Solid
The Only problem I have with this album is Tourniquet Man, The album flows well till this track but picks back up again. The one thing Ive always loved about TMV was the fact you never had to skip a track while listening to an album, This aside the album is great. I have read alot of negative reviews on this album but all you really need to do is listen to the radio for a few minutes and you will remember why you like TMV!

TMV's first disappointing album
I've been holding off on reviewing this album since its release to make sure that I gave it a fair listen and try to get used to the new sound. Each of their 3 previous albums has grown on me over time and almost gets better each time I hear it - that sadly not the case with Bedlam in Goliath. Cedric's voice sounds so thin, high, and piercing on this album compared to earlier releases that i've wondered whether he might have damaged his natural voice somehow. This album also seems to be lacking the interesting and melodic vocal and guitar themes that are sewn together seamlessly on their earlier albums. Bedlam in Goliath has the feeling of an album rushed - transitions seem unnatural and forced at times and the band members aren't quite on the same page with each other. I've seen many reviews comparing Bedlam to Deloused based on shorter song lengths relative to the other albums, but shorter length does not equal structure or song development in this case. Despite my disappointment with this album, i still consider them to be one of my favorite bands and will look forward to their next release to see what these talented musicians have in store for us next.

An amazing journey
This album takes you on a unbelievable trip through the minds of Cedric and Omar. The progression and transition of all of the songs are spectacular. Listening to the album from front to back is needed in order to appreciate the album's beauty. This album shows the growth of Omar's talent not by just guitar solos, but by the complex set up of the songs. The drummer that appears on this album is unbelivable, and adds a lot of power and soul to the music. With the completion of this album, it proves that The Mars Volta is definitly the most talented group of musicians out there right now. Buy this album if you are a fan of any other Mars Volta albums.

After the Hype the Dust Settles
Mars Volta is challenging their listeners' tolerance to the limit. While Amputechture featured very long songs of chaotic fusion, this album features great drums that overtop it. This musical stew does not have the resting point that Viscera Eyes provided. There are a few footholds such as Aberinkula with it's catchy lyric, "plans that forgot me 99 times," keeping the rhythm. The lines in Ilyena, "I need... a brand new skin," are supported by a coiling guitar riff. Cavalettas should be a solid song for their live shows, similar to the epic performances on the live Scabdates album. All of these songs have something in common: the vocals are authentic. They don't suffer the Mickey Mouse falsetto abuse present on Metatron, Wax Simulacra, Askepios and Agadez. The second half of Agadez comes back around to Mars Volta's notorious latin sound, but it is not particularly memorable. Goliath is an overworked version of "Rapidfire Tollbooth" from Omar's "Bufalo de la Noche" solo album (which is much heavier and grounded). Tourniquet Man is a transitional type of song that goes on for 2 and a half minutes. Later on the album, Ouroborous tells a story while the music languishes. Similarly Soothsayer is very repetitive and aimless. I am most likely to stop listening to the album at this point.

This is my least favorite Mars Volta album. It's not particularly bad. It's worth owning, compared with the Emo band of the day, but overall it feels like the songs could have used more critical revisions and a little restraint on the vocals. There will always be a tendency for fans to contrast their new releases against Francis the Mute or Comatorium; the Mars Volta are their own competition. It's a treadmill of criticism, but I still think that they will release another album that is different but equal to them.

Good album ruined in the mixing
The music for this album is as great as the rest of TMV's work. Sadly, the loudness war has claimed this album as one of its greatest triumphs. The mixing is so horrendous on a few of the tracks that it hurts to listen to them. Save your ears. Buy the vinyl and rip your own tracks.