Rising from the ashes of their postpunk outfit At the Drive-In, this Texas-based band became one of the formative progressive rock bands of the 00s. Marrying the sounds and song structures of prog rock’s heyday with Latin rhythms and beat poetry, they also have a reputation for defying their fans’ expectations with each new album. These are my favorite songs from the enigmatic El Pasoans.

*This list will be updated in the event of any future (including posthumous) releases.

Honorable mentions

Cicatriz ESP

Copernicus

Empty Vessels Make the Loudest Sound

Since We’ve Been Wrong

Teflon

Top 10

10. Ilyena

9. Take the Veil Cerpin Taxt

8. L’Via L’Viaquez

7. With Twilight as My Guide

6. Viscera Eyes

5. Cygnus….Vismund Cygnus

4. Inertiatic ESP

3. Roulette Dares (The Haunt of)

2. Drunkship of Lanterns

1. Eriatarka

Favorite Album Cover

Amputechture (2006)

Favorite Song on Each Album

De-Loused in the Comatorium (2003): Eriatarka

Frances the Mute (2005): Cygnus….Vismund Cygnus

Amputechture (2006): Viscera Eyes

The Bedlam in Goliath (2008): Ilyena

Octahedron (2009): With Twilight as My Guide

Noctourniquet (2012): Empty Vessels Make the Loudest Sound

The Mars Volta (2022): Palm Full of Crux

Lucro Sucio; Los Ojos del Vacio (2025): The Iron Rose

Albums Ranked

8. The Mars Volta (2022)

7. Lucro Sucio; Los Ojos del Vacio (2025)

6. Noctourniquet (2012)

5. The Bedlam in Goliath (2008)

4. Amputechture (2006)

3. Octahedron (2009)

2. Frances the Mute (2005)

1. De-Loused in the Comatorium (2003)