Released: March 14th 2005

With a video that could induce nightmares, majestic guitars, and mournful lyrics, The Mars Volta have done it again. Churned out a song that can survive as a single that is.

Though taken from concept album, ‘Frances the Mute’, their second full-length release, the track stands strong on its own. It also manages to prompt contemplative thoughts and speculation despite the fact that the meaning behind the song has been clearly stated on the band’s web site.

Cedric Bixler-Zalava’s vocals evoke the image of a woman from times gone by, bewailing a loss while beating her breast. Not to say that that’s a bad thing. Taking the title into account, it’s even understandable in an eerie sort of way. And it may be the shortest track off the record that runs a million hours according to the band, but it’s not short enough. Cut down for radio play, it successfully sidesteps something as unappealing for the mainstream as two minutes of chaotic synth music and tends to get better after each subsequent listen.

Previously published on This Is Fake DIY.