The Mars Volta - Frances the Mute Question!
 

Alright, so I bought Frances the Mute the other day b/c it was on sale for less than $10. According to the tracklisting on the back cover, there should be 15 tracks:
Cygnus...Vismund Cygnus
1 Sarcophagi
2 Umbilical Syllables
3 Facilis Descenus Averni
4 Con Safo

5 The Widow
6 L'Via L'Viaquez

Miranda that Ghost Just Isn't Holy Anymore
7 Vade Mecum
8 Pour Another Icepick
9 Pisacis (Phra-men-ma)
10 Con Safo

Cassandra Gemini
11 Tarantism
12 Plant a Nail in the Navel Stream
13 Faminepulse
14 Multiple Spouse Wounds
15 Sarcophagi

So when I stick it in my computer to rip it, only the first 12 tracks show up! Additionally, when looking up the album info on allmusic.com, it lists the titles for all 15 tracks, but the play length, again, for only the first 12. There's not a 2nd disc. Anyone know what's up w/ that?

Also, on the inside, behind the CD holding snap-in part, it lists lyrics to Frances the Mute, presumably another group of tracks, titled "In Thirteen Seconds", "Nineteen Sank, While Six Would Swim", and "Five Would Grow and One Was Dead". I'm so fucking confused!

I'm preddy sure "Frances the Mute" is only available on the vinyl version.......

Allow me to answer all your questions regarding the Mars Volta:

1)
track 1: Cygnus...Vismund Cygnus
-Sarcophagi
-Umbilical Syllables
-Facilis Descenus Averni
-Con Safo

Track 2: The Widow
Track 3: L'Via L'Viaquez

Track 4: Miranda that Ghost Just Isn't Holy Anymore
-Vade Mecum
-Pour Another Icepick
-Pisacis (Phra-men-ma)
-Con Safo

Tracks 5-12:Cassandra Gemini
-Tarantism
-Plant a Nail in the Navel Stream
-Faminepulse
-Multiple Spouse Wounds
-Sarcophagi

In total, Cassandra is about 32 minutes long. Those are movements in the songs.



2) Thats the Francis the Mute single's lyrics. It's a seperate 'decoder' single. It's supposed to complete the story or something. Either way, it's a vinyl thing that isn't scheduled for release in the US yet.

alright, thanks Said Eyes.... but, how does the 5 movements of Cassandra Gemini make up 8 tracks on the CD? Doing the math, it seems like it'd be possible that either every movement of either Cygnus or Miranda would be a track, but not both.
Such that:
Cygnus (1-4)
Widow (5)
L'Via (6)
Miranda (7)
Cassandra (8-12)

or

Cygnus (1)
Widow(2)
L'Via (3)
Miranda (4-7)
Cassandra (8-12)

or perhaps i'm wrong.... so how do the five movements of Cassandra Geminni divide up into the 8 tracks?

Short answer: They don't.

If you take Cassandra to be the last 8 tracks, or 32 minutes, 27 seconds, you can listen to it and see where the movements come in.

How about I go through the entire CD with where I think the movements are. (Times may be a second or two out, I dont know)

well, thanks for all your help man, i think i'll go w/ that explanation there, it seems about as good as any i'd receive w/o actually going thru & listening intently to every last minute (as opposed to for enjoyment). thanks a bunch!

I love these track titles, 6-11!
6 Cassandra Geminni: Plant the Nail in the Navel Stream, Pt. 1
7 Cassandra Geminni: Plant the Nail in the Navel Stream, Pt. 2
8 Cassandra Geminni: Plant the Nail in the Navel Stream, Pt. 3/Faminepulse, Pt. 1
9 Cassandra Geminni: Faminepulse, Pt. 2
10 Cassandra Geminni: Faminepulse, Pt. 3/Multiple Spouse Wounds, Pt. 1
11 Cassandra Geminni: Multiple Spouse Wounds, Pt. 2