Headphones: The Mars Volta Rock the World
The Mars Volta by Emily Monforte
Album of the Week
The Mars Volta by The Mars Volta: When people think of the Rock genre, they think of loud drums, distorted guitars, and very strong vocal lines. Although a lot of Rock artists stick true to this, there are many ways to experiment with the genre. The Mars Volta are an example of artists sticking true to Rock elements while making them applicable to other genres. Within the album, Rock elements are combined with R&B, Jazz, and Latin music. The diversity of the album is what makes it worth listening to.
There is no one song on this album that sounds the same as another. The point of this album isn’t to tell a story. It’s to show the sound of The Mars Volta, and how they are in the industry to innovate. The first song on the album, “Blacklight Shine” starts in a swing rhythm. The song is more driven by elements of Latin music. The percussion has layers of shakers, bongos, and claps. The bass stays in rhythm with the Latin-style percussion. These elements pay homage to their cultural backgrounds, and they combine this with their passion for Rock music. The vocals are also delivered in the style of Rock. They are layered beautifully, with well thought out harmonies and vocal arrangement.
Although it can be hard to decipher influences from the first track of an album, The Mars Volta resembles the likes of Led Zeppelin, Green Day, and Pink Floyd. At some parts of the song, the vocals remind me of John Lennon. Something that stands out about this song is the mixing. The drums are softer, background vocals are airier, and the guitars stand out while also being subtle. “Blank Condolences” is the next song that caught my ear. It starts out with an intricate drum groove. The bass line and chords are all jazz driven, which classifies this song as Progressive Jazz. It is very dynamic and has a clear structure. The verses are the softer points of the song, while the chorus is loud and strong. The instrumental is rather simplistic but rhythmically driven. This is balanced with soft, dynamic vocals that are smoother and more lyrical.
Although most of the album is acoustically driven, there are elements of electronic production incorporated into it as well. “Collapsible Shoulders” is electronically driven and falls within the Alternative Rock genre. There are many layered synthesizers, and the drums are mostly electronic. One can appreciate the diversity within this song. The switch from electronic to acoustic drums is seamless, along with the blend of electronic synths and electric guitars. It is important for people to be hearing this project because it pushes many boundaries of modern-day music. The Mars Volta are not afraid of taking listeners out of their comfort zones. After all, this is what needs to be done for music to evolve. The Mars Volta’s self-titled album can be considered a landmark in modern-day music. It manipulates the definition of the word ‘genre,’ along with the common perception of it.
Single of the Week
Madhouse by Nessa Barrett: Nessa Barrett began her career on social media. When she first started posting videos on TikTok, her followers didn’t know much about her musical background. Throughout her time on social media, the world has seen her ups and downs. She has been nothing but candid with her audience. Her rise in the music industry was inevitable. She releases music that speaks to herself and others. The world has been taken by storm by her work.
Madhouse is a song filled with meaning. Firstly, it is shorter than the average run-time of a song (which is 3 minutes and 30 seconds). So, it is short and sweet. The feelings of insanity, sadness, and wanting to numb your feelings are perfectly packed into the lyrics. Barrett does not sugarcoat the realities of struggling, which is admirable. A compelling aspect of the song is the juxtaposition between the darkness of the writing and the fast-paced instrumental. Although the lyrics exude pain, the instrumental offsets some of it by being fast and groovy.
By no means is the song perfect, but that is the essence of it. There is something attractive about the lack of perfection when it comes to Barrett’s vocal delivery. It is rough around the edges, but so are we as humans. In a song that talks about struggle, it is important to deliver vocals in a way that speaks to the meaning of the song. Her voice is of a softer tone, and she stays true to it. In the louder parts of the song, such as the chorus, she simply layers her vocals to give them more depth. She doesn’t have to perform vocal gymnastics to prove her talent, and that is admirable.
Her music production is something that I am constantly (and pleasantly) surprised by. Although newer to the music industry, Barrett has a very solid team behind her. The song is catchy and rhythmically driven. The melody is simple, and the instrumental is very punchy. The vocal mixing and layering aren’t overdone, and the melody itself plays with the underlying rhythm of the kick drums. There is no aspect of the instrumental that is hard on the ears. The snares are perfectly audible, yet not too trebly and unpleasant to listen to. The guitars are distorted, but they are not too loud or overpowering, and the leveling of the song is the best that it could be.
Nessa Barrett’s discography shows her improvement and love for making music. Her passion for music is what makes her discography so good. She has something to say, she’s worked hard to get to where she is. If she keeps up with her candidness and masterful writing, she will continue to rise.
Music Video of the Week
“Heaven” by Bazzi: Bazzi is someone who is incredibly talented. His voice and style are very distinct, and he has been in the industry for quite some time. “Heaven” by Bazzi is a light and airy Pop song. The music video is very visual and driven by emotion. The video reminds me of Maroon 5 and Cardi B’s, “Girls Like You”. Bazzi embodied the energy of this song and video and turned it into something more intense.
There is a lot of imagery in this video. The attention to detail is something that should be appreciated. The color palette is bright, and the overall tone of the video is very lighthearted. One can never get bored while watching the video. The eccentric cinematography and editing make it all the more interesting to watch. Something to notice is that Bazzi is not the main subject of this video. The video narrates the song with touching visuals, as opposed to Bazzi just singing it at the camera the entire time.
Bazzi pays homage to imperfection and loving someone for who they are. Everyone in the video is shown having fun and being comfortable in their own skin. I think this song spreads a message that is needed. In a time where dating is dominated by social media and dating apps, it can become easy to lose touch with the things that really matter. It has become rare to hear about true love, and this song reminds people to stay in touch with what really makes them happy and to let go of the superficial.
Bazzi is an artist who is underrated in the music industry. His songs and videos are a breath of fresh air and show off his range of creativity. This song and video can be classified as some of Bazzi’s best work. His honesty within his music keeps listeners grounded, and the world cannot wait to see what he has to say next.
