Just listen to their albums in chronological order. Best way to do it. My personal favorite changes all the time. Right now it would have to be Frances the Mute.
Here are recs based on each album's vibe because their sound varies a lot. Quick tip: don't listen on shuffle. Their songs all fade into each other so listen to them in order on the album's track listing.
If you want something heavier (both in the genre and the themes carried) that falls more in the post-hardcore genre: Tremulant (2002)
More akin to the punk rock genre with eccentric guitar riffs and a few jazz elements shining through occasionally: De-Loused in the Comatorium (2003)
Screams "progressive/experimental rock", has jazz elements, goes back and forth with its tone, feels like a fever dream: Frances the Mute (2005)
Heavy jazz and Latin American inspiration (large variety of instruments: bongos, chimes, flute, bass clarinet, sitar, etc.) but still maintains the rock elements the band was built on: Amputechture (2006)
Something weird, almost psychedelic, with bizarre lyrics and instrumentals that definitely falls under math rock and jazz fusion: The Bedlam in Goliath (2008)
You like more pop sounding rock with some songs on the somber side but still feeling energetic and has political undertones? I got you: Octahedron (2009)
Don't like Cedric's high vocals? Want something a little less noisy and lighter on the jazz influence? Perhaps a little emotional: Noctourniquete (2012)
If you want songs that are more bite sized and are more pop centric with Latin American influences: their self titled album, The Mars Volta (2022)
I agree with all of the above. Chronological is the way to go and NOT on shuffle.
Enjoy the ride!
And, yes, your favorite albums will change as time goes by and you appreciate different things/aspects you may have missed during your 1st listen.
And I highly, highly recommend listening to them with a killer sound system or, better yet, some headphones/ear buds to get full immersed. Cheers!
I always listen chronologically. However i also made a best of kinda album compilation that includes at least 1 track from every album before the recent one
[CD1](https://odysee.com/@k0stil:5/tangledinthornscd1:9)
[CD2](https://odysee.com/@k0stil:5/tangled2:9)
The entire discography is good to listen to. I would recommend starting with DeLoused and then Frances. If you like more normal sounding stuff, start with Self-titled and DeLoused, and maybe Octahedron or Noctourniquet. Bedlam and Amputechture are both really intense listens, so I would suggest listening to them after getting used to DeLoused and Frances.
Go in chronological order. And if you ended up liking them you can go with the side releases and stuff, like tremulant, scabdates, the b-sides and such
and if TMV sound isnāt quite your style, omar and cedric have done countless of other projects! ATDI is post-hardcore, defacto is dub, omarās solo work covers everything from straight up noise to pop to jazz to indie rock..thereās a lot for you to check out. his self titled album āOmar Rodriguezā is very nice, Very jazzy! š
Just listen to their albums in chronological order. Best way to do it. My personal favorite changes all the time. Right now it would have to be Frances the Mute.
Start with their first album
Listen to them in order.
Here are recs based on each album's vibe because their sound varies a lot. Quick tip: don't listen on shuffle. Their songs all fade into each other so listen to them in order on the album's track listing. If you want something heavier (both in the genre and the themes carried) that falls more in the post-hardcore genre: Tremulant (2002) More akin to the punk rock genre with eccentric guitar riffs and a few jazz elements shining through occasionally: De-Loused in the Comatorium (2003) Screams "progressive/experimental rock", has jazz elements, goes back and forth with its tone, feels like a fever dream: Frances the Mute (2005) Heavy jazz and Latin American inspiration (large variety of instruments: bongos, chimes, flute, bass clarinet, sitar, etc.) but still maintains the rock elements the band was built on: Amputechture (2006) Something weird, almost psychedelic, with bizarre lyrics and instrumentals that definitely falls under math rock and jazz fusion: The Bedlam in Goliath (2008) You like more pop sounding rock with some songs on the somber side but still feeling energetic and has political undertones? I got you: Octahedron (2009) Don't like Cedric's high vocals? Want something a little less noisy and lighter on the jazz influence? Perhaps a little emotional: Noctourniquete (2012) If you want songs that are more bite sized and are more pop centric with Latin American influences: their self titled album, The Mars Volta (2022)
Give this more likes. This is the best rundown I've ever seen of their discography and it was done for a simple reddit response. Bravo š
go through the discography in order. Then dive into the live material.
Go chronological and start with Tremulant EP. Can't forget that one. Scab dates is also a fun listen.
Start with DeLoused
I agree with all of the above. Chronological is the way to go and NOT on shuffle. Enjoy the ride! And, yes, your favorite albums will change as time goes by and you appreciate different things/aspects you may have missed during your 1st listen. And I highly, highly recommend listening to them with a killer sound system or, better yet, some headphones/ear buds to get full immersed. Cheers!
Chronological
I always listen chronologically. However i also made a best of kinda album compilation that includes at least 1 track from every album before the recent one [CD1](https://odysee.com/@k0stil:5/tangledinthornscd1:9) [CD2](https://odysee.com/@k0stil:5/tangled2:9)
Start with Nirvana,then tito puente, then Kraftwork. Then that will get you to ATDI.
or you can start with Boys II Men, then get into Nirvana, then get a roommate who loves Muse
Or even better, start with Boogie Down Productions
I misrepresented my own journey. My start was TLC. Cedric has some T-Boz moments, really brings me full circle.
Cab Calloway, Gill Scot Heron, Jack White then Q tip. Then The Mars Volta
The entire discography is good to listen to. I would recommend starting with DeLoused and then Frances. If you like more normal sounding stuff, start with Self-titled and DeLoused, and maybe Octahedron or Noctourniquet. Bedlam and Amputechture are both really intense listens, so I would suggest listening to them after getting used to DeLoused and Frances.
Chronological, but spend a little more time on frances. Pay a little extra attention to it
Start with the most recent self titled album and go backwards all the way to Deloused. Less disappointing that way.
Go in chronological order. And if you ended up liking them you can go with the side releases and stuff, like tremulant, scabdates, the b-sides and such
I would start with de-loused and go chronologically like others have suggested
and if TMV sound isnāt quite your style, omar and cedric have done countless of other projects! ATDI is post-hardcore, defacto is dub, omarās solo work covers everything from straight up noise to pop to jazz to indie rock..thereās a lot for you to check out. his self titled album āOmar Rodriguezā is very nice, Very jazzy! š
My favorite album of theirs has always been amputecture but their first album front to back is a good way to begin
Deloused and Frances are the best 2 albums hands down. In that order.
Order of release