The Ramrod Tapes

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The Ramrod Tapes
Compilation album by
the Mars Volta
ReleasedAugust 19, 2013 (2013-08-19)
Recorded2005–2010
Genre Progressive rock
Length80:31
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.

Contents

Overview

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] [3] 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. This piece, unofficially dubbed, "Clouds/Orchestrina," was played during a 2011 Omar Rodriguez-Lopez Group show. [4] [5] 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. [6]

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 group, 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" [7] Thus, the name, The Ramrod Tapes, was created by fans of the band.

Track listing

All tracks are written by Omar Rodríguez-López, except where noted.

No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1.",14"
5:07
2."98d87" 4:18
3."cmv8" 3:07
4."dp" 6:05
5."ef4" 3:47
6."eog-3"
  • Bixler-Zavala
  • Rodríguez-López
4:08
7."f9h0" 4:52
8."f39h" 6:53
9."k49"
  • Bixler-Zavala
  • Rodríguez-López
3:32
10."pi4" 5:16
11."qr5'" 6:42
12."s[fqw" 5:38
13."xv8" 3:59
14."y2g"
  • Bixler-Zavala
  • Rodríguez-López
10:36
15."ytj6" 6:21

Notes [8] [9]

  1. An outtake from Noctourniquet . The song was called In the Vulpine Clouds
  2. Early demo of Molochwalker
  3. An instrumental demo of Sea is Rising on Unicorn Skeleton Mask and What’s Left in You on Zapopan
  4. Instrumental of El Vacio and Piojos Histericos from Arañas en la Sombra
  5. Instrumental of Truth Blinds Us from Cell Phone Bikini
  6. An outtake from Noctourniquet. The song was called Aneidolon
  7. Instrumental of Un Mar Amargo and Metamorfosis from Arañas en la Sombra
  8. Instrumental of Casate Colmillo from The Somnambulists and Extravagants Dientes from Arañas en la Sombra
  9. Likely outtake from Octahedron
  10. Instrumental of Happiness from Unicorn Skeleton Mask and Reap The Roots, Tandem Happiness, and Fielding Souls from Zapopan
  11. Instrumental of Primitivo Y Barbaro and Semilas De Hez
  12. Earlier demo of ,14
  13. Instrumental of Asco Que Conmueve los Puntos Erógenos
  14. Demo of Vicarious Atonement
  15. Earlier demo of ,14 and s[fqw

Personnel

The Mars Volta

Artwork

References

  1. 1 2 McGovern, Kyle (August 16, 2013). "Download the Mars Volta's Unreleased, David Guetta-Assisted Demo Session". SPIN. Retrieved May 1, 2025.
  2. ↑ O'Neal, Quinten (August 16, 2013). "New Jams: The Mars Volta B-Sides". Bearded Gentlemen Music. Retrieved May 2, 2025.
  3. ↑ "2013 Leak [The Ramrod Tapes]". The Marble Shrine. Retrieved May 2, 2025.
  4. ↑ CasperAames (April 17, 2011). Omar Rodriguez-Lopez Group "Clouds/Orchestrina & Vato Negro Jam" . Retrieved September 4, 2025– via YouTube.
  5. ↑ FunkItBlog (April 4, 2011). Omar Rodriguez-Lopez Group 4/2/11 track five - Newport, KY @ Southgate House (HD) . Retrieved September 4, 2025– via YouTube.
  6. ↑ The Mars Volta (January 1, 2013), THE MARS VOLTA: 2013 leaked demos , retrieved May 1, 2025
  7. ↑ wookubus (August 16, 2013). "Numerous Unreleased The Mars Volta Demos Surface Online". Theprp.com. Retrieved May 1, 2025.
  8. ↑ "2013 Leak [The Ramrod Tapes]". The Marble Shrine. Retrieved September 25, 2025.
  9. ↑ "The 15 Leaked TMV (demos/outtakes/b-sides) Thread - The Mars Volta". The Comatorium. Archived from the original on November 12, 2020. Retrieved September 25, 2025.
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