The Mars Volta is neither a concept album band nor a prog band. Sure, they excel at both, but Omar Rodriguez-Lopez and Cedric Bixler-Zavala formed the Mars Volta in 2001 in order to dispose of labels and limitations of any kind, to move beyond genres strip-mined into obsolescence--be they dinosaur prog or 2-D punk.

"We are really tired of those labels and questions," says guitarist, co-founder and producer Rodriguez-Lopez. "Concept album? How can any huge project that takes up most of your life for a year not have a concept? Prog? How can any innovative, forward-thinking art or music not be progressive? It reminds me of when I first heard the label "Emo," which was the most ridiculous label ever. How can anything you put your heart and soul into not be emotional?"

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The Mars Volta E-card for "The Widow"

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