Okay, so this review is late, but if you're reading it, you obviously wanted another view of this album. Here goes.
The Bedlam in Goliath will not be shocking to long-time fans of The Mars Volta. It serves as a perfectly logical follow up to Amputechture. That being said, this album is amazing. Better than Amputechture, even. In fact, I'd be willing to say that whether you're a long time fan of the Volta, or maybe you've ever liked 10 seconds of their music and couldn't stand the rest, you will like The Bedlam in Goliath.
The album manages to be every bit as frantic as its predecessors (minus the horrible Frances the Mute), yet manages to finally form a cohesive chaos. Omar pulls it all together again, as producer and writer for the album, and he pulls it together well. Cedric's vocals are as spirited as ever, though it seems as though Omar finally realized that he, as producer, can do whatever he wants to the vocals at any time. There are a lot of interesting moments in the album where Cedric's vocals become a snarling amalgamation of the spiritual and the digital. Or as I like to think of it, Cedric becomes infested with a demon... Don't ask.
The lyrics are brilliant, and for the most part, it seems like Cedric's lyrical writing has expanded by great leaps into the direction of the coherent! I never saw this coming, not in a million years. This may be the album's greatest triumph. I, for one, never guessed that Cedric could write anything meaningful-sounding without reducing himself to the usefulness of a ten cent psychic medium. The lyrics on this album don't just flow, they are gorgeous. There are touches of the romantic and wistful on tracks like "Cavalettas" and "Tourniquet Man" (my favorite track, also the shortest).
Speaking of time, you know exactly what to expect from this band if you've ever heard an album by them. The Bedlam in Goliath runs a spectacular hour and 16 minutes, none of which is filler. Sure, there are a few long, drawn out breakdowns, but we accept this, and on this album more than the others, we embrace this. The Mars Volta has nearly turned the breakdown from a mere musical fascination reserved for instrumental aficionados into a full-fledged spiritual moment, one that the music could not be complete without. For the most part, it seems, though, the filler has been eschewed for momentous pieces that actually enhance the songs, rather than bring them to a standstill.
Again, this album is amazing, regardless of your past affinity for the band. I can only say so much, and still not be able to convince you. Go buy this album, now. At very least, borrow it from a friend. You won't regret it. Oh, and listen to the track "Ilyena" in the player on the right, as a special treat.
'It's only a matter of time and space, before I become your epidemic'
4.75/5.00
