unique, progressive and In no way repedetive or redundant. They dont need to focus the song on the chorus. Its just part of the flow of the story. The sound and the words come together in an almost hypnotic story. Some of wich can be sad at times and at other times THE MARS VOLTA I just have to say that I fucking love the mars volta. THE BEST BAND IN THE WORLD. Without a doubt. Completely unique, progressive and In no way repedetive or redundant. They dont need to focus the song on the chorus. Its just part of the flow of the story. The sound and the words come together in an almost hypnotic story. Some of wich can be sad at times and at other times It can be impowering and intense. But always a treat for the brain. Its almost like taking a trip through the world they've set up for you to interpret. An evolution in a positive direction. I've been a fan of these guy's since they were in At The Drive In. Its good to see a band grow into something so amazing. And they didnt sell out ONE BIT. A++++… Expand
  27. BartT
    Mar 17, 2005
    10
    Interestingly enough, all of the negative comments I have read in reviews have to do with the Mars Volta "showing off" or being "pretentious". Just because the lyrics are not blatantly obvious does not mean they are "showing off", it means they are "artistic". Just because most people are too ignorant and stale to appreciate abstract poetry does not mean that the Mars Volta fail as Interestingly enough, all of the negative comments I have read in reviews have to do with the Mars Volta "showing off" or being "pretentious". Just because the lyrics are not blatantly obvious does not mean they are "showing off", it means they are "artistic". Just because most people are too ignorant and stale to appreciate abstract poetry does not mean that the Mars Volta fail as musicians. The album pushes the boundaries of the floundering rock scene and has once again awoken creativity and art in music. "Cassandra Gemini" should be a dull 31 minute listen but is not that. The track begins intense, then slowly drifts into a dream like state before battling back. Then the track quickly drifts into this "dream world" (marked by the sloppy piano) before shifting course into a new world. Almost the entire 30 minutes is alive and enjoyable. I would have spent the money for that track alone. One criticism I have is "L'via l'vasquez" was a little too "traditional classic rock" for me and "Widow" was an obvious commercial track. The first and fifth track make this album an undeniable 10.… Expand
  28. MartinMedeskiandWud
    Mar 17, 2005
    0
    Horrible, disgusting piece of drivel. If you want good modern music check out Boards of Canada
  29. ChrisD
    Mar 16, 2005
    7
    People who don't like this can't be called closed minded - there is a lot of fantastic music here, but a hell of a lot of dross, and I can understand people not wanting to wade through 10 or more minutes of wanky turgid FX to reach a good song. I still love it, but the music is stretched too far. It'd be better, surely, to have concise(ish) songs on record, and enjoy the People who don't like this can't be called closed minded - there is a lot of fantastic music here, but a hell of a lot of dross, and I can understand people not wanting to wade through 10 or more minutes of wanky turgid FX to reach a good song. I still love it, but the music is stretched too far. It'd be better, surely, to have concise(ish) songs on record, and enjoy the musicianship and brilliant improvs in their live shows.… Expand
  30. Tristan
    Mar 15, 2005
    10
    Fantastic, even though I missed the concert this makes up for it in a massive way
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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 »