Thanks to Stereogum for pointing out that Mars Volta has a new release [Amazon]. Their first CD was more metal than progressive, so it's nice to see them flip that ratio around and tackle more ambitious projects. I'm (obviously) tired of listeners and critics complaining that complex rock is "self-indulgent" or "pretentious." You get to the point where the strummy strum strum strummy strum strum
bubblegum is just not enough. This can be a more mature art than it generally is.
More later on Mars Volta...