Known for their energetic live shows and concept albums, The Mars Volta formed following the break-up of Rodríguez-López and Bixler-Zavala's previous band, At the Drive-In. Seeking to experiment and expand their sound, Rodríguez-López and Bixler-Zavala recruited Gardner, Isaiah "Ikey" Owens (keyboards), Jon Theodore (drums) and Jeremy Ward (sound manipulation) to form The Mars Volta. The band released their debut EP, Tremulant, in 2002, with Gardner leaving the band prior to recording their debut album, De-Loused in the Comatorium. She was replaced by Red Hot Chili Peppers bass guitarist Flea for the sessions. The Rick Rubin-produced album received widespread critical acclaim upon its release in 2003.
The band's second studio album, Frances the Mute (2005), was self-produced by Rodríguez-López and was the first to feature longterm members Juan Alderete (bass) and Marcel Rodríguez-López. The album debuted at #4 on the US Billboard 200 and became the band's biggest commercial success, selling over 500,000 copies in the US and achieving Gold certification from the RIAA. The band's third studio album, Amputechture, was released in 2006 and was the last album to feature Theodore. In 2008, the band released The Bedlam in Goliath, a concept album inspired by the band's turbulent experiences with a ouija-type talking board. The album's first single, "Wax Simulacra" was awarded a Grammy Award in 2009 for Best Hard Rock Performance. The band released its fifth album, Octahedron, in June 2009.
Following the release of their sixth album, Noctourniquet (2012), and a run of reunion shows with At the Drive-In, The Mars Volta entered a hiatus in September 2012. Rodríguez-López subsequently formed a new project, Bosnian Rainbows, and the band formally broke up after disagreements between Rodríguez-López and Bixler-Zavala. The duo repaired their friendship and reunited in 2014 for a new project, Antemasque, and further At the Drive-In tours and recording sessions.
Reuniting in secret in 2019, Rodríguez-López and Bixler-Zavala recorded a new studio album, The Mars Volta, with Gardner, Marcel Rodríguez-López and drummer Willy Rodriguez Quiñones. The band announced their reunion – after ten years of public inactivity – with an art installation called L'ytome Hodorxí Telesterion, in June 2022. For the band's live return, jazz pianist Leo Genovese and drummer Linda-Philomène Tsoungui were added to the line-up.
Full Wikipedia article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Mars_Volta
Studio albums
De-Loused in the Comatorium (2003)
Frances the Mute (2005)
Amputechture (2006)
The Bedlam in Goliath (2008)
Octahedron (2009)
Noctourniquet (2012)
The Mars Volta (2022)
Que Dios Te Maldiga Mi Corazon (2023)
Cut That City
The Mars Volta Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Neocaeczaristic phallic ruins
Just east of the river
Denial the techs are breathing
Welcome to this neoTokyo
Gridlocks will warn the chromlech alarms
Bouquet of cuticles
Landscape tantrums
I've heard the mumbling of citadels
Shifting on this Richter scale
The alleys will flow marble intercourse
Roil the pantheon...of subterfuge
Tramontane torching the Tramontane
This marabout isn't untouchable
Indentured by servitude
Neoinfidels - let's plug them in
Neopolygraphic, trip chords
Centrocircuiphobia the fallacy
Welcome to neoTokyo
Tore the wings off seraphin,
Fed them to the anglophiles
In this stag caberat
The bark of buildings surged,
Through the whipping volt abode
Go to the lexicon you sluggard, if you will.
The lyrics of The Mars Volta's song Cut That City in 2-3 are dense with imagery and metaphor, making for a challenging but rewarding interpretation. The song seems to present a dystopian vision of a futuristic city that is defined by chaos and violence. The first few lines paint a picture of a society that is soulless and lacking in identity, with no reflection to be seen in the "Neonecropopulace." The next line introduces the concept of phallic ruins, which could be read as a commentary on the destructive nature of patriarchal power.
As the song progresses, we are introduced to the idea of a "neoTokyo," which seems to combine elements of traditional Japanese culture with a futuristic, post-apocalyptic landscape. The city is beset by gridlocks and alarms, creating a sense of claustrophobia and danger. Elsewhere in the lyrics, there are references to citadels and marabouts, creating a sense of ancient history and mythological significance.
Despite the darkness of the lyrics, there is also a sense of social critique at play. The references to "neoinfidels" and "neopolygraphic trip chords" suggest a willingness to challenge the status quo and move beyond established norms. The lines "tore the wings off seraphin, fed them to the anglophiles" present a particularly potent image of rebellion and resistance.
Line by Line Meaning
Neonecropopulace has no reflection
The soulless masses have lost touch with their inner selves and are unable to reflect on their existence
Neocaeczaristic phallic ruins
The towering remnants of a society obsessed with power and masculinity
Just east of the river
In a specific location that is significant, but not specified in detail
Denial the techs are breathing
The people in charge are choosing to ignore the negative consequences of their technological advancements
Welcome to this neoTokyo
A dystopian version of the city that combines elements of past and future
Gridlocks will warn the chromlech alarms
The traffic jams are a warning sign of the impending collapse of society
Bouquet of cuticles
The collection of small, insignificant details that combine to create a larger, chaotic whole
Landscape tantrums
The unpredictable and violent outbursts of nature which reflect the tumultuous emotions of the society
Tramontane torching the Tramontane
The north wind is both the source of destruction and destruction itself
I've heard the mumbling of citadels
Rumours of the powerful and secretive rulers who control the city
Shifting on this Richter scale
The constant and unpredictable changes that make it difficult to build a stable society
The alleys will flow marble intercourse
Even the smallest corners of the city are filled with the decadence and excess of the ruling class
Roil the pantheon...of subterfuge
Questioning the motivations and intentions of those in power
Tramontane torching the Tramontane
The cyclical nature of destruction, where the north wind is both the destroyer and the destroyed
This marabout isn't untouchable
Even the most powerful and untouchable figures are not immune to the chaos and destruction of the city
Indentured by servitude
The people are trapped in a system of servitude, unable to escape their predetermined roles
Neoinfidels - let's plug them in
Silencing dissent and punishing those who dare to question the rulers
Neopolygraphic, trip chords
The constant bombardment of information and media that keeps people passive and distracted from the reality of their situation
Centrocircuiphobia the fallacy
The fear of being disconnected from the central power structure is a lie used to manipulate the people
Welcome to neoTokyo
A warning of the potential future if society continues down the path of excess and destruction
Tore the wings off seraphin,
The destruction of the innocent and pure in pursuit of power and control
Fed them to the anglophiles
Using the remains of the pure to fuel the decadence of the ruling class
In this stag caberat
In a society consumed by debauchery and excess
The bark of buildings surged,
The constant noise and chaos of the city creates a sense of overwhelming pressure
Through the whipping volt abode
Navigating the chaotic and unpredictable environment of the city
Go to the lexicon you sluggard, if you will.
Challenging the listener to seek out the meaning behind the metaphorical language used throughout the song.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: CEDRIC BIXLER, EVA GARDNER, OMAR RODRIGUEZ
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind