The Ramrod Tapes
| The Ramrod Tapes | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Compilation album by | |
| Released | August 19, 2013 |
| Recorded | 2007-2010 |
| Genre | Progressive rock |
| Length | 80:31 |
| Label | Clouds Hill |
| Producer | Omar Rodríguez-López |
The Ramrod Tapes is an unofficial, leaked compilation of songs by The Mars Volta. The tracks surfaced on the fan forum, The Comatorium, in August 2013 and featured a collection of fifteen demos and outtakes. A user on the forum claimed to have received a private message containing the tracks with instructions to disseminate them online.[1] Many of the songs would go on to be released on Omar Rodriguez-Lopez solo albums.
Overview
[edit]In August 2013, months after The Mars Volta had officially been disbanded, a group of fifteen tracks appeared on the fan forum, The Comatorium.[2] The songs range from rough demos and instrumental pieces to near-finished songs that didn't make it onto official releases. Such is the case with three of the tracks. Two of the tracks are instrumental demos of one of the as-of-yet unreleased songs. One track is a demo of Vicarious Atonement from their previous album, Amputechture. Another is a demo of Molochwalker from Noctourniquet. The remaining eight tracks are demos of previously released Omar Rodriguez-Lopez songs or songs that would subsequently go on to be officially released on his solo records.[3]
Because the tracks were recorded in various sessions many years apart, a number of former members of the band contributed to the songs. Thomas Pridgen, former drummer of the band, commented on Facebook about the collection of songs, “im pretty sure the songs i loved playing on [2009’s] Octahedron that didnt make the record are on there and im excited.”[1]
Regarding the leaked tracks, Cedric Bixler-Zavala, lead singer of The Mars Volta, jokingly stated, "The recent TMV leaks are from a session we did w/ @davidguetta during our residency at Ibiza hot spot RAMROD"[4] Thus, the name, The Ramrod Tapes, was created by fans of the band.
Track listing
[edit]| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | ",14" (An outtake from Noctourniquet. The song was called In the Vulpine Clouds according to Elvin Estela) | 5:07 |
| 2. | "98d87" (Early demo of Molochwalker) | 4:18 |
| 3. | "cmv8" (An instrumental demo of Sea is Rising on Unicorn Skeleton Mask and What’s Left in You on Zapopan) | 3:07 |
| 4. | "dp" (Instrumental of El Vacio and Piojos Histericos from Arañas en la Sombra) | 6:05 |
| 5. | "ef4" (Instrumental of Truth Blinds Us from Cell Phone Bikini) | 3:47 |
| 6. | "eog-3" (An outtake from Noctourniquet. The song is called Aneidolon according to Elvin Estela) | 4:08 |
| 7. | "f9h0" (Instrumental of Un Mar Amargo and Metamorfosis from Arañas en la Sombra) | 4:52 |
| 8. | "f39h" (Instrumental of Casate Colmillo from The Somnabulists and Extravagants Dientes from Arañas en la Sombra) | 6:53 |
| 9. | "k49" (Likely outtake from Octahedron) | 3:32 |
| 10. | "pi4" (Instrumental of Happiness from Unicorn Skeleton Mask and Reap The Roots, Tandem Happiness, and Fielding Souls from Zapopan) | 5:16 |
| 11. | "qr5'" (Instrumental of Primitivo Y Barbaro and Semilas De Hez) | 6:42 |
| 12. | "s[fqw" (Earlier demo of ,14) | 5:38 |
| 13. | "xv8" (Instrumental of Asco Que Conmueve los Puntos Erógenos.) | 3:59 |
| 14. | "y2g" (Demo of Vicarious Atonement) | 10:36 |
| 15. | "ytj6" (Earlier demo of ,14 and s[fqw) | 6:21 |
Personnel
[edit]The Mars Volta
[edit]- Omar Rodríguez-López – guitar, additional contributions
- Cedric Bixler-Zavala – vocals
- Juan Alderete de la Peña – bass
- Blake Fleming – drums
- Jon Theodore – drums
- Thomas Pridgen – drums
- Deantoni Parks – drums
- Isaiah "Ikey" Owens – keyboards
Artwork
[edit]- Sonny Kay – design, layout
References
[edit]- ^ a b McGovern, Kyle (August 16, 2013). "Download the Mars Volta's Unreleased, David Guetta-Assisted Demo Session". SPIN. Retrieved May 1, 2025.
- ^ O'Neal, Quinten (August 16, 2013). "New Jams: The Mars Volta B-Sides". Bearded Gentlemen Music. Retrieved May 2, 2025.
- ^ The Mars Volta (January 1, 2013), THE MARS VOLTA: 2013 leaked demos, retrieved May 1, 2025
- ^ wookubus (August 16, 2013). "Numerous Unreleased The Mars Volta Demos Surface Online". Theprp.com. Retrieved May 1, 2025.
- ^ "2013 Leak [The Ramrod Tapes]". The Marble Shrine. Retrieved May 2, 2025.
- ^ "The 15 Leaked TMV (demos/outtakes/b-sides) Thread - The Mars Volta". The Comatorium. Archived from the original on November 12, 2020. Retrieved May 2, 2025.