The new Mars Volta record, Lucro sucio; Los ojos del vacio, is out today. For selfish reasons, I wish it had been released one week earlier because I saw the band last Friday and their set was comprised entirely of this new collection of songs. They sounded great and these songs translated well in the live setting, but I wish I had the opportunity to connect with the record before catching them in person. Alas.

The songs on Lucro sucio are a significant departure from previous releases. Gone are the angular and edgy post-hardcore elements from the band’s early days. Instead, these new tunes offer a jazz-infused take that still rocks, albeit with softer edges.

The songs are mellow and smooth, and blend together into a vibe that is best appreciated in the gestalt. Cover to cover. There are 18 songs on the record, but it might as well be one extended track. Song starts and endings are blurred. They morph into each other with surprising ease.

Cedric’s voice is perhaps the strongest it’s been. He floats between low range and falsetto effortlessly, as key melodic themes re-emerge throughout the record. I hate the term ‘concept album’ but it feels like that in a very good way, thanks to Omar Rodriguez-Lopez’s strong musical direction and songwriting. In the live setting last week, Omar was like a mad scientist up on stage, jumping between instruments and conducting the band with the passion he’s become known for. You can hear that energy and passion in the Lucro sucio recordings.

This one will be in my heavy rotation for a while I think.