The Mars Volta - Day Of The Baphomets (first listen and opinion) 

The musicians don't even know what they're playing when they recorded it. Omar the guitarist would have them play parts out of order so they never knew where in the song they were playing and how it was going to be put together. He's a mad genius

"Some lyrics to look at if I need to." That line got me.

"Didn't understand it, but i love it" That is how all TMV fans get in to the band :D :D

you think that was ambitious? Their "Cassandra Gemini" is 32 minutes long and is just as good!

Wonderful reaction. I've been a fan of the Mars Volta for almost 15 years now, and when I saw you were taking on "Day of the Baphomets" as your very first encounter with them, I admit that my first thought was, "Well, he's diving into the deep end here." It's such a disorienting roller coaster of a song anyway, and I'm sure it was compounded by not having any previous experience with them. But your assessment was right on the money-- there are most definitely elements of Latin music, funk, punk, prog, and psychedelic rock in their sound; the band has made no secret of Syd Barrett-era Pink Floyd's influence on them. As one of the other comments mentioned, Cedric's lyrics are, for the most part, cryptic and metaphorical, most of the time to the point of being impenetrable; that's a common thread through ALL of their music. If you're interested in diving deeper, I would highly recommend you check out something from De-Loused in the Comatorium. It's the first full album they did, and it's widely considered to be their magnum opus. My personal recommendations would be "Drunkship of Lanterns", "Eriatarka" or "Cicatriz ESP".

"How does a hand secrete a monument?" It's what they did when they recorded this track!

as someone who has played this song roughly 100 times a year for the past ten years. it was genuinely cool to watch you react to it for the first time

Welcome brother. You cant listen to anything else now. Mars volta forever . Uncrowned kings

Great reaction! Not many the Mars Volta reactions out there. Try 'take the veil cerpin taxt' 'cygnus vismund cygnus' and 'tetragrammaton'.

*Tetragrammaton stares from a distance*

Q: how does a hand secrete a monument? A: by building something.

Jon Theodore was the drummer here not Thomas pridgen like the pictures suggest.

It has all the notes. Most of them at the same time.

one of my all time fave mars volta tracks right here

Also the guitar playing was done by John frusciante of the rhcp. At least the recording for the album.

Judging by his face, he has multiple eargasms like I did the first time listening to this years ago.

The Mars Volta: because you're too cheap to buy your own acid. Bold first song by them but there aren't many safe choices to be fair. Bonkers and brilliant. My first time hearing volta was live and I remember way more about that than losing my virginity. ✌️

Surprised you actually enjoyed this song, TMV is an acquired taste for many. Some of their more accessible songs are Televators, The Widow, and Wax Simulacra. But if you enjoyed Baphomets, you'd probably like most their songs.

Dude you need to react to Roulette Dares and Cicatriz ESP by them.

I just love TMV. I have no idea why, but I just do. ...By the way, TMV works very well as a background music for house cleaning days. Puts you in that cleaning mania state. (Yeah ...My neigbours may think I'm a bit weird.)

“It was everywhere. It was everything. And it was brilliant”

I stopped many comments down and so far no one has told you what you need to know. AMPUTECHTURE MUST BE LISTENED FRONT TO BACK !!!!!!

"Well, I got a plan that'll make you theirs now..beneath sepulchers...raise your intrails as an offer." Love The Mars Volta!!!

TMV is one of the most under-rated bands.. I dont have one single friend that likes or understands it.

Diving into the deep end, lmao. It's great that you found the entrance to the rabbit hole that worked for you!

The more you listen the more you get it. It’s the ambience that throws people off. I’ve covered some songs live. My kid jams with me and gets it. It’s fun.

Definitely Check out Tetragrammaton and L'Via!

Try out Eriatarka by the Mars Volta. They have so many great songs, but if I had to pick one as my favorite that would be it

Bruh I was waiting for the congas to hit to see your reaction and it did not disappoint! 🤣🤣🤣 you looked like "it just keeps going" lol.

Mars Volta is huge! They do anything and just what they want! Love 'em! I want more! Try something from their album Frances the Mute.

I'm here for your face at 7:16. That part gets everybody. 🎶💞🔥

The Mars Volta is one of my faves. Thank you for your video, and your thoughts.

This is why they’re my favorite band!

This one is pretty out there for a first time listener. Gotta ease into this kinda stuff lol. You did well in grasping it all. Try Goliath by TMV. You wont regret it.

Glad you liked it man Mars Volta is killer. My favorite song is Eriatarka and then Frances The Mute I think you'd like both glad to watch a new volta fan be born!

Ya tiene un suscriptor desde México, saludos.

That hand drum solo outta nowhere is my faorite along with the bass guitar solo at the start. Goddamn

I loved that feeling the first time, too.

I am a huge mars volta fan and I willsay there have been times where I thought this song was a mesh of disjointed ideas and other times where I absolutely loved it. It def is a disjointed mess but every now and then a bit of mindless chaos is good.

I see a lot of requests to reactors for this band but it's rare that any actually do it. Kudos!

Try drunkenship of lanterns or the haunt of roulette dares from deloused in the comatorium. That's the album you should try. By the way, Flea and John Frusciante from RHCP played guitar and bass on the album you've just experienced. Immense.

Cicatriz and Take The Veil are MUSTS!

I love TMV more than I like my relationship with my neighbours.

The best feeling is when you like a song but don't know why. MIND = BLOWN. Isn't' this why we look for new music?

Great job dude. I was literally going to suggest TMV, but you beat me to it! Omar Rodriguez Lopez is my all time favourite guitarist. Don't bother too much with the lyrics, Cedric uses his voice more like an instrument, the lyrics themselves are completely cryptic/metaphors. When I first encountered them as a 15 year old in At The Drive In, I knew they were something special. They ended up breaking up at that gig and I was shattered. But, out of the ashes, rose one of the most amazing prog rock groups of all time. Shoutout for Jon Theodore (the drummer), who along with Danny Carey, is on another level. Anyway, long story short, after 16 years ATDI reformed and I finally got to see them again. It was amazing watching Omar shred their old material, with all he learnt in the TMV. Keep up the great work! ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-XFpE6L1SBIM.html

Possibly my favorite album I've ever heard

Thanks, Jim! Great reaction!

Juan Alderete de la Peña... my man

You should totally do a video with Cassandra Gemini. One of the greatest epic tracks of all time.

My first song was Day of the Baphomets, I was absolutely demolished

"You know what it's about" No, we don't. Still one of my absolute favorite songs of all time. Got the album a few days before it came out (had a record store that would break street date and sell CDs as soon as they came in), haven't stopped listening to it since.

The enjoyment he's expressing hasn't left me in almost 20 years

Brilliant, have you been through any of David Maxim Micic's work? I'd totally recommend "Where is Now" from "Bilo 3.0". Some seriously well thought out progressive sections and themes. Much love from Cumbria

I can’t believe you guys got him started with Amputechture. You should know better than that!

O hey, Jim, if you haven't received an answer for,"How does a hand secrete a monument?. While Cedric was adamant about the lyrics being an accommodation to the harmonies and melodies, I've personally understood it as, "The worst/least thoughtful of my creations may be hoisted beyond reproach."

wow your reaction was so geniune, I watched the whole thing. never expected this would be a good way to get into TMV but I'm so happy that you liked it

How does a hand secrete a monument? Good question Jim, good question...

I just commented these two song suggestions on another video, but I'll repeat them here because I just realized they're both really much more mellow songs than the Mars Volta songs you've already done. And they are, firstly, "Televators" (the penultimate track of De-loused in the Comatorium that leads into "Take the Veil, Cerpin Taxt." And secondly, "Empty Vessels Make the Loudest Sound" from Noctourniquet. Both of these songs would make great companion reaction videos to complement the more frenetic songs you've already done on the channel. It'd really be a great way to compare different types of songs from the same group. Thanks, sir, & keep it up! 😃

it's "everywhere, and everything" true that. Wonderful video !

If you want the haunting beautiful Mars Volta listen to Televators or The Widow

When I heard you say this would be your first go at Mars I was skeptical of how you would receive Day of the Baphomets. I have to say I don’t think I’ve ever heard or read of anyone listening to anything other than Deloused in the Comatorium for the first time. Watching your reaction to this made me see this song, which I’ve heard and loved for years, in a totally new way. Enjoyed it very much. Not saying you have to review anymore (you totally should), but in your own time you should check out Deloused in it’s entirety. Promise you’ll have a very fulfilled hour. Rick Ruben co-produced it with Omar.

MV is at its best when Cedric doesn't sing in high speed (sounds almost like he's on helium, while when not that hectic he is able to shine) and Omar doesn't overdo it with his deconstruction solos. But definitly adore their attempts on making music with a free spirit like Zappa and sorts. Oh - and Jim, please keep going. I like your laid-back attitude. Have lots of recommendations, but actually i think your choices are on spot of being different to other channels. Keep that!

The fact day of the baphomets was your most recommended shows you got some real Volta fans watching your channel!

"hey I'd like to learn to swim" "oh hey, I deep sea diving in the pacific ocean, come with me!" -Mars Volta fans LOL.. This is such a non-beginner TMV song

Can't believe this is the first song you chose XD

You should do a reaction for Liquid Tension Experiment's Paradigm shift!!!

My favorite song!

Don't ever try and examine the lyrics you'll only end up confused

The lyrics is about a paranoia gotten in LSD

This is my favorite reaction so far.

Exactly!!! when you make sense of it, you will shamed in to taking so much time trying to make sense of it when the answer was so simple. The Mars Volta is taking you somewhere.. Just go. Dont look back.

I'm almost jealous of and extremely happy for this individual within the same thought. I remember my first reaction to The Mars Volta and the excitement and pure sensory deprivation I experienced afterward. To relive that again would be fantastic, but I'm very happy to see another experience it!!

14:44 - lol, your first reaction was "FINALLY, IT'S OVER!" before you caught yourself. As a TMV fan who digs this song that's totally understandable. It's a bit much at times, and I would think twice before playing it to someone uninitiated in the band. Best to start off with Cicatriz ESP or Roulette Dares from their first album honestly.

may i suggest king gizzard and the lizard wizard - alter me live on KEXP and Scissorlips by rishloo. Much love from Greece

the knife - a tooth for an eye (swedish woman electronic music 6/4 time signature different. i think you'll like it. )

"How does a hand secret a monument? " I'm dying and why have I never asked myself this??? 🤯

Perhaps some Maudlin of the Well, or Kayo Dot might be up your alley.

Wow. I never noticed the lower vocal track at 6:07. Guess I've been using the wrong speakers.

Fuck yeah! More Mars Volta please. No other reaction channs are doing it, be the driving force to show them wassup!

Jim aka Fozie Bear... THANK YOU! You are cool

Well, out of all the possible songs to have chosen by TMV, you managed to pick one of the most discordant, chaotic songs they've ever done. It's also a personal favourite, so I find it great, I think you'd get a kick out of L'Via L'Viaquez, Cicatriz Esp or Viscera Eyes.

Lovely headphones. I’m looking for some new ones, would you or anyone else be able to let me know what these are?

wow, that was really crazy and special. I loved and hated it at the same time, a mark of true greatness ! xD As a fairly new subscriber I really enjoy your channel. found some very interesting music i would prb have never listened to otherwise.

pretty sure listening to music like this and tool saved me from being prescribed adhd medication while growing up. lol. i have an overactive mind but since a young age have used complex music to pacify that imbalance.

This is tied with Frances the Mute(title track) and Take the Veil for their best song. Pure, controlled insanity.

Love your channel, Jim. New sub here. Glad to have found you!

You look like Stefan Molyneaux. More Volta please!

The thing about this is that their hands secrete monuments, so...you know.

So great seeing these so called music critic // reaction people listening to music for the first time.

Best conga solo in rock history.

I’d recommend televators. Very low key by comparison but I think it’s their best song

Jim off topic question...I was wondering what brand are the headphones you use? They look extremely comfortable.

Not listened to TMV, might have to check out. Reminds me of Trout Mask Replica by Beefheart.

Nobody knows what it is about...even Cedric (vocalist), he even said it, that he likes playing with nonsense for the sake of a great melody. The words are only tools for him. I think the beauty of TMV's lyrics is that you can come up with your own interpretation, it would probably be as good as any ;)

"I've got some lyrics here." ***Heh, ok.***

For something a little (ok, a lot) different, try on some dredg. "Same Ol' Road" or "The Canyon Behind Her" or "Light Switch"

Awesome band.

Do songs from deloused in the com. It's the best most accessable release. And fleas playing bass.

The bass in this song is absolutely disgusting. That has to be Juan's fretless, right?

You should absolutely check out the band Magma. They are some sort of tribal-prog-fusion-jazz-rock-choir-funk