The Mars Volta - Cassandra Gemini (Reaction!!) Back on Volta! 

Ok ok, I was wrong about this band. Going to listen to this on my next bike ride. Support the show here www.patreon.com/poloreacts or show your love for the channel by buying me a coffee www.buymeacoffee.com/poloreacts 🤞🏾

This whole album is an absolute masterpiece!

I respect the dedication to a proper listen. TMV is complicated. Personally, this is one of my favorite bands. When friends aren't into them, I get it.

The Mars Volta was by far the best concert I have ever seen. No opener, just 3 hours straight of music. I honestly feel like Omar didn't stop the whole time. I still remember seeing Cedric sipping on his tea when he wasn't singing

The "composer" Rodriguez-Lopez said of the song: "Ever since I was a teenager, and had various listening experiences with the likes of King Crimson, John Coltrane, and Miles Davis's Bitches Brew, I've always wanted to do something like "Cassandra". Something deformed and out of control. Something enormous and violent, a whole album fitted into one composition. Something ruthless that no one can remain careless to." And that's such an incredible description of the track. But props for giving TMV another chance! They definitely aren't for everyone, and even too much at times for those of us who love them haha they really love their ambient sound at times. And the abrupt switchup at the end was bringing back a melody from an earlier track to end off the album.

This is probably the best 30 minutes of music ever put together!

This whole album, Frances the Mute, is worth listening from beginning to end, my favorite from them.

Thanks to whoever made the donation!!!!!!!

I have never gotten over Cassandra Gemini.

One of the best Albums ever written

I saw The Mars Volta open for System of a Down in 2005 when they were touring in support of this album, Frances the Mute. It was one of the most stunning performances I've ever seen. I had been a fan since their first album but my brother came with me to see System and wasn't a fan of Mars Volta before the show. They won him over.

Juan Alderete going insane on that bass

"Organized Chaos" is the best description I can think of when trying to describe The Mars Volta's earlier work.

And just in case you didn't figure it out, that ending with the acoustic is the way the whole album ends, which is also how the whole album begins on the song "Cygnus...Vismund Cygnus" - it's amazing, god I love this band more than I can put into words.

Polo I gotta give you MAD Respect for diving into the deep end of The Mars Volta on your second listen! I truly credit this band with saving and changing my life. When I was introduced to them in the early 2000's I was in a dark place and this music has inspired and uplifted me so much that I will never be able to repay these musicians. You mentioned probably hearing different stuff after 50 listens and I can confirm that even after 100's of listens I still hear surprising bits throughout their music. Thank you so much for giving them another shot. I look forward to this rabbit hole sir. Give their underrated song "Agadez" a listen when you get the chance.

You are the most musically brave reactor on RU-vid to get to this song! One of my faves from them. So many levels of complexity. I recommend Take the veil Cerpin Taxt( the final track from another album of theirs). Great vid!

This was my pump up song before soccer games in HS. It was a roller coaster of emotion during warm ups and then a fucking climax at the end to get ready for gametime. So psyched that you dig this

I was so stoked when I saw this. Glad you gave them another shot, Polo. Volta is special.

Juan Alderete on bass just killing it. He used to play bass in Racer X with. Paul Gilbert. You should definitely check them out.

When you love rock and realize you love jazz! Lol

i love how you recognize the brilliance of cedric's vocals on this record. he was on another planet vocally. i love this

Finally!!! I told you, this is much more Mars Volta than your last reaction.

Loved this reaction. TMV is one of the greatest bands of the 00s. And they are back

When i heard you say that you tried the mars volta already, i assumed someone wasted your time and suggested intertiatic ESP and thought that this was going to be trainwreck, and i was ready to fight whoever suggested Inertiatic ESP because it always happens with reaction content creators and TMV reactions. Then i saw that you listened to Cicatriz ESP, then I KNEW FOR A FACT this was gonna be a trainwreck. I was pleasantly surprised that you thoroughly enjoyed this. It is my all time favorite album and piece of theirs. To see someone get it and sit through and listen gives me joy.

I´ve listened this song live and on drugs, LOL, and YES, it was a crazy journey. A life changing experience.

You liked the Mars Volta quicker than I did. I tried a few times in high school, thought nope it's not for me. It took me over a decade and now they're my fav band. Weird how it sometimes takes a bit for the ears to click with something so complex.

You say you’re not a musician, but you definitely are. Being a musician is not about playing a particular instrument, its about hearing. You have a great ear. That makes you a musician.

Holy shit you did it! Crazy awesome stuff IMO

This was the best album they ever did, and I wish Jon Theodore would’ve never left.

Got to see them when they had just started as the Mars Volta, they were opening for Perfect Circle, and Cedric was dancing nonstop like James Brown and singing those crazy notes too… great damn show!!!

Try L'via L'viaquez next! That one has a lot going on at once but less than this one. Its super rad

Check out Roulette Dares from their first album. That whole album is a classic. I would have started you off with a song with a little more structure. These guys can get a little chaotic and all over the place sometimes but they're amazing musicians. They're one of my favorite bands, and Tool is my number one so I'm glad you're back on board. I knew you would

TMV challenges you to flow with them on their grove. It’s like wrestling a tempest but once you know the dance you’re just a part of the storm.

@Polo you are not alone. I've been invited to a gig of The Mars Volta, 15 years ago, and damn... It was one of the worst expiriences i've made. Well... I guessed so. A few years later i listend again to them... And gosh... I've never been so wrong. I guess you have to be ready for them... The first time they are just overwhelming... But if you start to let loose and dive in they are just amazing. 😉

The Mars Volta has been secret handshake in music for years now! 🤙

Oh shit! Saw the title and knew this was why I am a constant watcher and subscriber!! TMV are insanely underrated! You bit off a lot here!

Can't believe you did an hour long reaction to Cassandra Gemini hahaha amazing!

If you know how this track was produced... Insane...

This is the first video i watch from your channel. Cassandra Gemini! Never heard something like this. The cover art of the album has a nice “game, twice the same image, but with a lot of little differences. This is o e of my favoritw bands, ever. Lucky enough to have seen them all the times they came to Chile, and even once in Turin, Italy. They are amazing. Thanks for the video

Once TMV clicks for you, they’ll hook you real hard and pull you thru some unbelievable experiences. The first two albums are back to front amazing. The next two are great with a miss or two. They may be better at creating groovy madness than any other band.

@poloreacts . The 40 coffee's was a small price to pay to have one of my favourite reactors experience the full Magnum Opus of TMV! I saw you'd done a previous Mars Volta Reaction, and I knew you had to give them another chance. As i mentioned in my message, I was confident that you'd enjoy this song, and once you did, you'd give The Mars Volta another shot and explore at least their first few albums, because they are some of the best music every recorded. I'm only halfway through the reaction, but I have NOT been disappointed thus far! Thank you Polo! Looking forward to watching you react to the rest and then your thoughts afterwards 😁

So happy you're starting to jive with TMV. They can certainly be obtuse, but they are absolutely unique and worth spending some time with.

Its like you got your black belt in two years BRO!

I saw them live and after their set people in the restroom were saying that was the worst music they ever heard. then I told them that they do not even realize what awesomeness in the music world they just experienced

“I think these guys stopped my pendulum..” dude absolutely incredible video. Probably my favorite yet, even though I love the tool videos, it felt like listening to this again for the first time. So much love for going the distance and listening to this epic closer from frances the mute. The first time I saw them in 2005 they played cassandra and it felt like an hour of deliciousness. Polo I think you should check out HUMMER by THE SMASHING PUMPKINS!!

The production and composition and arrangement that went into this stuff is absolutely insane. The entire first part of the song is the weirdest, creepiest, yet somehow still the prettiest Spanish influenced stuff I have ever heard in my life. It's like alien bossanova or something

Wow wow wow. Glad someone paid you. This is a masterpiece. Glad you finally he a rd their Brilliance. When you talked about church. Woah. The pendulum stopped. These guys are the fucng real Deal lol. Imagine huge rush and tool fan. These guys are like zep mixed with tool and Rush. Love these guys on shrooms

Anyone else notice that he started talking about women throwing their wigs in church at the part in the song that says, "you'll wear the widow's weaves"?

LET'S GOOOOO!!!!! My efforts were not wasted!!!! I'm glad I took that first bullet! Love you man, keep it all rolling! If you ever go back to Cicatriz, you'll realize what you cut short and missed out on man. It's one of the BEST payoff come backs ever. I promise.

Who listens to a half hour long song? You do. That's who. Look at you. You're doin it..

I like how he gets pumped every time Ikey Owens rips on the keys. Growing up baptist that must be hitting something in him. I don't know if he ever calls out the keys. RIP to a beast

I’ve been a fan of The Mars Volta for 15 years and your perms-stank face says it all! lol

I'm so glad you did this one! This is my favorite album of all time, easily.

I've never really listened to them, but this makes me want to jump in the deep end and sink to the bottom. Just drown in their awesomeness. Wow...🤘🤘🤘

YES!!!!! I was looking for your channel to see if you did more Volta stuff. I'm so glad you gave them another chance!!!

This is above and beyond my all time favorite album and the most important album to my musical development.thank you so much for reacting to this! This made day!

I've heard TMV for the first time in 2020. Since then, in some point, this band turned out to be my favorit band fr

They do take some getting into, I wasn't that fussed by them but my now ex really liked them, so I'd hear tracks around the house and cd's in the car. They've got a good groove and intensity. I do recommend watching a live track though because they really freak out on stage.

Octahedron is another killer album front to back.. the thing with mars volta more than any other band you'll ever listen to apart from maybe 12 ft ninja, you never know what you're getting one verse to another let alone one song to another.. they are true prog

Saw them live just two days ago....still trying to process lol....Awesome

Im happy for you. Welcome to the world of volta.

If you listened to this album and you liked it, you should know that it's a concept album which tells the story of an adopted son named Vismund Cygnus who, after finding out that he was adopted, he starts trying to find out who his mother was and what happened to her. It was actually written in a journal that was found in a car that a band member was working on, in his car repair shop (I'm not too sure about this part, it may have been a different care related job that he was doing but the point is that he found this journal in a car) and the band turned it into an album. If you're interested, you should look into the story. It's a very interesting and very dark story. Many parts of it are based on speculation since Cedric's lyrics can be very abstract and he hasn't confirmed anything about it. But, in my opinion, it's still very interesting to learn about it, even if a big part of it is theories. Cassandra Gemini is the conclusion to this story and once you find out how the story ends, this already incredible, mindblowing song, will have even more of an impact on you. At least it did for me.

Well done man...I had it on in the background and I'm impressed you enjoyed it! It's a phenomenal track, go check out their albums....It's a slow builder bit by bit. The first song on this album is sickening..Mindblowing.

All of my favorite music was off putting at first. The natural instinct when hearing something very unusual is to recoil but after a few repeated listens, things start to click into place.

Sounds like they are missing a few seconds between "Cassandra Gemini: Multiple Spouse Wounds" and "Cassandra Gemini: Sarcophagi" (which is a refrain of the opening track to the album "Cygnus...Vismund Cygnus"). It's split up into 8 tracks on the album. The few seconds you are missing is a rest with reverb that would make more sense as a transition. You did the entire 2nd side in one sitting. Do yourself a favor and start it proper with other 3 (only!) tracks.

HAHA! Round 2! I love TMV but get why some (most) people don't!

37:00 in. That bass sounds like the great Black Sabbath.

This is the greatest song to listen to on LSD

..."That part's uncomfortable." I laughed so hard. Way to go Polo.

I love this song so much when I first heard this song I could not believe how long it was cuz it did not feel like that at all.

you're gonna be surprised when we tell you, most of the TOOL army, are fans of this band. To me, TOOL and TMV are in the Top 5

This song on weed great. On shrooms. Hell fckng yeah

I don't think there is any other song I have listened to more than Cassandra Gemini

lmao i only had a couple friends in the 00's that appreciated this album as much as I did! Sooooo good

You need to do. Day of the baphomets please 🙏

Sometimes when I listen to these guys the singer sounds like Mickey mouse but when you listen there are so many levels. It's never one song it's a multitude of different things going on. Brilliant musicians.

My favorite from this band is "Take the Veil Cerpin Tact". You should also check out "Goliath" sooner than later.

Glad you like it. IMO, this whole song is the logical end game of the whole rock and roll genre. First time I heard it I was laughing too, hahaaa. It’s a crazy triumph, thanks for giving it a chance! TMV was on the fence for me until I heard this

Love playing this song on drums.

"we got alien music, jazz and funk all together"

Would love to watch u react to the whole album. Actually the first 2 albums. Both on my top 10 all-time.

Instant like

I'm so glad you gave it another chance my man. You need to see them live they are touring for the 20th anniversary of their first album. All of their music is meant to be listened to by the whole album not tracks. I'm glad you enjoyed Cassandra Gemini. Honestly listen to their albums in their entirety. I saw them in Pittsburgh and they were absolutely incredible. 🖤💛

Feel like I’m listening for the first time again with a mate! Great video

He said “the Carolina wine mixer” he’ll yes 😊

Eriatarka is my favorite song by them. I think it's probably one of the more accessible songs too. Maybe that would be a good one to check out.

I’ve failed several times to turn friend onto TMV. Watching your turn around is very validating.

The Mars Volta "The Widow"...Nuff Said.

49:49 In the original the chorus fades abruptly and then there's a second of silence before this guitar piece kicks in as a coda, the guy who uploaded the song decided he didn't like this and sewed them together resulting in this

"That part's uncomfortable" 😂

Loved this! I saw them twice ....cried both times it was so good. 😂❤

Dope band and reaction!

This song is a straight up banger.

France’s the Mute is a fucking Masterpiece.

Great reaction video - I saw them live in this tour - my wife and a couple of friends came along… I thought they were awesome - my wife was not impressed.

Watching people discover the mind melting wonder that is TMV has become my new favourote pasttime 😂 based on your opening comments i was afraid ypu wouldnt like it, but given that its almost an hour long i figured you at least hung in there for dear life 😂 loved seeing your reaction and how much you dig their particular brand of beautifal insanity 😄 new to your channel, if you habent already then definitely listen to De-loused in the Comatorium (start to end!) and... if you dare, Bedlam in Goliath 🔥 I was fortunate to see these guys live for the first time in London very recently, and my god what a show! Their albums are perfect as they are, but TMV as a band are enjoyed at their best as a live act, totally surreal experience!

i took shrooms at a mars volta concert in amsterdam. it was…. intense

More Volta!

I'm so glad that you gave TMV second chance and you liked it. TMV is my top 3 right after Tool and APC. I hope to see many more TMV reactions. All the best!

For giving this song a real shot and making a video for it, I'm subscribed forever.